References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 June 28.

1600 February 4 Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler meet for first time outside of Prague. [1] February 8 Vatican convicts scholar Giordano Bruno to death. [1] February 15 José the Acosta Spanish missionary (Peru), dies at age 59. [1] February 16 Giordano Bruno burned at stake. [1] February 17 Giordano Bruno advocate of Copernican theory and plurality of worlds, burned at stake by the Inquisition in Rome. [1] April 21 First date in James Clavell's novel Shogun (OS). [1] October 20 Battle of Sekigahara sets Tokugawa clan as Japan's rulers (shoguns). [1] December 12 John Craig Scottish church reformer/James VI's court vicar, dies. [1] December 14 Olivier van Noort sinks Sp galleon San Diego at Bay of Manila, 350 die. [1] December 20 Ottario Rinuccini/Giulio Caccini's opera "Euridice" published. [1] December 31 British East India Company chartered. [1] 1601 January 7 Robert, Earl of Essex leads revolt in London against Queen Elizabeth. [1] January 14 Church authorities burn Hebrew books in Rome. [1] January 17 France gains Bresse, Bugey, Valromey and Gex in treaty with Spain. [1] February 8 Earl Robert Devereux of Essex armies draws into London. [1] February 13 John Lancaster leads first East India Company voyage from London. [1] February 25 Earl of Essex executed for treason in revolt against Queen Elizabeth. [1] October 13 Tycho Brahe greatest naked-eye observer, dies in Prague. [1] October 24 Tycho Brahe astronomer, dies in Prague at age 54. [1] 1602 January 2 Spanish forces in Ireland surrender to the English at Kinsdale. [1] February 3 Paul Melissus [Paul Schede], German poet/composer, dies at age 62. [1] February 13 Alexander Nowell English churchman, dean of Saint Paul's, dies. [1] February 25 Everard van Reyd Dutch historian, dies at about age 51. [1] March 20 United Dutch East Indian Company (VOC) forms. [1] May 15 Cape Cod discovered by English navigator Bartholomew Gosnold. [1] May 21 Martha's Vineyard first sighted (Captain Bartholomew Gosnold). [1] December 5 Giulio Caccini's "Euridice" premieres in Florence. [1] 1603 January 5 Pieter Adriaansz van der Werff mayor of Lead, dies at age 73. [1] March 24 Elizabeth I Tudor [Maiden Queen] English queen (1558-1603), dies at age 69. [1] Scottish king James VI becomes King James I of England. [1] March 30 Battle at Mellifont: English army under Lord Mountjoy beats Irish. [1] April 5 New English king James I departs Edinburgh for London. [1] December 4 Maarten de Vos Flemish painter, dies at about age 71. [1] December 10 William Gilbert Queen Elizabeth's physician, dies at age 59. [1] December 13 Franciscus Vieta mathematician, dies in Paris at age 63. [1] December 18 Admiral Steven van der Haghens fleet departs to East-Indies. [1] December 22 Mehmed III sultan of Turkey (1595-1603), dies at age 37. [1] December 27 Thomas Cartwright English Presbyterian publicist, dies at about age 68. [1] 1604 January 17 Santino Garsi composer, dies at age 61. [1] January 21 Tsar Ivan IV defeats the False Dmitri, who claims to be the true tsar. [1] February 29 John Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury (1583-1604), dies at about age 74. [1] April 4 Thomas Churchyard poet/pamphleteer, dies. [1] April 25 Count Maurits' army lands at Cadzand. [1] May 4 Claudio Merulo composer, dies at age 71. [1] May 5 Claudio Merulo Italian organist/composer, dies at age 71. [1] May 12 Spanish garrison of Aardenburg surrenders to Mauritius. [1] October 9 Supernova 1604 - the most recent supernova to be observed in the Milky Way - is seen for the first time. [5] (October 8 [1]) November 1 William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" first presented. [1] December 31 Admiral Steven van der Haghen's fleet reaches Bantam. [1] 1605 January 31 In Tokaido, Japan, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs, claiming 5,000 deaths and creating a tsunami wave. [53] February 19 Orazio Tiberio Vecchi composer, dies at age 54. [1] February 25 Portuguese garrison on Ambon surrenders to Admiral Van der Haghen. [1] March 5 Clement VIII [Ippolito Aldofireini], Pope (1592-1605), dies at