What happened 1740 AD

By the rise of Louis XIV, the Habsburgs were chiefly dependent on their hereditary lands to counter the rise of Prussia, some of whose territories lay inside the Empire. Throughout the 18th century, the Habsburgs were embroiled in various European conflicts, such as the War of the Spanish Succession, the War of the Polish Succession, and the War of the Austrian Succession. The German dualism between Austria and Prussia dominated the empire's history after 1740.

From 1740 to 1748 Bach copied, transcribed, expanded or programmed music in an older polyphonic style (stile antico) by, among others, Palestrina (BNB I/P/2), Kerll (BWV 241), Torri (BWV Anh. 30), Bassani (BWV 1081), Gasparini (Missa Canonica) and Caldara (BWV 1082).

Maria Theresa became ruler of Austria, Hungary.

The Dutch-Swiss writer, Belle van zuylen, was born at Castle Zuylen near Utrecht in 1740.

The empress of Russia, Anna Ivanova Romanova, passed away at the age of 47.

Jews are invited to return to Sicily by Charles de Bourbon, King of Naples.

Ivan VI is the new leader of Russia.