Overview of the Year 1611
1611 (MDCXI) was marked as a common year that began on a Saturday in the Gregorian calendar and on a Tuesday in the Julian calendar. It represents the 1611th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 611th year of the 2nd millennium, the 11th year of the 17th century, and the 2nd year of the 1610s decade. Notably, as of the beginning of 1611, the Gregorian calendar was 10 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which continued to be in use until 1923.
Significant Events
January–March
- January 26 – Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, is compelled by Queen regent Marie’s Regency Council to resign as chief minister of France, replaced by Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy.
- February 27 – Sunspots are observed through a telescope by Frisian astronomers Johannes Fabricius and David Fabricius, with Johannes publishing his findings in De Maculis in Sole observatis later this year.
- March 4 – George Abbot is enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury in England.
- March 9 – The Battle of Segaba occurs in Begemder, culminating in Yemana Kristos, brother of Ethiopian Emperor Susenyos I, quelling the rebellion of Melka Sedeq.
- March 19–20 – The Moscow Uprising unfolds, leading to a significant fire and the loss of 6–7,000 Muscovites under Polish-Lithuanian occupation.
April–June
- April 4 – Denmark-Norway declares war on Sweden and captures Kalmar.
- April 7 – False Dmitry III claims the Russian throne, arriving at Ivangorod to proclaim himself Tsar Dmitry Ivanovich I.
- May 2 – The Authorized King James Version of the Bible is published for the first time, printed by Robert Barker in London.
- June 13 – The siege of Smolensk is successful after nearly two years, aided by a critical discovery of a weakness in the city’s walls.
July–September
- July 12 – The Perpetual Edict is proclaimed for the governance of the Southern Netherlands by Archduke Albert VII and Isabella.
- August 2 – Sir Thomas Gates returns to Virginia with provisions and assumes control, stressing the need for fortification.
- September 11 – Greek Orthodox bishop Dionysios Skylosophos leads a failed rebellion in Yanya against Ottoman rule.
October–December
- October 30 – Gustav II Adolf ascends to the throne as King of Sweden.
- November 1 – William Shakespeare’s last solo play, The Tempest, is performed at Whitehall Palace in London.
- December 2 – The Sanriku earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.1, strikes off the coast of Japan, resulting in a devastating tsunami.
Noteworthy Births
January–March
- January 3 – James Harrington, English political theorist (d. 1677)
- February 6 – Chongzhen Emperor of China (d. 1644)
- March 17 – Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge, Swedish field marshal (d. 1662)
April–June
- May 16 – Pope Innocent XI (d. 1689)
- June 15 – Salomon Sweers, Dutch businessman (d. 1674)
July–September
- August 4 – Jan van den Hoecke, Dutch painter (d. 1651)
- September 11 – Henri de la Tour d’Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne (d. 1675)
Notable Deaths
January–March
- January 6 – Juan de Ribera, Spanish Catholic archbishop (b. 1532)
- February 26 – Antonio Possevino, Italian Jesuit (b. 1533)
- March 3 – William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus (b. 1552)
April–June
- May 19 – Zhu Zaiyu, Chinese mathematician (b. 1536)
- June 8 – Jean Bertaut, French poet (b. 1552)
July–September
- August 2 – Katō Kiyomasa, Japanese warlord (b. 1561)
- September 18 – John Augustus, Count Palatine of Lützelstein (b. 1575)
Conclusion
The year 1611 stands out as a pivotal period in history, marked by significant political changes, scientific observations, and cultural milestones that shaped the following centuries.