
Year 1561 (
MDLXI) was a
common year starting on Wednesday
A common year starting on Wednesday is any non-leap year (a year with 365 days) that begins on Wednesday, January 1, and ends on
Wednesday, December 31. Its dominical letter hence is E. The current year, 2025, is a common year starting on Wedne ...
of the
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar is a solar calendar of 365 days in every year with an additional leap day every fourth year (without exception). The Julian calendar is still used as a religious calendar in parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church and in parts ...
.
Events
January–March
* January 4
Events Pre-1600
*46 BC – Julius Caesar fights Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina.
* 871 – Battle of Reading (871), Battle of Reading: Æthelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred the Great, Alfred are defeated by a Danish invasi ...
– Paolo Battista Giudice Calvi is elected as the new Doge of the Republic of Genoa
The Republic of Genoa ( ; ; ) was a medieval and early modern Maritime republics, maritime republic from the years 1099 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italy, Italian coast. During the Late Middle Ages, it was a major commercial power in ...
, but serves for only eight months before dying in September.
* January 31
Events Pre-1600
* 314 – Pope Sylvester I is consecrated, as successor to the late Pope Miltiades.
* 1208 – The Battle of Lena takes place between King Sverker II of Sweden and his rival, Prince Eric, whose victory puts him on th ...
**The Ordinance of Orléans suspends the persecution of the Protestant Huguenots
The Huguenots ( , ; ) are a Religious denomination, religious group of French people, French Protestants who held to the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, ...
in Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France is the historiographical name or umbrella term given to various political entities of France in the Middle Ages, medieval and Early modern France, early modern period. It was one of the most powerful states in Europe from th ...
.
**Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...
General Bairam Khan is assassinated by an Afghan warrior, Mubarak Khan Lohani, while traveling through Gujarat in India.
* February 13
Events Pre-1600
* 962 – Emperor Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I and Pope Pope John XII, John XII co-sign the ''Diploma Ottonianum'', recognizing John as ruler of Rome.
*1258 – Siege of Baghdad (1258), Siege of Baghdad: Hulegu Kh ...
– Queen Elizabeth of England summons the Ambassador from Spain, Álvaro de la Quadra, for a private audience
An audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature (in which they are called "readers"), theatre, music (in which they are called "listeners"), video games (in which they are called "players"), or ...
to ask how the Spanish government would react if she were to marry Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, who had recently lost his wife Amy Robsart in a questionable accident.
* March 23
Events Pre-1600
* 1400 – The Trần dynasty of Vietnam is deposed, after one hundred and seventy-five years of rule, by Hồ Quý Ly, a court official.
* 1540 – Waltham Abbey is surrendered to King Henry VIII of England; the las ...
– Lope de Aguirre, a Basque Spanish conquistador, begins a rebellion against the Spanish Crown in an attempt to take over most of Spanish South America.
* March 29
Events Pre-1600
* 1430 – The Ottoman Empire under Murad II captures Thessalonica from the Republic of Venice.
* 1461 – Battle of Towton: Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Edward IV of England, bringing a ...
– In India, the Mughal Empire Army, led by General Adham Khan defeats the Sultanate of Malwa in a battle at Sarangpur, forcing the Sultan Baz Bahadur to flee.
April–June
* April 9
Events Pre-1600
* 193 – The distinguished soldier Septimius Severus is proclaimed emperor by the army in Illyricum.
* 475 – Byzantine Emperor Basiliscus issues a circular letter (''Enkyklikon'') to the bishops of his empire, ...
– Ángel de Villafañe becomes the new Governor of Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida () was the first major European land-claim and attempted settlement-area in northern America during the European Age of Discovery. ''La Florida'' formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba in the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and th ...
, assuming authority over the provinces of La Florida and of Punta de Santa Elena (now Parris Island in the U.S. state of South Carolina).
* April 14
Events Pre-1600
* 43 BC – Legions loyal to the Roman Senate, commanded by Gaius Pansa, defeat the forces of Mark Antony in the Battle of Forum Gallorum.
