- Jan 1 The Geuzen set fire to the city of Woudrichem
Battle of Mikatagahara
Jan 25 Battle of Mikatagahara, in Japan; Takeda Shingen defeats Tokugawa Ieyasu
- Jan 28 Articles of the Warsaw Confederation are signed, granting religious freedom in Poland
- Mar 7 Turkey and Venice sign a peace treaty
- Apr 30 The spire of Beauvais Cathedral, France, which made it the tallest human-made monument in the world at the time, collapses (never rebuilt)
- May 9 Polish Parliament selects Duke of Anjou as king
Edict of Boulogne
Jun 25 King Charles IX signs the Edict of Pacification of Boulogne ending the fourth phase of the French Wars of Religion with the Huguenots
Drake's Fleet Returns
Aug 7 Francis Drake's fleet returns to Plymouth after a year spent raiding for Spanish treasure
- Aug 21 Spain begins the siege of Alkmaar in the Netherlands
- Oct 9 General Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo and the Spanish disband the siege of Alkmaar
- Oct 11 Battle of the South Seas: Dutch rebels defeat the Spanish navy
- Nov 22 The Brazilian city of Niterói is founded
- Nov 29 Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga succeeds Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, the 3rd Duke of Alba, as the land guardian of Netherlands
Gregory I
Gregory XIII
Julius II
Julius III
Leo X
Pius V