1575

January 22

• English queen Elizabeth I grants Thomas Tallis and William Byrd music press monopoly. [1]

February 8

• University of Leiden Netherlands opens. [1]

February 11

• King Frederick of Denmark offers island of Hveen to Tycho Brahe. [1]

May 17

• Matthew Parker archbishop of Canterbury (1559-75), dies at age 68. [1]

December 14

• Polish Parliament selects István Báthory as king of Poland. [1]

1576

January 19

• Hans Sachs composer, dies at age 81. [1]

February 3

• Henry of Navarre (future Henry IV) escapes from Paris. [1]

February 5

• Henry of Navarre abjures Catholicism at Tours. [1]

March 5

• Don Luís de Requesens y Zuñiga viceroy of Netherlands (1573-76), dies at age 70. [1]

April 27

• Peace of Beaulieu and Paix de Monsieur. [1]

May 14

• Dutch Council of State replaced by Council of Beroerten. [1]

May 23

• Tycho Brahe given Hveen Island to build Uraniborg Observatory. [1]

May 27

• Louis de Boisot Dutch Admiral, drowns at about age 44. [1]

May 29

• Spanish army under Mondragón conquerors Zierik sea. [1]

August 27

• Titan Italian artist, dies. [1]

September 24

• Girolamo Cardano, Italian mathematician (explored probability theory of gambling), dies at age 74 (born 1501). [1] [187.75]

November 4

• Spanish defeat Walloons and take Antwerp Belgium. [1]

December 4

• Rheticus mathematician, dies. [1]

December 15

• Joachim Hopperus [Hoppers] Frisian lawyer/politician, dies at age 53. [1]

1577

February 6

• King Henri de Bourbon of Navarra becomes leader of Huguenots. [1]

February 12

• Spanish land guardian Don Juan of Habsburg signs "Eternal Edict". [1]

February 26

• Erik XIV Wasa King of Sweden (1560-69), dies at age 43. [1]

May 8

• Viglius ab Aytta Zuichemus lawyer/President (Raad van State), dies. [1]

December 13

• Sir Francis Drake sets sail from England to go around the world. [1]

December 16

• Danzig surrenders to troops of Polish king István Báthory. [1]

December 18

• Anna duchess of Saxon/wife of prince Willem of Orange, dies at age 32. [1]

1578

January 31

• Battle of Gembloers. [1]

February 5

• Giovanni B Moroni Italian portrait painter, dies. [1]

March 10

• Queen Elizabeth I gives Johan Casimir £20,000 to aid Dutch rebellion. [1]

March 31

• Juan de Escobedo Secretary of Spanish land guardian Don Juan, murdered. [1]

April 1

• William Harvey of England discovers blood circulation. [1]

August 4

• Battle of Alcazarquivir, Morrocans defeat Portugeese. [1]

1579

January 6

• Artois/Hainault/Dowaai sign pro-Spanish Union of Arras. [1]

January 7

• England signs an offensive and defensive alliance with the Netherlands. [1]

January 23

• Union of Utrecht signed, forming protestant Dutch Republic. [1]

January 25

• Treaty of Utrecht signed, marks beginning of Dutch Republic. [1]

March 5

• Betuwe joins Union of Utrecht. [1]

March 6

• Veluwe joins Union of Utrecht. [1]

March 23

• Friesland joins Union of Utrecht. [1]

April 11

• Venlo joins Union of Utrecht. [1]

May 7

• Congress of Cologne forms in Netherlands. [1]

May 17

• Artois/Henegouwen/French-Flanders sign Treaty/Peace of Parma recognizing Spanish duke van Parma as land guardian. [1]

June 17

• Sir Francis Drake lands on the coast of California. [1]

August 8

• Cornerstone is laid for Tycho Brahe's Uraniborg observatory. [1]

December 21

• Juan de Juanes [Vicente Juan Maçip] Spanish ecclesiastical painter, dies at age 56. [1]

1580

January 18

• Antonio Scandello Italian composer (Passion of John), dies at age 63. [1]

January 31

• Hendrik Portuguese cardinal/epilepticus/regent (1578-80), dies. [1]

February 15

• Cunerus Petri Dutch theologist/bishop of Leeuwarden, dies. [1]

March 3

• Jacob Hillebrand Dutch mayor of Groningen, dies. [1]

March 15

• Spanish king Philip II puts 25,000 gold coins on head of prince Willem of Orange. [1]

March 17

• Prince Willem of Orange welcomed in Amsterdam. [1]

April 11

• Drenthe joins Union of Utrecht. [1]

