- March 19
- Court of Holland names Amsterdam sheriff John Hubrechtsz a "heretic". [1]
- April 29
- Emperor Charles V declares all privileges of Gent ended. [1]
- May 4
- Venice and Turkey sign Treaty of Constantinople. [1]
- May 6
- Jean Luis Vives Spanish theory/humanist/reformer, dies at age 48. [1]
- May 22
- Francesco Guicciardini Italian historian/President of Romagna, dies at age 57. [1]
- June 24
- Henry VIII divorces his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. [1]
- July 9
- England's King Henry VIII six-month marriage to Anne of Cleves annulled. [1]
- July 28
- Thomas Cromwell King Henry VIII's chief minister, executed. [1]
- September 27
- Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded by Ignatius Loyola. [1]
1541
- January 6
- Bernard van Orley Flemish royal painter of Hungary, dies at about age 52. [1]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- February 24
- Santiago, Chile founded by Pedro de Valvidia. [1]
- April 4
- Ignatius of Loyola becomes first superior-General of the Jesuits. [1]
- April 25
- Liege flooded after heavy down pour. [1]
- May 8
- Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River and names it Río de Espíritu Santo. [1] [5]
- May 27
- Margaretha duchess of Salisbury, beheaded. [1]
- September 15
- At Brömsebro, the Kings of Sweden and Denmark conclude a treaty of friendship and alliance between their countries. [7]
- December 24
- Andreas R Bodenstein von Carlstadt radical Lutheran, dies at about age 61. [1]
- December 29
- Isabella of Poland and King Ferdinand of Austria sign Treaty of Gyalu. [1]
1542
- January 10
- Gerardus Noviomagus [Gerrit Geldenhauer], Dutch theologist, die at age 59. [1]
- January 21
- Parliament passes bill of attainder against Queen Katherine Howard. [1]
- February 1
- Hieronymus Aleander [Girólamo Aleandro], Italian diplomat, dies at age 61. [1]
- February 12
- Death of Catherine Howard at about age 17 by beheading; Queen of England, 5th wife of Henry VIII. [1381.23]
- May 21
- Hernando de Soto dies while searching for gold, near Mississippi River. [1]
- September 28
- Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovers California, at San Diego Bay. [1]
- October 7
- Explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovers Santa Catalina Island off the California coast. [5]
- December 14
- James king of Scotland (1513-42), dies at age 30. [1]
- December 28
- Albert Pigge [Pighius] Dutch theologist/astronomer, dies at about age 52. [1]
1543
- January 3
- Juan Cabrillo conqueror of Central America, discoverer of California, dies. [1]
- February 11
- Ahmed Gran sultan of Adal, dies in battle. [1]
- Battle at Wayna Daga Ethiopian/Portugese troops beat Muslim army. [1]
- Karel/Henry VIII sign anti-French covenant. [1]
- March 18
- Hernan de Soto observes first recorded flood in America (Mississippi River). [1]
- May 24
- Nicolas Copernicus astronomer, dies in Poland. [1]
- July 12
- England's King Henry VIII weds Catherine Parr (6th and last wife). [1]
1544
- January 30
- Adrian van Goes becomes land advocate of Holland. [1]
- April 14
- Battle at Carignano French troops under Earl d'Enghien beat Swiss. [1]
- May 1
- Turkish troops occupy Hungary. [1]
- May 17
- Scottish Earl Matthew van Lennox signs secret treaty with Henry VIII. [1]
- May 23
- German emperor Charles V recognizes king Christian III of Denmark. [1]
- May 29
- Jacobus Latomus [Jasques Masson] Belgian inquisitor, dies at about age 68. [1]
1545
- February 13
- Willem of Nassau becomes prince of Orange. [1]
- February 19
- Pierre Brully [Peter Brulius], calvinist minister, burned to death. [1]
- March 24
- German Parliament opens in Worms. [1]
- April 12
- French king François I orders protestants of Vaudois to be killed. [1]
- July 19
- French attack English ships at Portsmouth harbor; English King Henry VIII's flagship Mary Rose is sunk either by French cannon or while hoisting sail. Loss of about 650 men. [118.10] [1199.34]
- December 13
- Pope Paul III opens Council of Trente (19th ecumenical council). [1]
1546
- February 18
- Martin Luther biblical scholar/religious reformer, dies at age 62. [1]
