- Feb 6 King Henri de Bourbon of Navarra becomes leader of the Huguenots
- Feb 12 Spanish land guardian Don Juan of Habsburg signs "Eternal Edict"
- Jul 24 Spanish army/German mercenaries conquer Namur
- Jul 24 Treason of Don Juan in Brussels
- Aug 17 Peace of Bergerac: Political rights for Huguenots
Reform of the Chant
Oct 25 Pope Gregory XIII give a brief to Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Annibale Zoilo Romano to reform ecclesiastical hymns
- Nov 23 Water Geuzen under Captain Slope enters Amsterdam
Drake Sets Sail
Dec 13 Francis Drake sets sail from England on an epic three year circumnavigation of the world aboard the 'Pelican' (later renamed the 'Golden Hind')
- Dec 16 Danzig rebellion ends in a compromise between the city's nobility and Polish King Stephen Báthory, after the King restored and recognized the city's economic and religious privileges
Gregory I
Gregory XIII
Julius II
Julius III
Leo X
Pius V