* 69 – Vitellius, commanding Rhine-based armies, defeats Roman emperor ...
– The citizens of Nuremberg
Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the Franconia#Towns and cities, largest city in Franconia, the List of cities in Bavaria by population, second-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Bav ...
see what appears to be an aerial battle, followed by the appearance of a large black triangular object and a large crash (with smoke) outside the city. A ''news notice'' (an early form of newspaper) is printed on April 14, describing the event.
* April 17 – Diego López de Zúñiga, 4th Count of Nieva becomes the fourth Spanish Viceroy of Peru, administering most of South America after the death on March 30 of Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza.
* April 19
Events Pre-1600
*AD 65 – The freedman Milichus betrays Pisonian conspiracy, Piso's plot to kill the Roman emperor, Emperor Nero and all of the List of conspiracies (political), conspirators are arrested.
* 531 – Battle of Callini ...
– The Edict of 19 April, confirming the recent recommendation by the Estates General, is promulgated by the regency council for King Charles IX of France
Charles IX (Charles Maximilien; 27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574) was List of French monarchs, King of France from 1560 until his death in 1574. He ascended the French throne upon the death of his brother Francis II of France, Francis II in 1560, an ...
in an attempt to prevent a civil war between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant Huguenot citizens of France
* May 8 – Madrid
Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
is declared the capital of Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
, by Philip II.
* June 4
** The spire of Old St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London
The City of London, also known as ''the City'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and Districts of England, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in England. It is the Old town, his ...
catches fire and crashes through the nave
The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
roof, probably as the result of a lightning
Lightning is a natural phenomenon consisting of electrostatic discharges occurring through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions. One or both regions are within the atmosphere, with the second region sometimes occurring on ...
strike. The spire is not rebuilt.
** The nobility of Harrien- Wierland and the town of Reval (on June 6) of the Livonian Order
The Livonian Order was an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order,
formed in 1237. From 1435 to 1561 it was a member of the Livonian Confederation.
History
The order was formed from the remnants of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword after thei ...
swear allegiance to Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
.
* June 25 – Francis Coxe, an English astrologer, is pilloried at Cheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London, the historic and modern financial centre of London, England, which forms part of the A40 road, A40 London to Fishguard road. It links St Martin's Le Grand with Poultry, London, Poultry. Near its eas ...
in London, and makes a public confession of his involvement in "sinistral and artes".
* June 29
Events Pre-1600
* 226 – Cao Rui succeeds his father as emperor of Wei.
* 1149 – Raymond of Poitiers is defeated and killed at the Battle of Inab by Nur ad-Din Zangi.
* 1170 – A major earthquake hits Syria, badly damagi ...
– Erik XIV is crowned King of Sweden
The monarchy of Sweden is centred on the monarchical head of state of Sweden,See the #IOG, Instrument of Government, Chapter 1, Article 5. by law a constitutional monarchy, constitutional and hereditary monarchy with a parliamentary system.Parl ...
.
July–September
* July 12 – Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow (started in 1534) is finished.
* July
July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian calendar, Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. It was named by the Roman Senate in honour of Roman general Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., being the month of his birth. Before the ...
– Arauco War
The Arauco War was a long-running conflict between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people, mostly fought in the Araucanía region of Chile. The conflict began at first as a reaction to the Spanish conquerors attempting to establish cities a ...
: The hated encomendero Pedro de Avendaño and two other Spaniards are killed, triggering the Second Great Rebellion of the Mapuche
The Mapuche ( , ) also known as Araucanians are a group of Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging e ...
.
* August 19 – Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
The only surviving legit ...
, is denied passage through England after returning from France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. She arrives at Leith
Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith.
The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...
, Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
later the same day.
* August 20 – English merchant Anthony Jenkinson arrives in Moscow
Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
on his second expedition to the Grand Duchy of Moscow
The Grand Principality of Moscow, or Muscovy, known as the Principality of Moscow until 1389, was a late medieval Russian monarchy. Its capital was the city of Moscow. Originally established as a minor principality in the 13th century, the gra ...