age 69. [1] March 17 Pieter Bast [Bastius], Dutch engraver/cartographer, dies at about age 34. [1] April 6 John Stow British historian, dies. [1] April 15 Boris Godunov tsar of Russia (1598-1605), dies. [1] April 27 Leo XI [Alessandro O de' Medici] Italian Pope (1605), dies at age 69. [1] May 4 Ulisse Aldrovandi Italian biologist/medical, dies at age 82. [1] May 16 Camillo Borghese elected to succeed Pope Leo XI becomes Paul V. [1] November 5 Gunpowder Plot; Catholics try to blow up English Parliament. Plot uncovered and leader Guy Fawkes hanged. [1] 1606 January 28 Carolus Gallus [Karel de Haan], Dutch lawyer/pastor/vicar, dies at age 85. [1] January 31 Guy Fawkes convicted in the "Gunpowder Plot", executed at age 35. [1] March 23 Justus Lipsius [Joost Lips], Dutch classic philologist, dies at age 58. [1] April 12 England adopts the Union Jack as its flag. [1] May 16 2,000 foreigners murdered in Russia. [1] May 17 Forges Dimitri czar of Russia (1605-06), murdered. [1] December 20 Virginia Company settlers leave London to establish Jamestown Virginia. [1] 1607 February 23 Herman Herbertsz vicar, dies at about age 60. [1] February 24 Claudio Monteverdi's opera "Orfeo" premieres in Mantua. [1] April 15 Cornelius Kilianus Flemish translator/poet, dies at about age 78. [1] April 25 Battle at Gibraltar Dutch fleet beats Spanish/Portuguese fleet. [1] Don Juan Alvarez Spanish Admiral (Gibraltar), dies in battle. [1] Jacob van Heemskerck Dutch Admiral (Nova Zambia), dies in battle. [1] April 26 First British to establish an American colony land at Cape Henry Virginia. [1] May 13 English colonists (John Smith) land near James River in Virginia. [1] May 14 First permanent English settlement in New World, Jamestown Virginia. [1] June 21 First Protestant Episcopal parish in America established, Jamestown. [1] June 30 Annales Ecclesiastici (Scientific History of Catholicism) published. [1] 1608 January 7 Fire destroys Jamestown, Virginia. [1] April 19 Earl of Dorset poet/statesman, dies. [1] May 19 Matthias von Habsburgs army reaches Lieben, at Prague. [1] May 28 Claudio Monteverdi's "Arianna" premieres in Mantua. [1] July 3 City of Québec founded by Samuel de Champlain. [1] September 10 John Smith elected president of Jamestown colony council, Virginia. [1] October 2 Hans Lippershey offers Dutch gov't a new invention, the telescope. [1] Prototype of modern reflecting telescope completed by Jan Lippershey. [1] 1609 January 21 Joseph Justus Scaliger French inventor of "Julian Period", dies at age 68. [1] January 31 Wisselbank of Amsterdam established. [1] February 7 Ferdinand I cardinal/ruler of Toscane, dies. [1] February 28 Paul Sartorius composer, dies at age 39. [1] March 12 Bermuda becomes an English colony. [1] March 25 Henry Hudson embarks on an exploration for Dutch East India Co. [1] Johan Willem duke of Jülich/Cleef/Mark/Mountain/Ravensberg, dies. [1] April 9 Spain and Netherlands sign 12 Year Resistant Pact. [1] May 26 Cornelis Claesz mapmaker, buried. [1] July 20 Federico Zuccari Italian Mannerist painter, dies (birth date unknown). [1] July 28 Admiral George Somers settles in Bermuda. [1] August 8 Venetian senate examines Galileo Galilei's telescope. [1] August 25 Galileo demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers. [1] August 28 Delaware Bay explored by Henry Hudson for the Netherlands. [1] September 4 Navigator Henry Hudson discovers island of Manhattan (or 0911). [1] September 11 Henry Hudson lands on Manhattan island. [1] [5] September 12 Henry Hudson discovers Hudson River. [1] 1610 January 1 German astronomer Simon Marius first discovers the Jupiter moons, but does not officially report it, Galileo does on July 1 1610. [1] January 7 Galileo discovers first three Jupiter satellites, Io, Europa and Ganymede. [1] January 13 Galileo Galilei discovers Callisto, fourth satellite of Jupiter. [1] February 14 Polish king Sigismund III, Forges Dimitri #2 and Romanov family sign covenant against czar Vasili Shushki. [1] February 28 Thomas West, Baron De La Warr, is appointed governor of Virginia. [1] March 21 King James I addresses English House of Commons. [1] April 15 Johan van Duivenoorde mister of Warmond, dies