1700 (year) — Gregorian vs. Julian calendar differences and Sweden's reform
Overview of calendar divergence in 1700: why the Gregorian skipped a leap day while the Julian did not, how the date gap changed, and Sweden’s botched gradual reform, the 1712 Feb 30 and final 1753 switch.
1700 (MDCC) was the year that began the 1700s decade. It is the 1700th year of the Common Era and Anno Domini, the 700th year of the second millennium, and the final year of the 17th century.
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Calendars and leap years
Under the Gregorian calendar, 1700 was a common year that began on a Friday; the Gregorian rules exclude most century years from being leap years unless divisible by 400. In contrast, the Julian calendar treated 1700 as a leap year and therefore began on a Monday, because the Julian system adds a leap day every four years without exception.
At the start of 1700 the Gregorian calendar was ten days ahead of the Julian calendar. Because the Julian calendar included a February 29 in 1700 while the Gregorian did not, the difference between the two calendars increased by one day during 1700 and remained larger until the next skipped century leap day under the Gregorian system (in 1800), when it increased again.
The Swedish experiment
Sweden attempted an intermediate reform in 1700: authorities planned to move from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar gradually by omitting leap days over a 40-year period. As part of that plan, Sweden omitted the leap day in 1700, producing a national calendar that no longer coincided exactly with either the Julian or the Gregorian calendar. The experiment ran into administrative problems and was abandoned; Sweden reverted to the Julian calendar in 1712 (including the unusual addition of a February 30 that year) and later adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1753.
Questions and answers
Q: What type of year was 1700?
A: 1700 was an exceptional common year that started on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.
Q: What are some designations of 1700?
A: Some designations of 1700 include the 1700th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD), the 700th year of the 2nd millennium, the 100th and last year of the 17th century, and the 1st year of the 1700s decade.
Q: What is the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars?
A: As of the start of 1700, the Gregorian calendar was 10 days ahead of the Julian calendar. As of March 1 (O.S. February 19), where then Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar didn't, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 11 days until February 28 (O.S. February 17), 1800.
Q: When did the Swedish calendar switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar?
A: In Sweden, the year started in the Julian calendar and remained so until February 28. Then, by skipping the leap day, the Swedish calendar was introduced, letting February 28 be followed by March 1, giving the entire year the same pattern as a common year starting on Monday. This calendar, being ten days behind the Gregorian and one day ahead of the Julian, lasts until 1712.
Q: What is the significance of March 1 (O.S. February 19) in the calendar systems?
A: March 1 (O.S. February 19) is significant in the calendar systems because it was the date when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar didn't, which resulted in the Julian calendar falling one day further behind the Gregorian calendar.
Q: How long was the Julian calendar still in use after 1700?
A: The Julian calendar remained in localized use until 1923, even though the Gregorian calendar was adopted by most countries in Europe in the 16th century.
Q: What is the difference between the Swedish calendar and the Julian and Gregorian calendars?
A: The Swedish calendar was introduced by skipping the leap day in 1700, which let February 28 be followed by March 1, giving the entire year the same pattern as a common year starting on Monday. This calendar is ten days behind the Gregorian and one day ahead of the Julian, and it lasted until 1712.
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AlegsaOnline.com 1700 (year) — Gregorian vs. Julian calendar differences and Sweden's reform Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/111641