Editing 1716 (section)

=== October&ndash;December ===
*[[October 12]] &ndash; During the [[Austro-Turkish War of 1716–18|war]] between the Habsburg Empire ruling Austria and the Ottoman Empire ruling Turkey, the [[Siege of Temeşvar (1716)|six week siege]] of the fortified city of [[Timisoara|Temeşvar]] is surrendered by the Turks to the Austrians.  Under a flag of truce, the Turks are permitted to depart but have to leave behind their artillery as they give up their claim to [[Hungary]].  Austro-Hungarian rule lasts until World War One, and in 1919, the city of [[Timișoara]] becomes part of the Kingdom of [[Romania]].
* [[November 1]] &ndash; Two new laws go into effect in the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]] of [[Scotland]] to prevent a threat to Britain's ruling  [[House of Hanover]] by the [[Jacobitism|Jacobites]] who supported the restoration of the [[House of Stuart]].  The [[Disarming Act]] requires government authorization to carry swords and firearms, and the amendments to the [[Treason Act 1714]] permit trials for treason to take place in any court in England, regardless of where the crime was committed.
*[[December 4]] &ndash; Fifty people are killed, and 150 houses burned, when a fire breaks out in [[Wapping]], [[London]].  The blaze comes two days after a fire at the [[Spring Gardens]] at [[St. James's]], London, which destroyed the French Chapel there and which was put out by several rescuers, including the future King George II.<ref>"Fires, Great", in ''The Insurance Cyclopeadia: Being an Historical Treasury of Events and Circumstances Connected with the Origin and Progress of Insurance'', Cornelius Walford, ed. (C. and E. Layton, 1876) p48-49</ref>
* [[December 12]] &ndash; [[Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend]], is demoted from his office as [[Secretary of State for the Northern Department]] in the British government, and replaced by [[James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope]]. This is a move towards the [[Whig Split]] of 1717.