Famous Birthdays Dec 1 Philippus Rovenius [Rouveen], apostile Dec 22 Ernst Casimir I, count of Nassau-Dietz and Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe, born in Dillenburg, Germany (d. 1632) Dec 31 Giulio Cesare Monteverdi, Italian composer (Giulio Cesare in Egitto), born in Italy (d. 1630 or 31) Famous Deaths Dec 11 Alardus/Eilard de Waterlant, duke of Alva, hanged Dec 30 Giovanni Battista Giraldi, Italian writer (b. 1504) 1572 History by Year 1574