1640

1640 was a year in the early modern era marked by significant political upheaval across Europe, set against the backdrop of the wider conflicts of the Thirty Years' War. It saw major developments in Iberia and in the British Isles that would shape the region for years to come.

In Portugal, 1640 marked the start of the Portuguese Restoration War. A successful uprising led to the overthrow of the Iberian Union with Spain, and on the accession of John IV of the House of Braganza, Portugal began a prolonged struggle to regain full independence from Spanish rule. The event reshaped the balance of power on the Iberian Peninsula and established a new dynasty that would rule for more than a century.

In England and Scotland, 1640 was a pivotal year in the lead-up to the English Civil War. The Short Parliament convened in April to seek redress and funds for the war against Scotland, but it was dissolved after a few weeks. The Second Bishops’ War followed, culminating in the English defeat at the Battle of Newburn in August. In October, the Treaty of Ripon allowed Scottish forces to occupy parts of northern England and obligated England to pay for their presence. The year concluded with the summoning of the Long Parliament in November, which would govern for a decade and set the stage for subsequent constitutional conflict.

Across other regions, 1640 was a time of ongoing military and political realignments within the broader European conflicts, as powers negotiated borders, alliances, and influence in a rapidly changing global map. The events of 1640 thus had lasting implications for the balance of power in Europe and for the future trajectories of both Portugal and England.