.
* September 2
Events
Pre-1600
* 44 BC – Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion.
* 44 BC – Cicero launches the first of his '' Philippicae'' (oratorical attacks) on Mark Antony. He will make 14 of ...
– The Entry of Mary, Queen of Scots into Edinburgh, a civic celebration for the Queen of Scotland, is marred by religious controversy.
* September 28 – An inconclusive three day debate begins in Maybole
Maybole (, ) is a town and former burgh of barony and police burgh in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It had an estimated population of in . It is situated south of Ayr and southwest of Glasgow by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. The town is ...
, Ayrshire
Ayrshire (, ) is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county, in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. The lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area of Ayrshire and Arran covers the entirety ...
, Scotland between Protestant reformer John Knox
John Knox ( – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Church of Scotland.
Born in Giffordgate, a street in Haddington, East Lot ...
and Quintin Kennedy, commendator of Crossraguel Abbey, on transubstantiation
Transubstantiation (; Greek language, Greek: μετουσίωσις ''metousiosis'') is, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, "the change of the whole substance of sacramental bread, bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and ...
. The Reformation, confirmed by the Scottish government in 1560, continues.
October–December
* October 10 – The Siege of Moji in Japan ends with the defenders retaining their position.
* October 18
Events Pre-1600
* 33 – Heartbroken by the deaths of her sons Nero and Drusus, and banished to the island of Pandateria by Tiberius, Agrippina the Elder dies of self-inflicted starvation.
* 320 – Pappus of Alexandria, Greek phil ...
– Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima: Takeda Shingen defeats Uesugi Kenshin, in the climax of their ongoing conflicts.
* November 4 – Upon the death of his father, Diogo I Nkumbi a Mpudi, King Afonso II Mpemba a Nzinga becomes the new monarch of the Kingdom of Kongo
The Kingdom of Kongo ( or ''Wene wa Kongo;'' ) was a kingdom in Central Africa. It was located in present-day northern Angola, the western portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. At its gre ...
, located in what is now the southern portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the northern portion of Angola. Afonso II reigns for less than a month before being overthrown by his brother, Bernardo.
* November 28 – The Treaty of Vilnius is concluded during the Livonian War
The Livonian War (1558–1583) concerned control of Terra Mariana, Old Livonia (in the territory of present-day Estonia and Latvia). The Tsardom of Russia faced a varying coalition of the Denmark–Norway, Dano-Norwegian Realm, the Kingdom ...
, between the Livonian Confederation and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, also referred to as Poland–Lithuania or the First Polish Republic (), was a federation, federative real union between the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ...
. With the treaty, the non-Danish and non-Swedish part of Livonia
Livonia, known in earlier records as Livland, is a historical region on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It is named after the Livonians, who lived on the shores of present-day Latvia.
By the end of the 13th century, the name was extende ...
, with the exception of the Free imperial city of Riga
Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...
, subjects itself to Polish king and Grand Duke of Lithuania
This is a list of Lithuanian monarchs who ruled Lithuania from its inception until the fall of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1795. The Lithuanian monarch bore the title of Grand duke, Grand Duke, with the exception of Mindaugas, who was crown ...
, Sigismund II Augustus with the ''Pacta subiectionis (Provisio ducalis)''. In turn, Sigismund grants protection from the Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia, also known as the Tsardom of Moscow, was the centralized Russian state from the assumption of the title of tsar by Ivan the Terrible, Ivan IV in 1547 until the foundation of the Russian Empire by Peter the Great in 1721.
...
, and confirms the Livonian estates' traditional privileges, laid out in the '' Privilegium Sigismundi Augusti''.
* December 1 – In the Kingdom of Kongo, Bernardo Mpemba a Nzinga overthrows his brother, King Afonso II, and becomes King Bernardo I.
Date unknown
* Merchant Taylors' School is founded in the City of London
The City of London, also known as ''the City'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and Districts of England, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in England. It is the Old town, his ...
by Sir Thomas White, Sir Richard Hilles, Emanuel Lucar, and Stephen Hales
Stephen Hales (17 September 16774 January 1761) was an English clergyman who made major contributions to a range of scientific fields including botany, pneumatic chemistry and physiology. He was the first person to measure blood pressure. He al ...
