Year by year · 18th century

1721

1721 in world history: 10 events, 7 births, 6 deaths, 1 work, 5 states founded and 6 that came to an end. 1,215 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 26 April

    An earthquake devastates the Iranian city of Tabriz

    An earthquake with its epicentre near Tabriz levelled some three-quarters of the city, including many prominent mosques and schools, and killed tens of thousands of people. The destruction was a significant factor in the Ottoman takeover of Tabriz in 1725.

    Tabriz

  2. 22 October

    Peter the Great takes the title of emperor

    After victory over Sweden in the Great Northern War, the Russian Senate conferred on Peter I the titles 'the Great' and Emperor of All Russia (22 October, Old Style). Russia was now formally an empire and a European great power.

    Russian EmpireGreat Northern WarPeter the GreatSweden

  3. Treaty · Peace

    Treaty of Nystad

    The Treaty of Nystad was the peace agreement of 1721 that ended the Great Northern War between Sweden and Russia.

  4. Event

    Proclamation of the Russian Empire

    The proclamation of the Russian Empire took place in 1721, when the Senate conferred on Peter I the titles of Emperor of All Russia, Peter the Great and Father of the Fatherland.

ProfileState1035 states with a known seat in 1721Open the atlas at 1721 →

In the profiles

  • Russian EmpireThe Senate proclaims Peter I Emperor of All Russia after the Treaty of Nystad
  • Swedish EmpireThe Peace of Nystad cedes Estonia, Livonia and Ingria to Russia
  • Denmark-NorwayHans Egede begins the Danish recolonisation of Greenland
  • Tsardom of RussiaTreaty of Nystad; Peter I takes the title of emperor

Wars and longer events

Born in 1721 7

Died in 1721 6

Works 1

States founded 5

States that came to an end 6

All years → The 18th century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1721. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1721
MLA
“1721.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1721. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1721.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1721.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1721’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1721 (Accessed: ).