1714

1714 was a year shaped by the completion of the major European conflict known as the War of the Spanish Succession and by a change of dynasty in Britain. The fighting that began in the early 18th century culminated in a pair of treaties, the Treaty of Utrecht (concluded in 1713) and the Treaty of Rastatt (1864? No—1714), which together settled the disposition of territories among the major powers. The settlement confirmed Philip V as King of Spain but realigned possessions: the Austrian Habsburgs gained the Spanish Netherlands, Naples, and Milan; Savoy received Sicily and Sardinia; Britain retained Gibraltar and Minorca. The wars’ resolutions marked a shift in balance of power across Europe, with Britain emerging as a principal beneficiary in colonial and maritime terms.

In Britain, 1714 brought a historic dynastic change. Queen Anne died, and George I of the House of Hanover ascended the throne, beginning the Georgian era and reshaping British politics, governance, and court life. The accession contributed to the emergence of a more programmatically organized, party-influenced government, and it set the stage for the 1715 Jacobite rising.

In the Baltic region, Russia scored a significant naval victory in the Battle of Gangut during the Great Northern War, marking a turning point that helped establish Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea and its emerging maritime power.

Other events of 1714 occurred within the wider context of European state-building, alliance realignments, and ongoing military developments. The year is often noted for its dual significance in establishing a new British dynasty and advancing Russia’s naval ambitions, against a backdrop of continuing continental power shifts.