May 27

• Jonker Barthold Entens van Mentheda until Middelstum dies. [1]

June 10

• Luís Vaz de Camoes Portugal's national poet, dies. [1]

August 25

• Battle of Alcantara, Spain defeats Portugal. [1]

September 26

• Sir Francis Drake circumnavigates the globe. [5]

December 1

• Edmund Campion English jesuit, hanged at age 42. [1]
• Giovanni Morone Italian theologian/diplomat/cardinal, dies at age 71. [1]

1581

January 16

• English parliament passes laws against Catholicism. [1]

January 22

• Joost de Damhoudere Flemish lawyer, dies. [1]
• Seerp Galama Dutch nobleman/military/politician, dies at age 52. [1]

January 28

• James VI signs the second Confession of Faith in Scotland. [1]

February 24

• Pope Gregory approves the results of his calendar reform commission. [1]

March 25

• Portugese Cortes calls Philip II king of Portugal. [1]

April 1

• Portugese Cortes subjects himself on Philip II. [1]

April 3

• Huibert Duifhuis Roman Catholic pastor (Rotterdam/Utrecht), dies. [1]

April 4

• Francis Drake completes circumnavigation of the world and is knighted. [1]

April 15

• Cortes van Thomar accepts Philip II as king of Portugal. [1]

1582

January 15

• Russia cedes Livonia and Estonia to Poland, loses access to the Baltic. [1]

February 19

• Francis of Valois becomes duke of Brabant. [1]

February 24

• Pope Gregory XIII announces New Style (Gregorian) calendar. [1]

March 18

• Jean Jaurequi, of Basque, Spain, attempts an assassination of Willem of Orange at Antwerp. He fails, is caught and lynched. [1]

April 3

• French van Valois honored as duke of Gelre/earl of Zutphen. [1]

May 5

• Charlotte de Bourbon Princess of Orange, dies. [1]

October 4

• Last day of the Julian calendar in Italy, many Catholic countries. [1]

October 5

• Gregorian calendar introduced in Italy, other Catholic countries. [1]

October 15

• Many Catholic countries switch to Gregorian calendar, skip 10 days. [1]

November 28

• In Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway pay a £40 bond for their marriage license. [5]

December 10

• France begins use of Gregorian calendar. [1]

December 11

• Fernando Alvarez de Toledo marquis of Soria, dies at about age 75. [1]

December 14

• Zealand/Brabant Netherlands adopt Gregorian calendar, tomorrow is 12/25. [1]

December 15

• Leidse University names Rembert Dodoens professor of botany/medicine. [1]
• Spanish Netherlands/Denmark/Norway adopt Gregorian calendar. [1]

December 21

• Flanders adopts Gregorian calendar, tomorrow is January 1 1583. [1]

December 25

• Zealand/Brabant adopts Gregorian calendar, yesterday was December 14th. [1]

1583

January 1

• First day of the Gregorian calendar in Holland and Flanders. [1]

January 12

• Holland begins use of Gregorian calendar (yesterday was 1/1/1583). [1]

February 9

• Jeseph Sanalbo Jewish convert in Rome, burned at stake. [1]

February 21

• Groningen Netherlands begins using Gregorian calendar. [1]

March 6

• Zacharias Ursinus German theologist (Heidelberger), dies at age 48. [1]

March 18

• Dutch States General and Anjou sign treaty. [1]

April 12

• William of Orange marries Louise de Coligny. [1]

August 5

• Gilbert claims Newfoundland (first English colony in North America). [1]

December 31

• Thomas Erastus Switzerland, theologist, dies. [1]

1584

January 4

• Tobias Stimmer Swiss painter/cartoonist/playwright, dies at age 44. [1]

January 7

• Last day of the Julian calendar in Bohemia and Holy Roman empire. [1]

January 17

• Bohemia adopts the Gregorian calendar. [1]

January 22

• Parts of Switzerland adopt Gregorian calendar (and parts in 1812). [1]

January 30

• Jonker Wigbold van Ewsum mister of Nienoord, dies in battle. [1]
• Pieter Jansz Pourbus Flemish painter, dies. [1]

March 18

• Ivan IV the terrible, Russian tsar (1547-84), dies at age 53. [1]

March 25

• Sir Walter Raleigh renews Humphrey Gilbert's patent to explore North America. [1]

April 7

• Ieper surrenders to duke Van Parma. [1]

May 16

• Seven Westfriese towns divide monasteries of Egmond/Blokker/St-Pietersdal. [1]

May 30

• Earl Adolf van Nieuwenaar/Meurs becomes viceroy of Gelderland. [1]

1585

January 2

• Spain and Catholic France sign Saint League of Joinville. [1]