- March 10
- Thomas Elyot English diplomat (Boke named the Governor), dies at age 46. [1]
- March 26
- Thomas Elyot British diplomat, dies. [1]
- March 29
- Cardinal Beaton English archbishop of Saint Andrews, murdered. [1]
1547
- January 13
- Earl Henry Howard of Surrey sentenced to death. [1]
- January 16
- Ivan IV the Terrible (age 17) crowns himself first tsar of Russia. [1]
- January 19
- Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, army commander/poet, beheaded at age 29 for treason. [1]
- January 28
- Henry VIII King of England (1509-1547), dies at age 55. His will designates 16 executors to maintain church and state policies until his son and heir Edward (age 9) comes of age. [1] [858.54] [1433.53]
- January 31
- The death of King Henry VIII of England is announced in Parliament. The Privy Council elects Edward Seymour as Lord Protector. [858.55]
- February 3
- Russian czar Ivan IV (age 17) marries Anastasia Romanova. [1]
- February 20
- King Edward VI of England is enthroned. [1]
- March 30
- François I of Valois-Angoulême King of France (1515-47), dies at age 52. [1]
- March 31
- Henry II succeeds François I as king of France. [1]
- April 24
- Battle of Mühlberg: Emperor Karel V versus ruler Johan Frederik the Brave. [1]
- May 16
- Protestant German monarch Johan Frederik surrenders to Karel in Wittenberg. [1]
- July 31
- Castle of Saint Andrews surrenders to French after six-week siege. [858.57]
- September 2
- Hernan Cortes Spanish general defeats Aztec Indians. [1]
- September 4
- Duke of Somerset invades Scotland with 14,000 men, 4000 horses, 15 cannon, crossing River Tweed. Included are wagonloads of Bibles to be distributed in conquered Catholic areas. [858.57]
- September 9
- English battle Scottish forces at Pinkie Cleugh, south of Edinburgh; English are victorious, returning to London, but without the Queen of Scotland who had fled to France. [858.57]
1548
- January 23
- Bernardo Pisano composer, dies at age 57. [1]
- April 1
- Sigismund I the Elder, King of Poland, dies at age 81. [1]
- May 11
- Great fire in Brielle. [1]
- July 16
- La Paz, Bolivia is founded. [1]
- December 24
- Maximilian of Egmond Dutch count/stadholder of Frisia, dies. [1]
1549
- January 17
- Thomas Seymour is arrested, sent to Tower prison of London, for plotting overthrow of English government. [858.60]
- February 10
- Tomé de Sousa is appointed Governor-General of Brazil. [1]
- February 23
- Privy Council of England presents 33 charges against Thomas Seymour, finding him guilty of treason, condemned to die. [858.60]
- March 20
- Thomas Seymour of Sudely English Lord Admiral, beheaded. [1]
- May 27
- Lijsbeth Dirksdr Fries antabaptist, drowns. [1]
- July 17
- Jews are expelled from Ghent Belgium. [1]
- October 14
- Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector of England, is imprisoned in the Tower of London. [858.63]
1550
- January 10
- First sitting of "Vurige Chamber" in Paris. [1]
- February 2
- English Edward Seymour duke of Somerset, freed. [1]
- February 7
- Giovanni Maria del Monte elected Pope Julius III. [1]
- March 8
- Juan de Dios Port/Sp saint (Brothers of Mercy), dies at age 55. [1]
- March 24
- France and England sign Peace of Boulogne. [1]
- April 2
- Jews are expelled from Genoa Italy. [1]
- April 12
- Claude of Lorraine duke of Guise, dies at age 53. [1]
- April 28
- Powers of Dutch inquisition extends. [1]
- April 29
- Emperor Charles V gives inquisiters additional authority. [1]
- December 6
- Pieter Coecke van Aelst Flemish painter, dies at age 48. [1]
1551
- March 9
- Emperor Karel appoints son Philip as heir to the throne. [1]
- April 6
- Joachim Vadianus Swiss physician/mayor of Sankt Gallen, dies at age 66. [1]
- April 11
- English premier John Dudley appointed duke of Northumberland. [1]
- April 20
- John Dudley becomes English Earl Marshal. [1]
- May 1
- Council of Trente resumes. [1]
- May 12
- San Marcos University in Lima Peru, opens. [1]
- May 31
- Aristotele "Basiano" da Sangallo Italian set designer, dies. [1]
- December 19
- Dutch west coast hit by hurricane. [1]
1552
- January 3
