1685

Centuries: 16th century - 17th century - 18th century

Decades: 1630s 1640s 1650s 1660s 1670s - 1680s - 1690s 1700s 1710s 1720s 1730s

Years: 1680 1681 1682 1683 1684 - 1685 - 1686 1687 1688 1689 1690

• February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland.
• February 18 - Fort St. Louis[?] is established by a Frenchman at Matagorda Bay[?] thus forming the basis for France's claim to Texas.
• June 20 - James, Duke of Monmouth illegitimate son of King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland declares himself King and heir to his father's Kingdoms as James II of England and Ireland and James VII of Scotland, after already forming his own armie and campaigning against his uncle.
• July 6 - Battle of Sedgemoor between the armies of King James II of England and rival claimant to the throne James, Duke of Monmouth. The last battle on English soil. Monmouth's army is defeated and the Duke himself is captured shortly after the battle.
• Louis XIV of France revokes the Edict of Nantes and declares Protestantism illegal.

Births

• February 23 - George Friderich Handel, composer
• March 21 - Johann Sebastian Bach, German composer
• April 15 - Empress Catherine I of Russia
• October 1 - Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
• October 26 - Domenico Scarlatti, composer

Deaths

• February 6 - King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland.
• February 11 - David Teniers III[?], Flemish painter.
• July 15 - James, Duke of Monmouth(beheaded).
• Emperor Go-Sai of Japan