March 10

• Rembert Dodoens [Rembertus Dodonaeus], physician/botanist, dies at age 67. [1]

April 4

• Caspar de Robles Spanish viceroy of Frisia, dies at about age 57. [1]

April 5

• Clemens Crabbeels becomes bishop of Hertogenbosch. [1]

April 10

• Gregory XIII [Ugo Buoncampagni] Italian Pope (1572-85), dies. [1]

May 19

• Spain confisquates English ships. [1]

December 20

• English fleet and earl Robert Dudley van Leicester reach Vlissingen. [1]

1586

January 15

• Battle at Boxum Spanish troops under Tassis beat state army. [1]

January 25

• Lucas Cranach "the Young" German painter, dies at age 70. [1]

February 4

• Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, becomes governor of Netherlands. [1]

March 8

• Johan van Oldenbarnevelt becomes Dutch chief legal advisor. [1]

June 19

• English colonists sailed from Roanoke Island North Carolina. [1]

July 27

• Sir Walter Raleigh brings first tobacco to England from Virginia. [1]

July 28

• Sir Thomas Harriot introduces potatoes to Europe. [1]

October 14

• Mary Queen of Scots goes on trial for conspiracy against Elizabeth. [1]

December 3

• Sir Thomas Herriot introduces potatoes to England, from Colombia. [1]

December 15

• Laevinus Torrentius, becomes bishop of Antwerp. [1]

1587

January 29

• Deventer and Zutphen surrender to Spain. [1]

February 1

• English queen Elizabeth I signs Mary Stuart's death sentence. [1]

February 8

• Mary, Queen of Scots (1560-87), is beheaded at age 44 at Fotheringhay Castle in England for her complicity in a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth. [1]

March 1

• English parliament leader Peter Wentworth confined in London Tower. [1]

April 18

• John Foxe author (Book of Martyrs), dies. [1]

April 19

• Sir Frances Drake sails into Cadiz Spain and sinks Spanish fleet. [1]

May 18

• Felix van Cantalice Italian saint, dies. [1]

July 22

• Second English colony established on Roanoke Island off North Carolina. [1]

December 8

• Mary Queen of Scots (1560-1587), executed. [1]

December 17

• Earl Leicesters army leaves Netherlands. [1]

1588

January 22

• Pope Sixtus V decrees "Immense aeterni" (Reformed curia). [1]

February 9

• Marquis of Santa Cruz Spanish Admiral, dies. [1]

February 10

• Joost Sybrantsz Buyck Amsterdam merchant/regent, dies at about age 82. [1]

March 17

• Petrus Dathenus Flemish minister/physician (Psalms of David), dies. [1]

April 4

• Christian IV succeeds Frederik II as king of Denmark. [1]
• Frederik II King of Denmark/Norway (1559-88), dies at age 53. [1]

April 19

• Paolo Veronese [Cagliari] painter, dies. [1]

May 9

• Duke Henri de Guises troops occupy Paris France. [1]

May 12

• Catholic League under duke Henri de Guise occupies Paris France. [1]

May 13

• King Henri III flees Paris. [1]

May 19

• Spanish Armada sets sail for Lisbon, bound to England. [1]

May 30

• Spanish Aramada under Medina-Sidonia departs Lisbon to invade England. [1]

July 21

• English fleet defeats Spanish armada. [1]

July 28

• Spanish Armada sails to overthrow England's Queen Elizabeth I. [1]

July 29

• Attacking Spanish Armada defeated and scattered by English defenders. [1]

December 23

• Hendrik de Guise French leader of Catholic League, murdered at age 37. [1]

1589

January 5

• Catherine de' Medici Queen mother of France, dies at age 69. [1]

March 22

• Lodovico Guicciardini Ital historian, dies at age 67. [1]

April 10

• Spanish troops conquer Geertruidenberg. [1]

1590

January 7

• Jacob Andreae German theologist (Formulae Concordiae), dies at age 61. [1]

February 4

• Gioseffo Zarlino composer, dies at age 73. [1]

February 12

• François Hotman/Hotomanus French lawyer/diplomat, dies at age 65. [1]

February 26

• Mauritius of Nassaus sails to Breda. [1]

March 4

• Mauritius of Nassau's ship reaches Breda. [1]

March 6

• Earl Mauritius conquerors Breda "turfschip of Breda". [1]

March 14

• Battle at Ivry: French King Henri IV beats Catholic League. [1]
• Philip van Egmont General/prince of Gavere, dies in battle at age 30. [1]

April 2

• States-General appoints earl Mauritius, viceroy of Utrecht. [1]