- Henry II of Bavaria bishop of Utrecht (1524-29), dies at age 64. [1]
- January 11
- Johannes Cochlaeus [Dobeneck], German humanist/theologist, dies. [1]
- January 12
- Dutch west coast hit by heavy storm, 100s killed. [1]
- January 15
- France signs secret treaty with German Protestants. [1]
- January 22
- Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, beheaded in London, England for treason. [1] [858.65]
- January 23
- Second version of Book of Common Prayer becomes mandatory in England. [1]
- February 15
- Dutch coast hit by heavy storm. [1]
- February 24
- Privileges of the Hanseatic League in England are abrogated. [1]
- April 4
- Mauritius van Saksen begins alliance with Karel Anikita Stroganov. [1]
- April 10
- Henri II of France occupies Metz. [1]
- April 14
- Laurentius Andreae [Lars Andersson] Swedish church reformer, dies. [1]
- April 18
- John Leland antiquary, dies. [1]
- Mauritius of Saksen occupies Linz. [1]
- April 19
- Mauritius of Saksen captures Karel. [1]
- April 21
- Peter Apianus [Bennewitz/Bienewitz] German astronomer, dies at age 50. [1]
1553
- February 4
- Caspar Othmayr composer, dies at age 37. [1]
- February 19
- Erasmus Reinhold German mathematician, dies at age 41. [1]
- April 9
- François Rabelais French author (Gargantua/Pantagruel), dies at age 49. [1]
- April 29
- Flemish woman introduces practice of starching linen into England. [1]
- May 10
- Sir Hugh Willoughby, Richard Chancellor, and Cornelius Durfoorth set out from England in three ships to find a north-east passage to Cathay. (The surviving ship of Chancellor finds Russia, the beginning of the Muscovy Company.) [857.57]
- July 6
- King Edward VI dies, weakened by measles and tuberculosis. By his will, Lady Jane Grey and her heirs are made successors to the crown of England. [857.42] [1433.52]
- July 10
- Lady Jane Grey is proclaimed Queen of England. [1433.52]
- July 11
- Princess Mary of England announces he bid for the throne, gathering an army in East Anglia. [857.42]
- July 19
- 15-year-old Lady Jane Grey deposed as England's Queen after 9 days. [1] [1433.52]
- August 12
- Pope Julius III orders confiscation and burning of the Talmud. [1]
- August 23
- Death of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, England, beheaded for high treason. [857.43]
- September 4
- Cornelia da Nomatalcino monk converted to Judaism, burned at stake. [1]
- September 8
- City of Lichfield, England established. [1]
- October 21
- Volumes of the Talmud are burned. [1]
- October 27
- Michael Servetus, Spanish physician, burns at stake in Geneva, Switzerland for heresy and blasphemy for his speculations on the nature of the Trinity. [1] [37]
- November 13
- At Guildhall in London, England, the trial of Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England, is held; she is condemned for treason. [1433.52]
1554
- January 5
- Great fire in Eindhoven Netherlands. [1]
- January 25
- Sir Thomas Wyatt gathers an army in Kent, rebels against Queen Mary. [1]
- February 7
- Battle at London: Sir Thomas Wyatt and supporters defeated, captured. [1433.53]
- February 9
- Lady Jane Grey, deposed Queen of England, beheaded after 9 day rule at age 17. [1] [857.44]
- February 12
- Lord Guildford Dudley, Jane Grey's husband, beheaded in public. Lady Jane Grey is executed by beheading in private in the Tower of London. [1] [1433.53]
- February 21
- Hieronymus Bock German doctor (founder of modern botany), dies. [1]
- February 23
- Henry Grey Duke of Suffolk, Lady Jane Grey's father, executed. [1]
- March 3
- Johan Frederik de Greatmoedige ruler of Saxon (1532-47), dies at age 50. [1]
- July 25
- Wedding of Mary of England and Philip of Spain at Winchester. [696.43]
- November 30
- Formal ceremony of English reconciliation with Rome, restoring Catholic faith in England. [696.44]
1555
- January 20
- Medieval heresy laws are revived in England; Protestant heretics face burning at the stake. [696.44]
- February 4
- Religious scholar John Rogers, Protestant heretic, is first burned at stake in Queen Mary's reign, at Smithfield. [696.44]
- February 9
- John Hooper, deprived Bishop of Gloucester, burnt for heresy. [1]
