Gregory Conquers Julius Caesar
Jan 1 1st day of the Gregorian calendar in Holland & Flanders
- Jan 12 Holland begins use of Gregorian calendar (yesterday was 1/1/1583)
- Feb 21 Groningen, Netherlands, begins using Gregorian calendar
- Mar 18 Dutch States General & Anjou sign treaty
- Jun 17 Brabant: Duke of Parma beats French mercenaries
- Jun 18 Richard Martin of London takes out first life insurance policy, on William Gibbons; premium was £383
- Jul 17 Spanish and Walloon troops conquer Dunkerk
- Aug 5 Humphrey Gilbert claims Newfoundland for the British crown, the first English colony in North America and the beginning of the British Empire
- Nov 15 Gelders Earl Willem of the Bergh flees
- Nov 20 Duke of Parma conquers Aalst