April 6

• Francis Walsingham English Secretary of State, dies at about age 57. [1]

May 9

• Karel "Cardinal" van Bourbon archbishop of Rouen, dies at age 66. [1]

May 14

• Battle at Ivry: French king Henri IV beats Catholic League. [1]

June 15

• Pope Leo X threatens to ex-communicate Martin Luther. [1]

December 5

• Niccolò Sfondrati chosen Pope Gregory XIV. [1]

December 20

• Ambroise Paré French surgeon, dies at age 80. [1]

December 27

• Emmanuel-Philibert of Lalaing marquis of Renty, dies at age 33. [1]

1591

January 7

• Jacobus de Kerle French/Flemish composer, dies at about age 59. [1]

January 19

• Edmond Auger French jesuit (under Henri III), dies at about age 60. [1]

February 3

• German monarchy forms Protestant Union of Torgau. [1]

February 5

• Gerard de Jode Flemish publisher, dies. [1]

March 1

• Pope Gregory XIV threatens to excommunicate French king Henri IV. [1]

March 13

• Battle at Tondibi: Moroccans army under Judar beats sultan Askia Ishaq II of Songhai. [1]

April 19

• Chartres surrenders to king Henri IV in France. [1]

May 15

• Dimitri Ivanovitch Russian son of czar Ivan IV, murdered at age 9. [1]

May 17

• Jost/Jobst/Jodocus Amman Swiss cartoonist/graphic artist, dies at age 51. [1]

May 20

• Spanish troops in Zutphen surrenders to Willem Louis/Mauritius. [1]

December 14

• Juan de la Cruz [de Yepes] Spanish Carmelet/poet/saint, dies. [1]

December 30

• Innocent IX [Giovanni Facchinetti] Pope, (1591 62 days), dies at age 72. [1]

1592

January 5

• Willem II Duke of Gulik/Kleef/Gelre, dies at about age 75. [1]

January 6

• Johan Casimir palsgrave at the Rhine, dies. [1]

January 30

• Ippolito Aldobrandini elected Pope Clement VIII. [1]

March 10

• Michiel Coxcie Flemish (court)painter/carpet designer, dies. [1]

April 22

• Bartolommeo Ammanati Italian sculptor/architect, dies at age 80. [1]

December 2

• Alexander Farnese land guardian of Netherlands (1579-92), dies at age 46. [1]

1593

January 5

• William Louis of Nassau becomes Governor/Viceroy of Drenthe. [1]

January 27

• Vatican opens 7 year trial against scholar Giordano Bruno. [1]

February 7

• Jacques Amyot French humanist/abbot of Bellozanne, dies at age 79. [1]

March 23

• English Congressionalist Henry Barrow accused of slander. [1]

April 6

• Henry Barrow English puritian/Congressionalist, hanged. [1]
• John Greenwood English Congressionalist, hanged. [1]

May 29

• John Penry English congressionalist, executed. [1]

May 30

• Christopher Marlowe, British dramatist (Tamburlaine the Great), killed in a fight in London, England. [1] [5] [66.38]

July 11

• Giuseppe Arcimboldo first surrealist painter, dies (birth date unkn). [1]

July 25

• France's Protestant King Henri IV converts to Roman Catholic. [1]

December 15

• State of Holland grants patent on windmill with crankshaft. [1]

December 24

• Storm hits Texel: 40 ships hit, 500 killed. [1]

1594

February 2

• Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina Italian composer, dies at age 68. [1]

February 27

• Henri IV crowned king of France. [1]

March 12

• Company of Distant established for business on East-Indies. [1]

March 22

• French King Henri IV festival in Paris France. [1]

April 15

• Fleming Pieter Stevens appointed royal painter of Rudolf II (Prague). [1]

May 4

• Paul Buys Grand Pensionary of Holland, dies at age 62. [1]

May 22

• Earl Mauritius and Willem Louis begins siege of Groningen. [1]

May 31

• Tintoretto Italian Mannerist painter, dies at age 75. [1]

December 5

• Gerardus Mercator Flemish philosopher/cartographer, dies at age 82. [1]

1595

January 5

• Ercole Procaccini Italian painter, dies. [1]

January 14

• Ferdinand archduke of Austria/mayor of Bohemenia, dies. [1]

January 16

• Murad III sultan of Turkey (1574-95), dies. [1]

January 17

• French king Henri IV declares war on Spain. [1]

January 28

• Sir Francis Drake English navigator/pirate (Porto Bello West Indies), dies at about age 50. [1]

February 20

• Ernst archduke of Austria, dies at age 41. [1]

