1579 CE

Francis Drake, during his circumnavigation of the world, lands in modern-day California, which he claims for Queen Elizabeth I. With an English claim here and in Newfoundland, it becomes the basis for English colonial charters which will claim all land from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from "sea to sea." Drake's claim is called Nova Albion (New England), and subsequent maps will show all lands north of New Spain and New Mexico under this name. "Yasuke", a man of African origin who has been hired as a manager by the Chancellor of the Realm, Oda Nobunaga, arrives in Japan. Called "The Black Samurai" in dramatizations of his experience, he begins a service of three years to the Chancellor, ending on June 21, 1582. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire for more than 14 years, is assassinated in Constantinople.

In the 1570s, the 16th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • February 4 – The Ghent Republic joins the Union of Utrecht.source
  • May 17 – The Treaty of Arras is concluded between Spain (represented by the Duke of Parma), and members of the Union of Arras that had been formed in January. The Union of Utrecht continues its resistance against Spain while the County of Hainaut, the County of Artois, and the cities of Douai, Lille, Orchies and Arras agree to a separate peace under Spanish rule.source
  • July 13 – Karlovac in Croatia is founded.source
  • August 6 – In the Spanish-controlled Netherlands, the representatives of the Union of Utrecht declare that they will no longer respect the authority of King Philip of Spain.source
  • August 21 – County Cavan is officially established following an agreement between Lord Deputy Henry Sidney and King Aodh Connallach Ó Raghallaigh of East Breifne.Irelandsource
  • September 12 – Amendments are made to the May 17 Treaty of Arras, with further concessions to Spain by the Union of Arras. The final version is promulgated by King Philip of Spain in Mons, one of the regions in the Arras Union.source
  • October 5 – At Banda Aceh, on the island of Sumatra in what is now Indonesia, Alauddin Mansur Syah becomes the new Sultan of Aceh upon the death of Sultan Zainul Abidin.source
  • October 20 – Nicolò Doria is elected to a two-year term as the new Doge of the Republic of Genoa. Sergio Buonadonna and Mario Marcenaro, Rosso Doge: I dogi della Repubblica di Genova dal 1339 al 1797 (De Ferrari Press, 2000).source
  • 11-year old James VI declares the end of his minority and assumes personal rule.Scotlandsource

Conflict & Security

  • January 6 – The Union of Arras unites the southern Netherlands under the Duke of Parma, governor in the name of king Philip II of Spain.source
  • January 23 – The Union of Utrecht unites the northern Netherlands in a confederation called the United Provinces. William the Silent becomes Stadtholder, and the Duc d'Anjou, younger brother of Henry III of France, is invited to become hereditary sovereign.source
  • February 28 – The seizure in September by Willem IV van den Bergh, of the Boxmeer Castle in September in the Netherlands is condemned by the other Dutch members of the Union of Utrecht.source
  • March 2 – Battle of Borgerhout in Brabant (now Belgium): Spanish troops under the command of the Duke of Parma overwhelm rebels fighting for the Union of Utrecht.source
  • March 12 – The Siege of Maastricht, a center of the Dutch resistance to Spanish rule, is started in the Netherlands by Spanish troops under the command of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. The siege will last almost four months before Maastricht falls on July 1.source
  • April 10 – In the village of Cuers in France, near Toulon rebel peasants kill 600 nobles and upper-class gentlemen of the Catholic League serving the Count of Carces.source
  • April 10 – In the village of Cuers in France, near Toulon rebelled. Peasants killed around 600 nobles and upper-class gentlemen of the Catholic League serving the Count of Carces.Francesource
  • May 21 – Battle of Mimaomote: In Japan, Doi Kiyonaga defeats the forces of Kumu Yorinobu.source
  • July 1 – Maastricht surrenders to Spanish troops after a surprise attack by the Duke of Parma, who had besieged the city for more than three months.source
  • July 16 – James FitzMaurice FitzGerald lands with a small force of Irish, Spanish, and Italian troops at Smerwick on the Dingle Peninsula and commences the Second Desmond Rebellion against the rule in Ireland of Elizabeth I of England. The rebellion lasts until 1583 and results in the extinction of the Desmond palatinate. Brian O'Rourke joins.Irelandsource
  • July 17 – James FitzMaurice FitzGerald lands with a small force of Irish, Spanish, and Italian troops at Smerwick, on the Dingle Peninsula in south-western Ireland, and commences the Second Desmond Rebellion against the rule in Ireland of Elizabeth I of England.source
  • August 17 – "Yasuke", a man of African origin who has been hired as a manager by the Chancellor of the Realm, Oda Nobunaga, arrives in Japan. Called "The Black Samurai" in dramatizations of his experience, he begins a service of three years to the Chancellor, ending on June 21, 1582.source
  • August 30 – Livonian War: In what is now Belarus, the city of Polotsk falls to the forces of Stephen Báthory, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland.source
  • September 10 – (5th waning of Tawthalin 941 ME) In the Kingdom of Mrauk U in what is now Myanmar and Bangladesh, King Min Phalaung becomes the owner of the first of three white elephants, and gives himself the title of Hsinbyushin.source
  • October 13 – Semiz Ahmed Pasha is appointed as the new Ottoman Grand Vizier by Sultan Murad III.source
  • November 13 – During the Second Desmond Rebellion, rebel troops in Ireland, led by Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond, carry out the Sack of Youghal and massacre the English Army garrison, then pillage and burn the homes of local residents.source
  • November 13 – Desmond's troops sack Youghal during the Second Desmond RebellionIrelandsource
  • November 21 – Iancu Sasul becomes the new Prince of Moldavia as Peter the Lame steps down for the second time. Peter will replace Sasul on October 17, 1582.source
  • December 25 – Protestant French troops, under the command of Matthieu Merle, seized the capital of Gévaudan, Mende.Francesource
  • Princess Cecilia of Sweden is exiled to Germany.Swedensource

