- Jan 19 Hans Sachs, German composer, dies at 81
- Feb 10 Guilielmus Xylander, German classical scholar (b. 1532)
- Mar 5 Don Luis de Requesens y Zuniga, viceroy of Neth (1573-76), dies at 70
- May 27 Louis de Boisot, Dutch admiral, drowns at about 44
- May 30 Harada Naomasa, Japanese retainer and samurai
- Aug 15 (Valentin) Bálint Bakfark, Hungarian lutenist, and composer, dies of the plague at about 70
- Aug 27 Titian [Tiziano Vecelli], Italian painter, dies of plague
Girolamo Cardano
Sep 21 Girolamo Cardano, Italian mathematician, dies at 74
Maximilian II
Oct 12 Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor (1564-76), dies at 49