.
* The first Calvinist
Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Protestantism, Continenta ...
s settle in England, after fleeing Flanders
Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...
.
* The Anglo-Genevan metrical psalter is published, including the '' Old 100th'', the version of the hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...
''All People That on Earth Do Dwell'' made from Psalm 100, attributed to the probably- Scottish clergyman and biblical translator William Kethe, exiled in Geneva
Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
.
* Ruy López de Segura develops modern techniques of chess
Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...
playing in Spain.
* William Baldwin's '' Beware the Cat'' (written early 1553), an early example of extended fiction (specifically horror fiction
Horror is a genre of speculative fiction that is intended to disturb, frighten, or scare an audience. Horror is often divided into the sub-genres of psychological horror and supernatural horror. Literary historian J. A. Cuddon, in 1984, defin ...
) in English, is published anonymously in London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. This edition appears to have been suppressed, and no copies survive.
* Between 1561 and 1670, 3,229 alleged witches are executed in southwestern Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, most by burning.
Births

*
January 1
January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian Calendar; 364 days remain until the end of the year (365 in leap years). This day is also known as New Year's Day since the day marks the beginning of the year. __TOC__
Events ...
–
Thomas Walsingham, English
literary patron (d.
1630)
*
January 6
Events Pre-1600
* 1066 – Following the death of Edward the Confessor on the previous day, the Witan meets to confirm Harold Godwinson as the new King of England; Harold is crowned the same day, sparking a succession crisis that will ...
–
Thomas Fincke, Danish mathematician and physicist (d.
1656)
*
January 22
Events Pre-1600
* 613 – Eight-month-old Heraclius Constantine is crowned as co-emperor ('' Caesar'') by his father Heraclius at Constantinople.
* 871 – Battle of Basing: The West Saxons led by King Æthelred I are defeated b ...
– Sir
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (; 22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I. Bacon argued for the importance of nat ...
, English philosopher, scientist, and statesman (d.
1626)
*
January 24
Events Pre-1600
* 41 – Claudius is proclaimed Roman emperor by the Praetorian Guard after they assassinate the previous emperor, his nephew Caligula.
* 914 – Start of the First Fatimid invasion of Egypt.
* 1438 – The Co ...
–
Camillo Cortellini, Italian composer (d.
1630)
*
February 1
Events Pre-1600
* 1327 – The teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer.
* 1411 – The First Peace of Thorn is signed in Thorn (Toruń), ...
–
Henry Briggs, British mathematician (d.
1630)
*
February 8
Events Pre-1600
* 421 – Constantius III becomes co-emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
* 1238 – The Mongols burn the Russian city of Vladimir.
* 1250 – Seventh Crusade: Crusaders engage Ayyubid forces in the Battle of ...
–
Fujiwara Seika, Japanese philosopher (d.
1619)
*
February 15
Events Pre-1600
* 438 – Roman emperor Theodosius II publishes the law codex Codex Theodosianus
* 590 – Khosrau II is crowned king of Persia.
* 706 – Byzantine emperor Justinian II has his predecessors Leontios and Ti ...
–
Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein, German noblewoman (d.
1622)
*
February 25
Events Pre-1600
* 138 – Roman emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius as his son, effectively making him his successor.
* 628 – Khosrow II, the last great Shah of the Sasanian Empire (Iran), is overthrown by his son Kavadh II.
* ...
–
Edward Talbot, 8th Earl of Shrewsbury, English politician and earl (d.
1617
Events
January–March
* January 5
**Pocahontas and Tomocomo of the Powhatan Algonquian tribe, in the Virginia colony of America, meet King James I of England as his guests, at the Banqueting House at Whitehall.
**'' The Mad L ...
)
*
March 9
Events Pre-1600
*141 BC – Liu Che, Posthumous name, posthumously known as Emperor Wu of Han, assumes the throne over the Han dynasty of China.
