- Jan 6 Northern Hasburg Netherlands counties of Artois and Hainault and city Dowaai sign pro-Spanish and pro-Roman Catholic Union of Arras (Unie van Atrecht)
- Jan 23 Union of Utrecht signed by Northern Habsburg counties of Holland and Zeeland, and provinces of Utrecht and Groningen, marking the beginning of protestant Dutch Republic
Drake's Richest Plunder
Mar 1 British admiral and explorer Francis Drake surprises and captures the Spanish treasure ship 'Nuestra Señora de la Concepción' off the coast of Peru, Drake's richest plunder [1]
- Mar 5 Betuwe joins Union of Utrecht
- Mar 6 Veluwe joins Union of Utrecht
- Mar 23 Friesland joins Union of Utrecht
- Apr 11 Venlo joins Union of Utrecht
- May 7 Congress of Cologne forms in Netherlands
- May 17 Artois, Henegouwen and French-Flanders sign Treaty, the Peace of Parma recognizing Spanish Duke van Parma as land guardian
- Jun 17 Anti-English uprising in Ireland
Francis Drake Lands in California
Jun 17 English navigator Francis Drake lands on the coast of California at Drakes Bay, names it "New Albion" [1]
- Jul 8 Our Lady of Kazan, a holy icon of the Russian Orthodox Church, was discovered underground in the city of Kazan, Tatarstan
- Jul 21 Mechelen surrenders to Duke of Parma
- Jul 23 Francis Drake departs San Francisco to cross the Pacific Ocean [1]
- Jul 28 Cardinal Granvelle returns to Madrid
- Jul 29 Antwerp request union with Utrecht
Francis Courts Elizabeth
Aug 17 Francis, Duke of Anjou visits English Queen Elizabeth I in an attempt to court her
- Sep 13 Breda forms Union of Utrecht
Drake Crosses the Pacific
Oct 16 Francis Drake sights land in the Philippines after crossing the Pacific Ocean aboard the 'Golden Hind' [1]
- Nov 3 Francis Drake arrives at Ternate in the East Indies and makes a trade treaty with the Sultan of Ternate, buys a cargo of cloves [1]
Gregory I
Gregory XIII
Julius II
Julius III
Leo X
Pius V