History
1631
General
Population: 544 Million*
- Entertainment: Writers include Thomas Dekker (tragicomedy), Thomas Heywood (comedy), Ben Johnson (comedy), Frederich Spee von Langenfeld (caution against witch burning),
Art includes Rembrandt (portrait of his mother), "The Anatomy Lesson", Velazquez "Infanta Maria Queen of Hungary",
- Mathematics: English mathematician William Oughtred proposes "X" symbol for multiplication
- Science: First drawings of Jupiter's "Great Red Spot"
- Deaths: Poet John Donne, Poet Michael Drauton, Composer Philipp Dulichius
Americas
- West Indies: English settlement of Leeward Islands begins at St. Kitts
Asia
- General: Famine by drought
Europe
- General: Thirty Years' War - Sweden's Gustavus Adolphus sacks Frankfort-on-Oder – signs treaty of alliance with John George Elector of Saxony defeats Tilly at battle of Breitengeld and occupies Wurzburg and Mainz
Wallenstrin reappointed Commander in Chief
- England: London Clockmaker's Company incorporated
- France: Jacques Lemercier creates Chateau Richelieu
T Renaudot founds "Gazette" in Paris
- German States: German Protestant princes hold convention at Neu Brandenburg and decide to ally with Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
German City of Magdeburg sacked by Catholic forces under Tilly - Battle of Leipzig (Brietenfeld) – Swedish and Saxon forces defeat Tilly
- Holy Roman Empire: Tilly destroys Swedish garrison at Neu Brandenburg – sacks Magdeburg – burns Halle and invades Saxony
- Italian States: Earthquake in naples and Mt. Vesuvius erupts killing 18,000 0 5th deadliest eruption
Pope Urban VIII annexes Urbino
Maria de Medici exiled to Brussels to join forces with son Gaston Duke of Orleans to bring about Richelieu's fall
Baldassare Longhena begins work on church of S. Maria della Salute in Venice
East
- General: Dutch West India Company founds settlement at the Delaware River
- Massachusetts: Roger Williams arrives in Mass. Became pastor of Salem church