*1009 – First known mention of Lithuania, in the Annals of Quedlinburg, annals of the mo ...
–
Archduke Wenceslaus of Austria, Archduke of Austria (d.
1578)
*
March 29
Events Pre-1600
* 1430 – The Ottoman Empire under Murad II captures Thessalonica from the Republic of Venice.
* 1461 – Battle of Towton: Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Edward IV of England, bringing a ...
–
Santorio Santorio, Italian biologist (d.
1636)
*
April 8
**
Thiri Thudhamma Yaza of Martaban, Viceroy of Martaban (d.
1584)
**
Dominicus Baudius, Dutch historian and poet (d.
1613)
* June –
Samuel Harsnett, Archbishop of York (d.
1631)
*
June 7 –
John VII, Count of Nassau-Siegen (d.
1623)
*
June 12 –
Anna of Württemberg, German princess (d.
1616)
*
June 13
Events Pre-1600
* 313 – The decisions of the Edict of Milan, signed by Constantine the Great and co-emperor Valerius Licinius, granting religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire, are published in Nicomedia.
* 1325 – Ibn ...
–
Anna Maria of Anhalt, German noblewoman (d.
1605)
*
June 20
Events Pre-1600
* 451 – Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius battles Attila the Hun. After the battle, which was inconclusive, Attila retreats, causing the Romans to interpret it as a victory.
* 1180 – First Battle of Uji, startin ...
''(bapt.)'' –
Richard Whitbourne, English colonist of Newfoundland (d.
1635)
*
June 24 –
Matthias Hafenreffer, German Lutheran theologian (d.
1619)
*
June 26
Events Pre-1600
*4 AD, 4 – Augustus adopts Tiberius.
* 221 – Roman emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir and receives the title of Caesar (title), Caesar.
* 363 – Roman emperor Julian (emperor), J ...
–
Erdmuthe of Brandenburg, Duchess of Pomerania-Stettin (d.
1623)
*
July 2 –
Christoph Grienberger, Austrian astronomer (d.
1636)
*
July 11
Events Pre-1600
* 813 – Byzantine emperor Michael I, under threat by conspiracies, abdicates in favor of his general Leo the Armenian, and becomes a monk (under the name Athanasius).
* 911 – Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair ...
–
Luís de Góngora y Argote, Spanish poet (d.
1627)
*
July 17 –
Jacopo Corsi, Italian composer (d.
1602)
*
July 24 –
Maria of the Palatinate-Simmern, Duchess consort of Södermanland (1579–1589) (d.
1589)
*
August 14
Events Pre-1600
* 74 BC – A group of officials, led by the Western Han minister Huo Guang, present articles of impeachment against the new emperor, Liu He, to the imperial regent, Empress Dowager Shangguan.
* 29 BC – Octavian ...
–
Christopher Heydon, English politician (d.
1623)
*
August 20 –
Jacopo Peri
Jacopo Peri (20 August 156112 August 1633) was an Italian composer, singer and instrumentalist of the late Renaissance music, Renaissance and early Baroque music, Baroque periods. He wrote what is considered the first opera, the mostly lost ''D ...
, Italian composer (d.
1633
Events
January–March
* January 20 – Galileo Galilei, having been summoned to Rome on orders of Pope Urban VIII, leaves for Florence for his journey. His carriage is halted at Ponte a Centino at the border of Tuscany, wher ...
)
*
August 24
**
Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk (d.
1626)
**
Bartholomaeus Pitiscus, German astronomer and mathematician (d.
1613)
*
August 25 –
Philippe van Lansberge, Dutch astronomer (d.
1632
Events
January–March
* January 8 – University of Amsterdam is established at the site of the Athenaeum Illustre of Amsterdam.
* January 31 – The dissection of a body for the benefit of medical students is carried o ...
)
*
September 1 –
Gervase Helwys, English murderer (d.
1615)
*
September 3 –
Yi Ŏkki, Korean admiral (d.
