Historical Events in 1581

  • Jan 16 English parliament passes laws against Catholicism

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jan 28 James VI signs 2nd Confession of Faith in Scotland

King of Great Britain James I and VI
King of Great Britain
James I and VI
  • Mar 25 Portuguese Cortes calls Philip II king of Portugal
  • Apr 1 Portuguese Cortes subjects himself on Philip II

KnightedKnighthood

Apr 4 Francis Drake knighted by Queen Elizabeth I aboard Golden Hind at Deptford

Admiral and Navigator Francis Drake
Admiral and Navigator
Francis Drake
Queen of England and Ireland Elizabeth I
Queen of England and Ireland
Elizabeth I
  • Apr 15 Cortes van Thomar accepts Philip II as king of Portugal
  • Jul 14 English jesuit Edmund Campion arrested
  • Jul 24 States of Holland/Zealand recognized by Wiliam of Orange
  • Aug 2 Leiden University names Snellius math professor
  • Oct 15 Commissioned by Catherine De Medici, the 1st ballet "Ballet Comique de la Reine" is staged in Paris

Murder of InterestIvan the Terrible Kills His Son

Nov 16 Tsar Ivan the Terrible attacks his son and heir, Ivan Ivanovich, with a scepter after an argument leading to the latter's death three days later
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The painting
The painting "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan" by Russian painter Ilya Repin

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Nov 19 Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich dies after being attacked by his father Ivan the Terrible three days earlier

Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible
Russian Tsar
Ivan the Terrible
  • Nov 29 Doornik (Tournai) surrenders to Duke of Parma