The world in
What happened in 1839?
17 events across 9 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
Unification of ItalyThe unification of Italy, also known as the Risorgimento, was the 19th-century political and social movement that consolidated various states of the Italian peninsula into the single Kingdom of Italy. On 17 March 1861 the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in Turin, and the process completed in 1871 with Rome as the capital, following its capture in 1870.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Sebastiano De Albertis / Public domain ↗
Treaty of London (1839)On 19 April 1839 in London, the European great powers, the Netherlands, and Belgium signed a treaty that confirmed the separation of the Netherlands and Belgium. The powers recognized and guaranteed Belgium’s independence and permanent neutrality, and the settlement redefined Luxembourg: its western part went to Belgium, while the eastern German-speaking area became a state under the Dutch king as grand duke.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken: Ratificaties, nummer toegang 2.05.02, inventarisnummer 1 / Public domain ↗
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Caucasian WarThe Caucasian War was a 19th-century conflict of conquest by the Russian Empire against various peoples of the North Caucasus, lasting from 1817 to 1864. Imam Shamil led fierce resistance, repeatedly repelling Russian attacks, until the fall of Gunib and his capture in 1859. The war ended with the final subjugation of the Circassians and the annexation of the region in 1864.
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Outbreak of the Russo-Circassian WarIn 1763, the Russian Empire invaded Circassia and occupied Mozdok, prompting the Circassian people to organize a resistance movement to preserve their independence, marking the beginning of the Russo-Circassian War. This conflict became the longest war in the history of the Caucasus and of Russia, ending in 1864 with the defeat of Circassian forces.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Heinrich Ambros Eckert / Public domain ↗
Establishment of Pulkovo ObservatoryThe Russian Academy of Sciences established its main observatory on Pulkovo Heights, 19 km south of St. Petersburg at 75 m altitude. The Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory later became the Central Astronomical Observatory of the Academy and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments' due to its scientific and historical significance.
Founding of the Royal Library of TurinThe Royal Library of Turin was established in 1831 within the Royal Palace of Turin, founded under King Charles Albert of Sardinia with the painter Pelagio Palagi overseeing its creation. It was conceived to preserve the rare manuscripts and artworks of the House of Savoy, to which the king donated a substantial collection.
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Mariinsky Palace GroundbreakingThe Mariinsky Palace commenced construction in Saint Petersburg in 1839, designed by court architect Stackenschneider. As the last neoclassical imperial palace, the building later housed the city's legislative assembly.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Vyacheslav Bukharov / CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
East Asia
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First Opium War beginsIn 1839, military conflict erupted between the British Empire and Qing China over the opium trade ban, lasting until 1842. The British government, citing free trade and diplomatic equality, supported merchants' compensation claims, and its superior navy defeated the Chinese. The war ended with China being forced to open its trade and cede Hong Kong, marking the beginning of modern Chinese history.
Opium WarsThe Opium Wars were two military conflicts between the Qing dynasty and Western powers in the mid-19th century, beginning in 1839. The first conflict was triggered by the opium prohibition, and the second is considered a continuation of the first.
North America
Second Seminole WarThe Second Seminole War began in 1835 in Florida between the United States and Seminole groups. Fought mostly in small engagements, it lasted until 1842 and is considered the US's longest and most costly Indian war. No peace treaty was ever signed.
Pastry WarIn 1838–1839, France blockaded Mexican ports and captured Veracruz after Mexico refused to pay for damages claimed by a French pastry chef. The war lasted about three months and ended with British mediation, Mexico agreeing to pay 600,000 pesos.
South Asia
Outbreak of the First Anglo-Afghan WarThe First Anglo-Afghan War broke out in 1839, an armed conflict between the British Empire and the Emirate of Afghanistan lasting from 1839 to 1842. It was the first major clash of the 19th-century Great Game between Britain and Russia, sparked by regional rivalry and a succession dispute. The British invaded, occupied Kabul in August 1839, and reinstalled former King Shah Shujah, but ultimately suffered a catastrophic defeat.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
Central Asian steppe
- Outbreak of the Russian Conquest of Central Asia
In 1839, the Russian Empire launched a military campaign to conquer Central Asia, continuing its eastward expansion. The invasion aimed to annex the region, which later largely became Russian Turkestan under imperial rule.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
North Africa
French conquest of AlgeriaBetween 1830 and 1904, France launched a military invasion and prolonged war of conquest in Algeria. In June 1830, French forces landed near Algiers, quickly seizing the capital and coastal areas. Over the following decades, despite internal political strife, France repeatedly reinforced its military presence to suppress resistance in the interior, gradually extending control southward into the Sahara, and finalizing its colonial borders by 1904.
West Asia
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Outbreak of the Second Egyptian–Ottoman WarIn 1839, war broke out again between the Ottoman Empire and Egypt under Muhammad Ali over control of Syria. The fighting took place mainly in Syria and lasted until 1841.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: « ВЭС ». ( СПб ; 1912 год ). / Public domain ↗
Oceania
Musket WarsThe Musket Wars were a series of large-scale armed conflicts among Māori tribes in early 19th-century New Zealand, involving up to 3,000 battles and raids from around 1807 to 1842. Sparked by an intertribal arms race following the acquisition of muskets, the wars sought territorial gain or revenge, causing tens of thousands of casualties and enslavements, profoundly altering tribal boundaries, and influencing later New Zealand Wars.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Merrett, Joseph Jenner, 1816-1854. / Public domain ↗
Central & South America
- War of the Confederation breaks out
From 1836 to 1839, the War of the Confederation took place in South America. Chile and the Argentine Confederation opposed the Peru–Bolivian Confederation, seeing it as a threat to their interests. The United Restoration Army prevailed, leading to the Confederation's dissolution and the restoration of Peru and Bolivia.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Around 1839
These are known only to the century, not to the year. They are listed separately so a rough date is never mistaken for an exact one.
- Emergence of the Enlightenment
- Museum Island construction begins
- Completion of Dom Pedro V Theatre
- Establishment of Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Industrial Heritage
- Construction of Hôtel Solvay begins
- Founding of Kulangsu as an International Settlement
- Construction of the Four Hydraulic Boat Lifts on the Canal du Centre begins
- Founding of Nelson's Dockyard