Exploration & Expansion

  • March 1 – Off of the coast of what is now Ecuador, the English galleon Golden Hind, captained by Francis Drake, captures the Spanish freighter Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (unofficially called "Cagafuego") and its cargo, including 26 tons of silver and 1,000 pounds of gold.source
  • June 17 – Francis Drake, during his circumnavigation of the world, lands in modern-day California, which he claims for Queen Elizabeth I. With an English claim here and in Newfoundland, it becomes the basis for English colonial charters which will claim all land from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from "sea to sea." Drake's claim is called Nova Albion (New England), and subsequent maps will show all lands north of New Spain and New Mexico under this name.source
  • Mughal Emperor, Akbar grants an Imperial farman to the Portuguese to settle near Satgaon in Bengal.Indiasource

Religion & Belief

  • September 28 – In Switzerland, a mutual assistance pact was signed at Lucerne between representatives of Roman Catholic cantons by the efforts of the Catholic Bishop of Basel, Jakob Christoph Blarer von Wartensee.source
  • November 23 – Jeremias II Tranos is removed from office as Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and replaced by his rival Metrophanes III of Constantinople, whom he deposed on May 4, 1572.source
  • December 16 – After Willem van Pamele, the Spanish Governor of Flanders, is forced to flee during the Dutch Revolt, the Duke of Parma orders Pamele and the Catholic members of the Council of Flanders to convene at Douai as the temporary Flemish capital.source
  • December 25 – In France, Protestant French troops under the command of Matthieu Merle, make a surprise attack on the Roman Catholic cathedral in the village of Mende during Mass, and kill 400 civilians.source
  • Akbar issues a mazhar signed by the leading ulamas, putting himself as the highest religious authority, allowing him to interpret the Quran.source
  • The Bible of Kralice begins publication. The first complete translation of the Bible into the Czech language (with notes), it is prepared by the Unity of the Brethren, and published at Kralice nad Oslavou, Bohemia.source
  • The municipality of Boac in Marinduque, Philippines is founded.source
  • In the Mughal Empire in India, Akbar abolishes the jizya, the tax placed upon non-Muslim residents.source
  • Members of the Glasgow Trades House defend Glasgow Cathedral from depredation.Scotlandsource

Technology & Infrastructure

Science & Discovery

  • December 24 – German astronomer Michael Maestlin makes the first cataloging of the Pleiades cluster, recording 11 separate stars visible to the naked eye, with a detailed illustration and measurements.source

