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

Last updated: 2008 April 30.

1560 January 1 Guillaume du Bellay Sieur de Langey, French soldier, dies. [1] January 3 Peder Palladus Danish church reformer (Visitasbog), dies at about 56. [1] January 28 John a Lasco [John Laski], Polish nobleman/reformed theologist, dies. [1] January 31 Spanish king Philip II marries Elisabeth van Valois. [1] March 7 Christian fleet under Gian Andrea lands at Djerba, N Africa. [1] March 13 Spanish fleet occupies Djerba, at Tripoli. [1] March 15 Failed assault on royal palace in Amboise France. [1] April 19 Philipp Melanchton [Schwazerd] church reformer, dies at 63. [1] August 21 Tycho Brahe becomes interested in astronomy. [1] December 5 François II King of France (1559-60), dies at 16. [1] 1561 January 28 By Edict of Orleans persecution of French Huguenots is suspended. [1] January 31 Menno Simonsz Dutch priest/vicar (Foundation Book), dies. [1] February 22 William of Orange appointed viceroy of Burgundy/Charolais. [1] March 5 Carlo Caraffa Italian cardinal, dies at 41. [1] December 21 Archbishop Granvelle installed. [1] 1562 January 15 Third sitting of Council of Trente opens. [1] January 17 Edict of Saint Germain recognizes the Huguenots in France. [1] March 1 Blood bath at Vassy; General de Guise allows 1200 huguenots murder. [1] March 9 Kissing in public banned in Naples (punishable by death). [1] March 15 General François de Guise enters Paris France. [1] April 30 First French colonists in US Jean Ribaut and Hugenots at Parris Island North Carolina. [1] October 9 Gabriel Fallopius Modena Italy, anatomist. [1] December 6 Jan van Scorel Dutch painter/architect, dies. [1] December 17 Adrian Willaert Flemish singer/bandmaster/composer, dies at about 82. [1] December 19 Battle at Dreux: Anne de Montmorency and huguenots under Condé captured. [1] 1563 February 2 Hans Neusiedler Hungarian/German luitist/author, dies at approximately 54. [1] February 15 Russian troops occupy Polotsk Lithuania. [1] February 18 Huguenot Jean Poltrot de Méré shoots General François De Guise. [1] February 24 François Guise French General/duke, assassinated at 44. [1] February 27 William Byrd is appointed organist at Lincoln Cathedral. [1] March 11 League of High Nobles' second protest against King Philip II. [1] March 19 Peace of Amboise; Rights for Huguenots. [1] April 30 Jews are expelled from France by order of Charles VI. [1] December 4 Council of Trent holds last session, after 18 years. [1] 1564 February 18 Michelangelo Buonarroti Italian sculptor/painter/architect/poet (David), dies at 88. [1] February 21 Philip II routes cardinal Granvelle to Franche-Comté. [1] February 26 Christopher Marlowe, dramatist (Dr Faustus), baptized in Canterbury, England. [1] [66.36] March 13 Cardinal Granvelle flees Brussels. [1] April 11 England and France sign Peace of Troyes. [1] Liege Prince-Bishop Robert van Bergen resigns. [1] April 26 William Shakespeare baptized. [1] May 27 Jean Caulvin [John Calvin] priest/church reformer, dies at 54. [1] May 31 Battle on Gotland: Lübeck and Denmark beat Sweden. [1] October 15 Andreas Vesalius anatomist, dies at 49. [1] December 31 Willem van Orange demands freedom of conscience/religion. [1] 1565 January 25 Battle at Talikota India Muslims destroy Vijayanagar's army. [1] January 27 Robrecht de Berghes prince-bishop of Liege (1557-64), dies. [1] March 1 Spanish occupier Estacio de Sá founds Rio de Janeiro. [1] March 17 Alexander Alesius [Aless/Alane], theologist/physician, dies at 64. [1] April 27 First Spanish settlement in Philippines, Cebu City, forms. [1] May 14 Nicolaus von Amsdorf German reform theologist, dies. [1] September 8 First permanent settlement in US forms (Saint Augustine, Florida). [1] Turkish siege of Malta broken by Maltese and Knights of Saint John. [1] September 20 Spaniards capture Fort Caroline Fla and massacre the French. [1] October 22 Jean Grolier de Serviéres French bibliophile, dies. [1] December 9 Pius IV [Gianangelo de' Medici] Italian Pope (1559-65), dies at 66. [1] December 13 Konrad von Gesner naturalist, dies at 49. [1] December 18 Benedetto Varchi Italian humanist/historian (L'Ercolano), dies at 62. [1] December 24 Compromise of the Nobles closes against