at about age 62. [1] April 18 Robert Parsons English jesuit leader/plotter, dies at age 63. [1] May 11 Matteo Ricci Italian missionary (China), dies. [1] May 14 Henry IV first Bourbon-king of France (1572, 89-1610), murdered at age 56. [1] May 15 Parliament of Paris appoints Louis XIII (8) as French king. [1] June 10 First Dutch settlers arrive (from New Jersey), to colonize Manhattan Island. [1] December 11 Adam Elsheimer German painter/cartoonist/etcher, buried at age 32. [1] Forges Dimitri #2 czar of Russia, murdered. [1] 1611 February 8 Jan H Van Linschoten traveller/writer (Reys-Gheschrift), dies. [1] March 4 George Abbot appointed archbishop of Canterbury. [1] April 1 Gillis van Valkenborch Flemish painter, buried at about age 72. [1] April 4 Denmark issues a declaration of war on Sweden. [7] April 14 Word "telescope" is first used (Prince Federico Cesi). [1] May 23 Matthias von Habsburg chosen king of Bohemia. [1] June 13 John Fabricius dedicates earliest sunspot publication. [1] June 22 Henry Hudson and son set adrift in Hudson Bay by mutineers. [1] October 30 Sweden's King Karl IX dies at Nyköping. [7] November 1 Shakespeare's romantic comedy "The Tempest" first presented. [1] December 17 In Sweden, the Riksdag declares Gustav Adolf to be of age to become King. His title is Elected King and Hereditary Prince of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals. [7] 1612 January 4 Henry L Spieghel Dutch merchant/writer, dies at age 62. [1] January 20 Rudolf II von Habsburg emperor of Germany (1576-1612), dies at age 59. [1] January 27 Maarten van Valckenborch Flemish painter, buried at about age 77. [1] January 28 Thomas Bodley diplomat/founder (Bodleian Library), dies. [1] February 6 Christopher Clavius calendar reformer, dies (birth date unknown). [1] February 17 Ernst of Bayern prince/bishop of Luik/archbishop of Cologne, dies at age 57. [1] Jodocus Hondius Flemish cartoonist/mathematician, dies at age 48. [1] March 14 Philip Galle Flemish engraver, dies at about age 74. [1] April 18 Emanuel Van Meteren merchant/historian, dies. [1] May 24 Robert Cecil first Earl of Salisbury/Prime Minister (1598-1612), dies at age 48. [1] December 15 Simon Marius, is first to observe Andromeda galaxy through a telescope. [1] December 28 Galileo Galilei becomes the first astronomer to observe the planet Neptune, although he mistakenly catalogues it as a fixed star. [5] (January 29, 1613 [1]) 1613 January 20 The Peace of Knäred is signed between Sweden and Denmark in Halland, mediated by King James I of England. Kalmar is retured to Sweden, but Denmark retains the fortress of Älvborg and Göteborg at the mouth of the Göta river for six years or until one million riksdaler (25,000 kg silver) is paid. Sweden surrenders claims to the far north of Norway. [7] January 24 Amsterdam merchant Hans Bontemantel baptized. [1] February 7 Michail Romanov (16) becomes czar of Russia. [1] February 14 King James I's daughter Elizabeth marries Frederik. [1] February 20 Gerard Reynst appointed Dutch Governor-General of East-Indies. [1] February 21 Michael Romanov, son of the Patriarch of Moscow, elected Russian tsar. [1] February 24 English princess Elizabeth marries earl Frederik of Palts. [1] May 5 Johann Steuerlein composer, dies at age 66. [1] June 29 Shakespeare's Globe Theater in London, England burns down. [1] [66.38] December 25 Johan Sigismund of Brandenburg becomes protestant. [1] 1614 April 5 Second parliament of King James I begins session (no enactments). [1] Indian princess Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe. [1] April 7 El Greco Spanish painter (View of Toledo), dies (birth date unknown). [1] April 14 Pocahontas, daughter of chief Powhatan, marries planter John Rolfe. [1] April 25 Amsterdam Bank of Loan forms. [1] May 3 Sasbout Vosmeer Roman Catholic theologist/apostole vicar, dies at age 66. [1] June 7 Second parliment of King James I, disolves passing no legislation. [1] September 1 Vincent Fettmich expells Jews from Frankfurt-on-Main, Germany. [1] December 19 Melchior Bischoff composer, dies at age 67. [1] December 28 Sperm whale beached at Noordwijk. [1] 1615 March 4 Hans von Aachen German