February 21

• Robert Southwell English Jesuit/poet, hanged. [1]

April 2

• Cornelis de Houtman's ships depart to Asia through Cape of Good Hope. [1]

April 15

• Willem I's daughter of Elisabeth of Nassau marries duke Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne of Broth. [1]

April 25

• Torquato Tasso Italian poet/playwright, dies at age 51. [1]

May 2

• King Philip II names Albrecht of Austria land guardian of Netherlands. [1]

May 26

• Philippus Nerius [Filippo Neri] Italian merchant/saint, dies at age 79. [1]

July 9

• Johannes Kepler inscribes geometric solid construction of universe. [1]

December 10

• Reynier Cant mayor of Amsterdam, dies at about age 59. [1]

December 11

• Philip III van Croij prince of Chimay/general, dies at age 69. [1]

December 27

• Pietro Pontio composer, dies at age 63. [1]

1596

January 21

• John Ligarius German theologist/prime minister, dies at age 66. [1]

January 31

• Catholic League disjoins. [1]

April 17

• Arch duke Albrecht of Austria occupies Calais. [1]

April 24

• Pacificatie of Ireland drawn. [1]

May 18

• Willem Barents leaves Amsterdam for Novaya Zemlya. [1]

May 26

• England, France and Netherlands signs Drievoudig Covenant against Spain. [1]

May 27

• Tibaldi II Italian painter/sculptor/architect, dies. [1]

August 3

• David Fabricius discovers light variation of Mira (first variable star). [1]

December 8

• Luis de Carabajal first Jewish author in America, executed in México. [1]

December 22

• Ferryboat Meuniers crashes in Paris, 150 die. [1]

1597

February 2

• Lucas van Valckenborch Flemish painter, buried at about age 61. [1]

February 15

• Pieter J Kies Dutch mayor of Haarlem (1572-73), dies at about age 66. [1]

February 24

• Flemish painter Frederick of Valckenborch becomes porter of Frankfurt-on-Main. [1]

March 10

• Petrus Forestus Dutch physician (Willem of Orange), dies. [1]

March 11

• Land guardian Albrecht occupies Amiens on France. [1]

March 12

• England routes troops to Amiens. [1]

May 20

• Matthijs Heldt dies in battle. [1]

December 18

• Barbara Blomberg German mistress of emperor Karel, dies at age 67. [1]

December 21

• Petrus Canisius Dutch jesuit/saint, dies at age 76. [1]

1598

January 7

• Boris Godunov seizes the Russian throne on death of Feodore I. [1]
• Theodorus I [Fedor Ivanovitch], czar of Russia (1584-98), dies at age 40. [1]

January 8

• Genoa Italy expels Jews. [1]
• Jews are expelled from Genoa Italy. [1]
• Johan Georg elector of Brandenburg (1571-91), dies at age 72. [1]

January 12

• Pope Clement VIII seizes duchy of Ferrara on death of Alfonso. [1]

February 10

• Anna van Bull first wife of Polish/Swedish king Sigismund II, dies. [1]

February 17

• Boris Godunov chosen tsar of Russia. [1]

February 21

• Boris Godunov crowned tsar. [1]

March 11

• Countess Charlotte of Nassau marries duke Claude de la Tremoille. [1]

March 20

• French king Henri IV and duke van Mercour sign treaty. [1]

March 25

• Cornelis de Houtman's fleet departs for East-Indies. [1]

April 13

• Edict of Nantes grants political rights to French Huguenots. [1]

April 30

• First theater performance in America (Spanish comedy-Rio Grande). [1]

May 1

• Jacob van Necks merchant fleet departs for Java. [1]

May 2

• France and Spain signs Peace of Vervins. [1]

May 6

• Arch duke Albrecht and Isabella become monarch of Southern Netherlands. [1]

September 13

• Philip II King of Spain (1556-98), dies at age 71. [1]

December 6

• Elbertus Leoninus Dutch lawyer/politician, dies at about age 78. [1]

December 15

• Philip van Marnix Flemish ruler of Saint Aldegonde/poet, dies at age 58. [1]

1599

January 11

• Jacob van Necks fleet leaves Bantam Java with pepper, clove and muskaat. [1]

January 13

• Edmund Spenser poet (Faerie Queene), dies at about age 46. [1]

January 22

• Cristofano Malvezzi composer, dies at age 51. [1]

March 27

• Robert Devereux becomes Lieutenant-General of Ireland. [1]

April 18

• Valencia arch duke Albrecht of Austrian marries Isabella of Spain. [1]

July 23

• Caravaggio's first public commission for paintings. [1]