1597)
*
September 10 –
Hernando Arias de Saavedra, Spanish colonial governor (d.
1634)
*
September 21 –
Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp, son of Edward Seymour Sr. (d.
1612)
*
September 28 –
Roland Lytton, English politician (d.
1615)
*
September 29 –
Adriaan van Roomen, Belgian mathematician (d.
1615)
*
October 11 ''(bapt.)'' –
Thomas Lake, English Secretary of State to King James I (d.
1630)
*
October 15 –
Richard Field, English cathedral dean (d.
1616)
*
October 24
Events Pre-1600
*AD 69 – In the Second Battle of Bedriacum, troops loyal to Vespasian defeat those of Emperor Vitellius.
* 1260 – Chartres Cathedral is dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX of France.
* 1260 – Afte ...
–
Anthony Babington, English criminal (d.
1586)
*
October 27 –
Mary Sidney, English writer, patroness and translator (d.
1621
Events
January–March
* January 12 – Şehzade Mehmed, the 15-year old half-brother of Ottoman Sultan Osman II, is put to death by hanging on Osman's orders. Before dying, Mehmed prays aloud that Osman's reign as Sultan be r ...
)
*
November 1 –
Francesco Usper, Italian composer (d.
1641
Events
January–March
* January 4 – The stratovolcano Mount Parker (Philippines), Mount Parker in the Philippines has a major eruption.
* January 14 – Battle of Malacca (1641), The Battle of Malacca concludes with the D ...
)
*
November 16 –
Andreas Angelus, German pastor, teacher, chronicler of the Mark of Brandenburg (d.
1598)
*
December 1 –
Sophie Hedwig of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, duchess consort of Pomerania-Wolgast (1577–1592) (d.
1631)
*
December 7 –
Kikkawa Hiroie, Japanese politician (d.
1625)
*
December 9 –
Edwin Sandys, English founder of the colony of Virginia (d.
1629)
*
December 16
Events Pre-1600
* 714 – Pepin of Herstal, mayor of the Merovingian palace, dies at Jupille (modern Belgium). He is succeeded by his infant grandson Theudoald, while his widow Plectrude holds actual power in the Frankish Kingdom.
* ...
–
Amandus Polanus, German theologian of early Reformed orthodoxy (d.
1610)
* ''date unknown'' –
Stephen Bachiler, non-conformist minister and pioneer settler of New England (d.
1656)
Deaths

*
January 9
Events Pre-1600
* 681 – Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain.
* 1038 – An earthquake in Dingxiang, China kills an estimate ...
–
Amago Haruhisa, Japanese samurai and warlord (b.
1514)
*
January 13
Events Pre-1600
* 27 BC – Octavian transfers the state to the free disposal of the Roman Senate and the people. He receives Spain, Gaul, and Syria as his province for ten years.
* 532 – The Nika riots break out, during the ra ...
–
Frederick Magnus I, Count of Solms-Laubach, (b.
1521)
*
January 31
Events Pre-1600
* 314 – Pope Sylvester I is consecrated, as successor to the late Pope Miltiades.
* 1208 – The Battle of Lena takes place between King Sverker II of Sweden and his rival, Prince Eric, whose victory puts him on th ...
**
Menno Simons, Anabaptist religious leader and Mennonite founder (b.
1496)
**
Bairam Khan, Turkoman noble and poet (assassinated)
*
February 13
Events Pre-1600
* 962 – Emperor Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I and Pope Pope John XII, John XII co-sign the ''Diploma Ottonianum'', recognizing John as ruler of Rome.
*1258 – Siege of Baghdad (1258), Siege of Baghdad: Hulegu Kh ...
–
Francis I, Duke of Nevers (b.
1516)
*
February 26
Events Pre-1600
* 747 BC – According to Ptolemy, the epoch (origin) of the Nabonassar Era began at noon on this date. Historians use this to establish the modern BC chronology for dating historic events.
* 320 – Chandragupta ...
–
Jorge de Montemor, Spanish writer (b.
