. ▁ ▁February ▁ 3 ▁– ▁The ▁' L esser ▁Great ▁Fire ' ▁dest ro ys ▁a ▁substantial ▁part ▁of ▁central ▁Edinburgh , ▁Scotland . ▁ ▁February ▁ 1 2 ▁– ▁The ▁Great ▁Northern ▁War ▁begins ▁with ▁a ▁joint ▁invasion ▁of ▁Swedish ▁territory ▁in ▁Germany ▁and ▁Lat via , ▁by ▁Den mark ▁and ▁Poland / S ax ony . ▁Sweden ▁has ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁Balt ic ▁Sea ▁and ▁holds ▁territory ▁that ▁includes ▁Finland , ▁Est onia , ▁Lat via ▁and ▁parts ▁of ▁northern ▁Germany . ▁To ▁challenge ▁its ▁power , ▁an ▁al liance ▁is ▁formed ▁between ▁Ts ar ▁Peter ▁I ▁of ▁Russia , ▁King ▁Frederick ▁IV ▁of ▁Den mark ▁and ▁August us ▁II ▁the ▁Str ong , ▁King ▁of ▁Poland ▁and ▁Elect or ▁of ▁Sax ony . ▁Sweden ' s ▁r uler ▁is ▁the ▁militar istic ▁Charles ▁XII , ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁" S wed ish ▁Meteor ". ▁ ▁February ▁ 2 7 ▁– ▁The ▁island ▁of ▁New ▁Britain ▁is ▁discovered ▁by ▁William ▁D amp ier , ▁in ▁the ▁western ▁Pacific . ▁ ▁March ▁ 1 ▁( G reg or ian ) ▁– ▁Protest ant ▁Germany ▁and ▁Den mark – N or way ▁adopt ▁the ▁Greg or ian ▁calendar . ▁ ▁March ▁ 1 ▁( S wed ish ), ▁March ▁ 1 1 ▁( G reg or ian ), ▁February ▁ 2 9 ▁( Jul ian ) ▁– ▁The ▁Swedish ▁calendar ▁is ▁adopted . ▁ ▁March ▁ 3 ▁- ▁Sh iv aj i ▁II ▁acc eded ▁to ▁the ▁throne ▁of ▁Mar ath a