- Jan 5 William V, 'the rich, Duke of Cleves and humanist, dies at about 75
- Jan 6 John Casimir of Simmern, German prince and regent for his nephew, Elector Frederick IV (b. 1543)
- Jan 16 Johan Casimir, German prince, and mercenary leader (occupied Ghent, 1578), dies at 48
- Feb 13 Jacopo Bassano, Italian painter
- Feb 29 Alessandro Striggio, Italian composer (b. 1540)
- Mar 10 Michiel Coxcie, Flemish court painter and carpet designer, dies
- Apr 22 Bartolommeo Ammanati, Italian sculptor and architect, dies at 80
- Jul 1 Marc A Ingegneri, Italian violinist and composer (Responsoria), dies at about 56 [birth date uncertain]
- Jul 26 Armand de Gontaut, baron de Biron, French soldier (b. 1524)
- Sep 3 Robert Greene, English writer (Friar Bacon), dies at 34
- Sep 13 Michel de Montaigne, French writer (b. 1533)
- Nov 17 John III, King of Sweden (1568-92), dies at 54
- Nov 27 Nakagawa Hidemasa, Japanese samurai commander (b. 1568)
- Dec 3 Alexander Farnese, Italian nobleman, mercenary, Governor of Spanish Netherlands (1578-92), and Duke of Parma (1586-92), dies at 47
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide