January 1 Jacob V succeeds his father Pedro II as king of Portugal April 25 Battle of Almansa-Franco-Spanish forces defeat Anglo-Portuguese April 29 English/Scottish parliament accept Act of Union, form Great Britain May 1 England, Wales and Scotland form U.K. of Great Britain June 13 Hungary declares itself independent under Ferenc Rakoczi II August 22 Prince Eugenius van Savoye siege of Toulon August 22 Sweden and Prussia sign military treaty September 15 Rakoczi II and Czar Peter the Great sign social security agreement October 17 German composer Johann S Bach marries his niece Maria Bach November 22 Prince Johan Willem Friso sworn in as viceroy of Friesland
