- Jan 18 Margaret of Austria, regent of The Netherlands (b. 1522)
- Jan 25 Lucas Cranach "the Young", German painter, dies at 70
- Mar 20 Richard Maitland, Scottish statesman and historian (b. 1496)
- Apr 8 Martin Chemnitz, German Lutheran reformer and theologian, dies at 63
- May 5 Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland (b. 1529)
- Jun 28 Primož Trubar, Slovenian Protestant reformer (b. 1508)
- Sep 20 Anthony Babington, page/conspirator to Mary Stuart, executed at 24
- Sep 21 Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, viceroy of Naples (1571-75), dies at 69
- Oct 17 Philip Sidney, English poet/diplomat, dies in battle at 32
- Dec 12 Stefan Batory, King of Poland (b. 1533)