- Jan 6 Northern Hasburg Netherlands counties of Artois and Hainault and city Dowaai sign pro-Spanish and pro-Roman Catholic Union of Arras (Unie van Atrecht)
- Jan 23 Union of Utrecht signed by Northern Habsburg counties of Holland and Zeeland, and provinces of Utrecht and Groningen, marking the beginning of protestant Dutch Republic
Drake's Plunder
Mar 1 British admiral and explorer Francis Drake surprises and captures the Spanish treasure ship 'Nuestra Señora de la Concepción' off the coast of Peru, Drake's richest plunder [1]
- Mar 5 Betuwe joins Union of Utrecht
- Mar 6 Veluwe joins Union of Utrecht
- Mar 23 Friesland joins Union of Utrecht
- Apr 11 Venlo joins Union of Utrecht
- May 7 Congress of Cologne forms in Netherlands
- May 17 Artois, Henegouwen and French-Flanders sign Treaty, the Peace of Parma recognizing Spanish Duke van Parma as land guardian
- Jun 17 Anti-English uprising in Ireland
Francis Drake Lands in California
Jun 17 English navigator Francis Drake lands on the coast of California at Drakes Bay, names it "New Albion" [1]
- Jul 8 Our Lady of Kazan, a holy icon of the Russian Orthodox Church, was discovered underground in the city of Kazan, Tatarstan
- Jul 21 Mechelen surrenders to Duke of Parma
- Jul 23 Francis Drake departs San Francisco to cross the Pacific Ocean [1]
- Jul 28 Cardinal Granvelle returns to Madrid
- Jul 29 Antwerp request union with Utrecht
Event of Interest
Aug 17 Francois of Anjou visits English Queen Elizabeth I
- Sep 13 Breda forms Union of Utrecht
Francis Drake's Circumnavigation
Oct 16 Francis Drake sights land in the Philippines after crossing the Pacific Ocean aboard the 'Golden Hind' [1]
- Nov 3 Francis Drake arrives at Ternate in the East Indies and makes a trade treaty with the Sultan of Ternate, buys a cargo of cloves [1]