- March 23
- Julius III [Giovanni M del Monte], Pope (1550-55), dies at age 67. [1]
- April 9
- Marcello Cervini elected Pope Marcellus II. [1]
- April 12
- Johanna de Wanzinnige Queen of Castilie (1504-20), dies at age 75. [1]
- April 17
- Siena surrenders for Spanish troops. [1]
- May 1
- Marcellus II [Marcello Cervini] Italian Pope (1555), dies at age 53. [1]
- May 23
- Giampietro Caraffa elected Pope Paul IV. [1]
- May 25
- Gemma Frisius Frisian geographer/astronomer, dies at age 46. [1]
- September 25
- Peace of Augsburg takes effect ending conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. [37]
1556
- January 16
- Emperor Karel appoints his son Philip II, king of Spain. [1]
- January 23
- In Shensi Province, China, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake occurs. Worst death toll in history: 830,000 deaths. [1] [53]
- January 27
- Willem of Orange becomes knight of Guilder Flies. [1]
- February 5
- Kings Henri I and Philip II sign Treaty of Vaucelles. [1]
- February 14
- Archbishop Thomas Cranmer declared a heretic. [1]
- March 19
- Lieven van der Maude [Ammonius], South Netherlands poet, dies at age 70. [1]
- March 21
- Thomas Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury, burned at stake at age 66. [1]
- March 22
- Cardinal Reginald Pole becomes archbishop of Canterbury. [1]
- March 28
- Karel V's son Philip II crowned king of Spain. [1]
- Origin of Fasli Era (India). [1]
- April 13
- Portuguese Marranos who revert back to Judaism burned by order of Pope. [1]
- April 18
- Luigi Alamanni Italian poet (Flora, Antigone), dies at age 61. [1]
- July 31
- Saint Ignatius of Loyola founder of Society of Jesus, dies in Rome. [1]
1557
- February 27
- First Russian Embassy opens in London. [1]
- April 9
- Michael Agricola Finnish theologist/church reformer/bishop, dies. [1]
- September 1
- Jacques Cartier French explorer, dies (birth date unknown). [1]
- December 3
- First Covenant of Scottish protestants form. [1]
- December 13
- Niccoló Tartaglia Italian mathematician, dies. [1]
1558
- January 7
- Calais, last English possession in France, retaken by French under Francois, Duke of Guise. [1]
- January 8
- French troops under duke de Guise occupy Calais. [1]
- January 9
- Geneva becomes independent from Berne canton, Switzerland. [1]
- January 11
- Westmunster Church in Middelburg destroyed by heavy storm. [1]
- February 3
- Alfonsus de Castro Spanish theologist (council of Trente), dies. [1]
- March 5
- Smoking tobacco introduced in Europe by Francisco Fernandes. [1]
- March 13
- Jean Fernel French physician/physiologist, dies. [1]
- March 14
- Ferdinand I appointed Holy Roman emperor. [1]
- March 24
- Anna van Buren countess of Egmond/Buren/Lingen, dies. [1]
- April 4
- Czar Ivan IV gives parts of North-Russia to fur traders. [1]
- April 24
- Queen Mary Stuart of Scotland marries French crown prince François. [1]
- April 26
- Jean François Fernel French physician, dies. [1]
- November 12
- Rabbi Shalom Shakna ben Joseph founder of first Polish Yeshiva, dies. [1]
- November 17
- Queen Mary I, the monarch of England and Ireland, dies and is succeeded by her half-sister, Elizabeth. [129] [419.70] [768.18]
- December 29
- Charles V, German emperor, buried. [1]
- Hermann Finck composer, dies at age 31. [1]
1559
- January 1
- Christian III king of Denmark/Norway (1534-59), dies. [1]
- January 15
- Elizabeth is crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey. [419.70] [1118.133] (January 13 [1])
- January 29
- Sir Thomas Pope English politician, benefactor, dies at about age 52. [1]
- February 16
- Pope Paul IV calls for deposition of sovereigns supporting heresy. [1]
- March 14
- Jacques d'Auchy Walloon baptist merchant, executed. [1]
- Storm floods ravage Gorinchem, Dordrecht and Woudrichem, Netherlands. [1]
- April 3
- Peace of Cateao Cambresis, ending French war with Holy Roman Empire. England loses its last possession in France, Calais. [1] [244.4]
- May 10
- Scottish Protestants under John Knox uprise against queen-mother Mary. [1]
- May 13
- Excavated corpse of heretic David Jorisz burned in Basel. [1]
|