1520)
*
March 6
Events Pre-1600
* 12 BCE – The Roman emperor Augustus is named Pontifex Maximus, incorporating the position into that of the emperor.
* 845 – The 42 Martyrs of Amorium are killed after refusing to convert to Islam.
* 1204 &ndas ...
–
Gonçalo da Silveira, Portuguese Jesuit missionary (b.
1526
Year 1526 (Roman numerals, MDXXVI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.
Events
January–March
* January 14 – Treaty of Madrid (1526), Treaty of Madrid: Peace is declared between Francis I of France and ...
)
*
March 24 –
Giulio d'Este, illegitimate son of Italian noble (b.
1478)
*
March 25
Until 1752 it was the official date of the beginning of the year in England and its dominions (in the Julian calendar).
Events Pre-1600
* 410 – The Southern Yan capital of Guanggu falls to the Jin dynasty general Liu Yu, ending th ...
–
Conrad Lycosthenes, humanist and encyclopedist (b.
1518)
*
March 28
Events Pre-1600
* AD 37 – Roman emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, bestowed on him by the Senate.
* 193 – After assassinating the Roman Emperor Pertinax, his Praetorian Guards auction off the throne to Did ...
–
Bartholomeus V. Welser, German banker (b.
1484)
*
April 9
Events Pre-1600
* 193 – The distinguished soldier Septimius Severus is proclaimed emperor by the army in Illyricum.
* 475 – Byzantine Emperor Basiliscus issues a circular letter (''Enkyklikon'') to the bishops of his empire, ...
–
Jean Quintin, French priest, knight and writer (b.
1500)
*
May 4 –
Karl I, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, German prince (b.
1534)
*
May 16 –
Jan Tarnowski, Polish noble (b.
1488)
*
June 23 –
Saitō Yoshitatsu, Japanese daimyō (b.
1527)
*
June 6
Events Pre-1600
* 913 – Constantine VII, the eight-year-old illegitimate son of Leo VI the Wise, becomes nominal ruler of the Byzantine Empire under the regency of a seven-man council headed by Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos, appointe ...
–
Ridolfo Ghirlandaio, Italian painter (b.
1483)
*
July 9 –
Sebald Heyden, German musicologist and theologian (b.
1499)
*
July 19 –
Henry Lauder, Lord St Germains, Lord Advocate of Scotland
*
September 1 –
Edward Waldegrave, English politician and recusant
*
September 25 –
Sehzade Bayezid, Ottoman Prince (b.
1525)
*
October 27 –
Lope de Aguirre, Basque rebel and conquistador (b.
1510
Year 1510 (Roman numerals, MDX) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.
Events
January–March
* January 23 – An 18-year-old Henry VIII of England jousts anonymously at Richmond, London, Richmond, Surrey ...
)
*
November 7
Events Pre-1600
* 335 – Athanasius, 20th pope of Alexandria, is banished to Trier on the charge that he prevented a grain fleet from sailing to Constantinople.
* 680 – The Sixth Ecumenical Council commences in Constantinople. ...
–
Jeanne de Jussie, Swiss nun and writer (b.
1503)
*
November 11
Events Pre-1600
* 308 – At Carnuntum, Emperor ''emeritus'' Diocletian confers with Galerius, '' Augustus'' of the East, and Maximianus, the recently returned former ''Augustus'' of the West, in an attempt to end the civil wars of th ...
–
Hans Tausen, Danish reformer (b.
1494)
*
December 6 –
Joachim I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, German prince (b.
1509)
*
December 10 –
Caspar Schwenckfeld, German theologian
* ''date unknown''
**
Marie Dentière, Genevan Protestant reformer and theologian (b.
1495)
**
Claude Garamond, French publisher (b.
1480
Year 1480 ( MCDLXXX) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.
Events
January–December
* March 6 – Treaty of Toledo: Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain recognize the African conquests of Afonso V of Portugal, ...
)
**
Ijuin Tadaaki, Japanese noble (b.
1520)
* ''probable'' –
Luis de Milán, Spanish composer (b.
1500)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1561