inquisition. [1] 1566 January 7 Antonio Michaele Ghislieri is elected Pope Pius V. [1] Ludovicus Blosius [Louis de Blois "Dacrianus"], wrtier, dies. [1] February 13 Saint Augustine Florida founded. [1] March 9 David Riccio Italian singer/secretary of Mary Stuart, murdered. [1] March 26 Antonio de Cabezon composer, dies. [1] March 28 Siegmund Freiherr von Herberstein Austrian diplomat, dies at 79. [1] April 5 200 Brussel nobles offer Margaretha of Parma a petition. [1] April 25 Diane de Poitiers lover of French King Henry II, dies. [1] May 10 Leonhard Fuchs German botanist, dies at 65. [1] July 2 Nostradamus French astrologer/physician/prophet, dies in Salon. [1] December 1 Spanish king Philip II names Fernando Alvarez, duke of Alva. [1] 1567 January 8 Jacob Vaet Flemish composer/royal chaplain master, dies at about 37. [1] February 10 Henry Stuart earl of Darnley/Consort of Mary Queen of Scots, murdered. [1] March 11 Geuzen army leaves Walcheren to return to Oosterweel. [1] March 13 Battle at Oosterweel: Spanish troops destroy Geuzenleger. [1] March 31 Philip the Generous, count of Hessen, dies at 62. [1] April 11 Dutch Prince William of Orange flees from Antwerp to Breda. [1] April 18 Wilhelm von Grumbach German military man, dies at 63. [1] April 19 Michael Stifel German theologist/mathematician, dies at about 79. [1] May 2 Marin Drzic Croatian playwright (Dundo Maroje), dies. [1] May 3 Leonhard Paminger composer, dies at 72. [1] May 15 Mary, Queen of Scots marries James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell. [1] May 31 Péreguin de la Grange French minister/martyr of Reform, dies. [1] June 15 Jews are expelled from Genoa Italy. [1] June 16 Mary Queen of Scots thrown into Lochleven Castle prison. [1] June 20 Jews are expelled from Brazil by order of regent Don Henrique. [1] 1568 January 24 Abdij Church in Middelburg destroyed by fire. [1] In the Netherlands, Duke of Alva declares William of Orange an outlaw. [1] February 15 Hendrik van Brederode Dutch noble (Compromise of Nobles), dies at 36. [1] February 17 Holy Roman Emperor agrees to pay annual tribute to Sultan for peace. [1] February 19 Miles Coverdale translator (first complete English Bible), dies at 80. [1] March 20 Albrecht von Hohenzollern first duke of Prussia, dies at 77. [1] March 23 Treaty of Longjumeau: French huguenots go on strike. [1] May 13 Mary Queen of Scots is defeated by English at battle of Langside. [1] May 16 Mary Queen of Scotland flees to England. [1] May 19 English queen Elizabeth I arrests Scottish queen Mary. [1] May 23 Adolf van Nassau German son of Willem the Rich, dies in battle at 27. [1] Battle at Heiligerlee: Dutch rebels beat Spanish, 100s killed. [1] July 13 Dean of Saint Paul's Cathedral perfects a way to bottle beer. [1] December 24 Uprising of Morisco's in Granada. [1] December 26 Uprising of Morisco's against suppression in Granada. [1] 1569 January 11 First recorded lottery in England is drawn at Saint Paul's Cathedral. [1] January 20 Miles Coverdale English bible translator Great bible, dies at 80. [1] February 7 King Philip II forms inquistion in South America. [1] February 20 Mark van Vaernewijck Flemish nobleman/politician, dies at 50. [1] March 13 Battle of Jarnac, Count of Anjou defeats Huguenots. [1] Louis Condé French prince/co-leader of Hugenot, dies in battle. [1] March 20 Duke van Alva leads "tenth penning" in Ponts the Cé. [1] May 10 Juan the Avila Spanish minister/writer. [1] May 27 François de Coligny French general (Jarnac), dies. [1] December 15 Westmoreland flees to Scotland. [1] December 23 Saint Philip of Moscow martyred by Ivan the Terrible. [1] 1570 January 2 Tsar Ivan the Terrible march to Novgorod begins. [1] January 3 Bartholomeus Latomus [Steinmetz], Flemish archbishop of Trier, dies. [1] January 4 Spanish viceroy Alva banishes Zutphen City's only physician, Joost Sweiter, "because he is a Jew". [1] January 9 Tsar Ivan the terrible kills 1000-2000 residents of Novgorod. [1] January 23 Earl of Moray, regent of Scotland, assassinated; civil war breaks out. [1] February 25 Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth, absolves her subjects from allegiance. [1] February 28 Anti-Portugese uprising on Ternate, Moluccas. [1] March 4 King Philip