1698 facts for kids

The year 1698 was a time of big changes and interesting events around the world. From royal palaces burning down to new inventions and important political decisions, this year shaped history in many ways. Let's explore some of the most exciting things that happened!

Key Events of 1698

Fires and Natural Wonders

• On January 4, the grand Palace of Whitehall in London, England, was sadly destroyed by a huge fire. This palace was a very important royal home.
• On June 19, a volcano called Carguarazon erupted in the Andes mountains. What was really unusual is that it caused a "rain of fish"! This might sound strange, but sometimes strong winds from eruptions can pick up water and small creatures, dropping them elsewhere.

Important Leaders and New Rules

• On August 25, Peter the Great, the powerful ruler of Russia, returned to his capital city, Moscow. A rebellion by a group called the streltsy had been put down by his general, Patrick Gordon. Peter the Great then made sure the rebels were punished.
• On September 5, Peter the Great wanted to make Russia more like Western Europe. So, he put a tax on beards! Most men, except priests and farmers, had to pay money if they wanted to keep their beards. This was a way to encourage people to adopt new customs.

Explorers and Inventions

• The Whigs in England supported a famous sailor named Captain Kidd from New York. He was hired as a privateer, which meant he was allowed to attack French ships during wartime.
• The Darien Scheme began this year. This was when the first Scottish settlers left to try and create a new colony in Panama. Sadly, this plan did not go well for them.
• The brilliant scientist Isaac Newton made an important calculation: he figured out the speed of sound.
• Thomas Savery received a patent for an early version of the steam engine. This invention would later change the world by powering factories and transportation.

Political Changes and Discoveries

• A special meeting began in Sremski Karlovci. Leaders met to talk about a peace treaty between the Ottoman Empire and a group of European countries called the Holy League. This meeting aimed to end a long war.
• Humphrey Hody was given an important job as a professor of Greek at the famous University of Oxford in England.
• Bucharest officially became the capital city of Wallachia, which is now part of modern-day Romania.
• The cities of Mombasa and Zanzibar in East Africa were captured by forces from Oman.
• George Louis, who would later become King George I of Great Britain in 1714, became the Elector of Hanover. This meant he was a very important ruler in a part of Germany.

Images for kids

• 

  January 4: The Palace of Whitehall is destroyed by fire.

• 

  Pierre Louis Maupertuis was a French mathematician and philosopher born in 1698.

• 

  Louis de Buade de Frontenac was a French governor of New France who passed away in 1698.

See also

In Spanish: 1698 para niños