Health & Medicine

Crime & Justice

  • November 3 – The English puritan John Stubbs, author of numerous pamphlets against the doctrines of the Church of England, is convicted of sedition, and his right hand is amputated as punishment.source
  • East Breifne is renamed Cavan (Irish An Cabhain) after the Shire's main town.Irelandsource
  • William Oge Martyn attempts to capture or kill the pirate Gráinne O'Malley at her stronghold of Rockfleet.Irelandsource

Culture & Society

  • October 19 – King James VI of Scotland makes his ceremonial entry into Edinburgh to assume the throne at the age of 13, after being declared to have reached the age of majority. Scotland had been ruled by regents since 1567, when James was declared king.source
  • 19 October – Entry of James VI into Edinburgh, ceremonially marking the start of his personal rule.Scotlandsource
  • Esmé Stewart, Sieur d'Aubigny, James's cousin, arrives from France and becomes the king's first favourite.Scotlandsource

Births

  • April 10 – Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (died 1666)source
  • May 1 – Wolphert Gerretse, Dutch founder of the New Netherland Colony (died 1662)source
  • May 2 – Tokugawa Hidetada, Japanese shōgun (died 1632)source
  • June 18 – Afonso Mendes, Patriarch of Ethiopia (died 1659)source
  • July 6 – Francis Norris, 1st Earl of Berkshire, English noble (died 1622)source
  • August 21 – Henri, Duke of Rohan, French Huguenot soldier and writer (died 1638)source
  • August 21- Henri, Duke of Rohan -French soldier, writer and leader of the Huguenots.(d.1638)Francesource
  • August 23 – Thomas Dempster, Scottish scholar and historian (died 1625)source
  • 23 August – Thomas Dempster, Catholic scholar and historian (died 1625)Scotlandsource
  • September 1 – John Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince-Bishop, German Catholic archbishop (died 1634)source
  • October 4 – Guido Bentivoglio, Italian cardinal (died 1644)source
  • November 11 – Frans Snyders, Flemish painter (died 1657)source
  • November 12 – Albrecht of Hanau-Münzenberg, German nobleman (died 1635)source
  • November 16 – Federico Baldissera Bartolomeo Cornaro, Italian Catholic cardinal (died 1653)source
  • December 9 – Martin de Porres, Peruvian monk, Roman Catholic saint (died 1639)source
  • December 20 (bapt.) – John Fletcher, English dramatist (died 1625)source
  • John Ogilvie, Jesuit martyr (executed 1615)Scotlandsource
  • Johannes Messenius, historian, dramatist and university professor (died 1636)Swedensource

Deaths

  • February 16 – Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, Spanish explorer (born 1509)source
  • February 20 – Nicholas Bacon, English politician (born 1509)source
  • March 12 – Alessandro Piccolomini, Italian humanist and philosopher from Siena (born 1508)source
  • April 24 – John Stuart, 4th Earl of Athollsource
  • 25 April – John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl, nobleScotlandsource
  • May 6 – François de Montmorency, 2nd Duke of Montmorency, French nobleman (born 1530)source
  • May 6 -François de Montmorency, French noble, governor of Île de France and 2nd Duke of Montmorency. (b.1530)Francesource
  • May 20 – Isabella Markham, English courtier (born 1527)source
  • June 17 – Johannes Stadius, Flemish astronomer, astrologer, mathematician (born 1527)source
  • August 5 – Stanislaus Hosius, Polish Catholic cardinal (born 1504)source
  • August 31 – Patrick O'Hely, Roman Catholic Bishop of Mayo (executed by the English).Irelandsource
  • October 11 – Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire for more than 14 years, is assassinated in Constantinople.source
  • October 11 – Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, Turkish Janissary and Grand Vizier (born 1505)source
  • October 13 – William Drury, English politician (born 1527)source
  • October 24 – Albert V, Duke of Bavaria (born 1528)source
  • November 15 – Francis David, Hungarian religious reformer (born 1510)source
  • November 21 – Thomas Gresham, English merchant and financier (born 1519)source
  • Laurentius Petri Gothus, Lutheran Archbishop of Uppsala (birth year unknown)Swedensource