- Mar 18 Jean Jaurequi, Basque attacker of William of Orange, killed by William's guards
- May 5 Charlotte de Bourbon, Princess of Orange, dies
- Jun 21 Oda Nobunaga, Japanese warlord (b. 1534)
- Jun 23 Shimizu Muneharu, Japanese military leader (b. 1537)
- Jul 2 Akechi Mitsuhide, Japanese samurai (b. 1528)
- Sep 28 George Buchanan, Scottish historian (b. 1506)
- Oct 4 Theresia van Avila, Spanish mystic writer, dies
- Dec 11 Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Spanish noble and diplomat (governor of the Netherlands (1567–1573)), dies at about 75