II bans foreign Dutch students. [1] March 12 Jacob van den Eynden Grand Pensionary of Holland, dies. [1] April 14 Polish Calvinists/Lutherians/Hernhutters unify against Jesuits. [1] April 24 Battles between Spanish troops and followers of sultan Suleiman. [1] May 10 Czar Ivan IV becomes Protestant. [1] May 20 Egidius Coppens publishes Abraham Ortelius' "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum". [1] May 22 First atlas, with 70 maps, published. [1] December 9 Geuzen under Herman de Ruyter occupies Loevestein. [1] December 13 Sweden/Denmark signs Peace of Stettin. [1] 1571 January 3 Death of Joachim II Hektor at age 65; Elector of Brandenburg. [1] [37] January 11 Emperor Maximilian II grants Austrian adel freedom of religion. [1] January 23 Queen Elizabeth I opens Royal Exchange in London. [1] February 14 Benvenuto Cellini Italian sculptor/metalsmith/author (Perseus), dies at 70. [1] Odet de Coligny Cardinal of Châtillon/count of Beauvais, dies at 53. [1] March 19 Spanish troops occupy Manila. [1] March 25 Catholic Italian businessman Roberto Ridolfi leaves Enngeland. [1] May 16 Johannes Kepler, by his own calculations, is conceived at 4:37 AM. [1] May 19 Miguel Lopez de Lagazpi founded Manilla in the Phillipines. [1] May 20 Venice, Spain and Pope Pius form anti-Turkish Saint League. [1] October 7 Turkish fleet defeated by Spanish and Italians in Battle of Lepanto. [1] 1572 February 5 Beggars assault Oisterwijk Netherlands, drive nuns out. [1] March 12 Luís Vaz de Camoes publishes "Os Lusíados" in Portugal. [1] April 1 Bloys van Treslong conquers Brielle. [1] April 21 France and England sign anti-Spanish military covenant. [1] May 1 Pius V [Antonio Ghislieri] great-inquisiteur/Pope (1566-72), dies. [1] May 4 Veere sides with Geuzen. [1] May 15 Louis van Nassau and huguenots occupy Valenciennes. [1] August 24 King Charles IX orders massacre of thousands of French Protestants. [1] November 6 Supernova is observed in the constellation known as Cassiopeia. [1] November 24 John Knox Scottish preacher, dies. [1] December 10 Cornelis Musius Dutch humanist/poet, murdered at 72. [1] December 11 Spanish troops begin siege of Haarlem. [1] December 13 Spanish army beats Geuzen fleet under Admiral Lumey. [1] December 17 Spanish army begins fires in Haarlem Netherlands. [1] December 30 Galeazzo Alessi Italian architect (Palazza Marino, Milan), dies at 60. [1] 1573 January 1 Geuzen sets fire to Woudrichem. [1] February 11 First European, Francis Drake sees the Pacific (from Panamá). [1] February 28 Jan "Hans" Liefrinck Flemish engraver/publisher, dies at about 54. [1] March 7 Turkey and Venice signs peace treaty. [1] March 13 Michel de l'Hôpital chancellor of France (1560-68), dies at about 65. [1] March 14 Claude II of Lotharingen, duke of Aumale/murdered Admiral Coligny, dies. [1] May 9 Polish Parliament selects duke of Anjou as king. [1] November 7 Solomon Luria (Maharshal) talmudic author (Yam Shel Shelomo), dies. [1] December 11 Alardus/Eilard de Waterlant duke of Alva, hanged. [1] 1574 January 29 Sea battle of Reimerswaal - Admiral Boisot beats Spanish fleet. [1] February 9 Louis of Nassau ends siege of Maastricht. [1] February 18 Zeeland falls to Dutch rebels. [1] February 19 Spanish troops plunder Krommenie, Wormerveer and Jisp Netherlands. [1] February 21 Spanish garrison of Middelburg Netherlands surrenders. [1] February 23 France begins 5th Holy War against Huguenots. [1] March 5 Philip of Saint-Aldegonde Flemish viceroy Holland/Zealand/Utrecht, dies. [1] April 14 Battle of Mookerhei-D'Avila beats Louis of Nassau. [1] Christoffel Palts German General strategist, dies in battle. [1] Hendrik count of Nassau-Dillenburg, dies in battle. [1] Louis earl of Nassau-Dillenburg, dies in battle at 35. [1] April 17 Joachim Camerarius [Liebhard Kammerer] German philologist, dies. [1] April 21 Cosimo de Medici Italian duke of Toscane, dies at about 54. [1] May 30 Charles IX King of France (1560-74), dies. [1] Henry III follows brother Charles IX as king of France. [1] Sea battle at Lillo Belgium (Adolf Van Haemstede vs Louis de Boisot). [1] December 13 Selîm II Sari the blonde, sultan of Turkey (1566-74), dies at 50. [1] December 26 Charles Guise archbishop/cardinal of Reims, dies at 50. [1]