painter, dies. [1] March 6 Pieter Both Dutch Admiral/first Governor-General (East Indies, 1609-14), drowns. [1] 1616 January 24 Jacques Le Maire discovers Street Lemaire/Cape Receiver. [1] February 12 John Drusius of Driesschen, Flemish Hebraist, dies at age 65. [1] February 26 Spanish Inquisition delivers injunction to Galileo. [1] March 5 Copernicus' "de Revolutionibus" placed on Catholic Forbidden index. [1] March 6 Francis Beaumont Elizabethan dramatist, dies (birth date unknown). [1] March 20 Walter Raleigh released from Tower of London to seek gold in Guyana. [1] April 23 Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra Spanish writer (Don Quixote), dies at age 69. [1] Netherlands buys De Briel/Vlissingen/Fort Rammekens from England. [1] William Shakespeare English author (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet), dies on his 52nd birthday. [1] April 30 English King Jacob I leaves Brielle/Vlissingen. [1] May 3 Treaty of Loudun kills French civil war. [1] July 25 Andreas Libavius German alchemist, dies. [1] December 10 Diogo do Couto Portuguese historian/archivist of Goa, dies at age 74. [1] December 31 Jacques Le Maire pirate/explorer (Lemaire Strait), dies at age 31. [1] 1617 January 1 Hendrick Goltzius Dutch painter/cartoonist/engraver, dies. [1] January 17 Pieter C Bockenberg Dutch historian, dies at age 68. [1] February 4 Louis Elsevier Dutch publisher, dies at about age 76. [1] February 6 Prosper Alpinus Italian physician/botanist, dies at age 63. [1] February 9 Hans Christoph Haiden composer, dies at age 44. [1] February 27 Peace between Sweden and Russia is reached in the Treaty of Stolbova, with English mediation. Sweden renounces all claims to the Russian throne and Novgorod, gives back three towns for 20,000 rubles, and holds Gdov until new boundaries are delimited. Russia gives up Ingria and Karelia, including Ivangorod, Jama, Kexholm, Kopore, Nöteborg, abandons claims on Livonia, and agrees not to aid Poland against Sweden. [7] March 4 Arcangelo Crivelli composer, dies at age 70. [1] March 9 Sweden and Russia sign Peace of Stolbowa. [1] March 20 Franciscus Aguilon physicist/theologist/mathematician, dies at age 50. [1] March 21 Pocahontas dies. [5] April 4 John Napier Scottish mathematician/inventor (logarithms), dies. [1] April 24 Carlo Concino French marquis of Ancre/state advisor, murdered. [1] May 7 David Fabricius German astronomer, dies at age 53. [1] August 23 First one-way streets established (London). [1] December 16 Spanish viceroy Hernando Arias de Saavedra founds provinces Río de la Plata (Argentina)/Guaira (Paraguay). [1] 1618 January 7 Francis Bacon becomes English lord chancellor. [1] February 28 Filips Willem Prince of Orange, dies at age 63. [1] May 15 Johannes Kepler discovers harmonics law. [1] May 23 Second Defenestration of Prague; the beginning of the 30 Years War. [1] Imperial civil servants thrown out a window of Prague Castle. [1] September 4 "Rodi" avalanche destroys Plurs Switzerland, 1,500 killed. [1] October 29 Sir Walter Raleigh is executed in London. [1] December 11 Russia and Poland signs Peace treaty of Dailino. [1] 1619 February 19 Trial against Johan van Oldenbarnevelt begins in The Hague. [1] March 1 Thomas Campion English physician/composer/poet (Poemata), dies at age 53. [1] March 2 Anne of Denmark daughter of Danish king Frederik II, dies at age 44. [1] March 12 Dutch settlement on Java changes name to Batavia. [1] March 13 Richard Burbage English actor (Shakespeare), dies. [1] March 20 Matthias II Holy Roman Catholic emperor (1611-19), dies. [1] April 16 Denijs Calvaert/Caluwaert [Dionisio Fiamingo] Flemish painter, dies. [1] April 19 Theatrum Anatomicum opens in Amsterdam. [1] May 13 Johan van Oldenbarnevelt lands advocate, beheaded. [1] May 18 Hugo the Great sentenced to life in prison. [1] July 30 House of Burgesses Virginia formed, first elective US governing body. [1] August 1 First black Americans (20) land at Jamestown, Virginia. [1] December 4 America's first Thanksgiving Day (Virginia). [1] December 23 Johan Sigismund elector of Brandenburg/duke of Prussia, dies at age 47. [1] December 29 Antoine Arnauld French lawyer (Philippica), dies. [1]