- Jan 24 Abdij Church in Middelburg destroyed by fire
- Jan 24 In Netherlands, Duke of Alva declares William of Orange an outlaw
Maximilian II Pays Tribute
Feb 17 Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II agrees to pay tribute to the Ottoman Empire for peace
- Mar 23 Treaty of Longjumeau: French huguenots go on strike
Victory in Battle
May 13 Mary Queen of Scots is defeated at Battle of Langside
- May 16 Mary Queen of Scots flees to England
Event of Interest
May 19 English Queen Elizabeth I arrests Mary, Queen of Scots
- May 23 Battle of Heiligerlee, Groningen: Dutch rebels beat Spanish, thousands killed
- May 23 The Netherlands declares independence from Spain
- Jun 1 Duke of Alva oversees beheading of 18 nobles in Brussels as part of Council of Troubles/Council of Blood
- Jul 10 Battle on Eems: Dutch Water garrison beats Spanish
- Jul 13 Dean of St. Paul's London, Alexander Nowell perfects a way to bottle beer
- Jul 21 Battle at Jemmingen: Alva's troops beat Dutch rebellion
- Oct 5 Conference of York begins: trial against Mary, Queen of Scots
- Oct 5 William of Orange's army occupies Brabant
- Oct 21 2nd Altenburger sermon: Philippisten/Gnesiolutheranen
- Dec 24 Uprising of Moriscos in Granada
- Dec 26 Uprising of Morisco's against suppression in Granada