Events in History in 1581

Event 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

Knighthood

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 priest Edmund Campion arrested for sedition in Anglican England (later hung, drawn and quartered)
Jul 24 States of Holland/Zealand recognized by Wiliam of Orange
Aug 2 Leiden University names Rudolph Snellius as math professor

Event of Interest

Oct 15 Commissioned by Catherine de' Medici, the 1st ballet "Ballet Comique de la Reine" is staged in Paris

Queen Consort and Regent of France Catherine de' Medici — Queen Consort and Regent of France
Catherine de' Medici

Ivan 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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