istoryworld
Events relating to europe
Stefan Báthory, prince of Transylvania, is elected king of Poland
The armies of Spain develop a powerful version of the ancient phalanx, which becomes known as the Spanish square
English sailor and slave-trader John Hawkins turns the top-heavy carrack into the more seaworthy galleon
Soft-paste porcelain, in imitation of true porcelain from China, is successfully created for the Medici in Florence
The Pacification of Ghent unites all the provinces of the Netherlands in opposition to Spain
James Burbage builds London's first theatre and calls it the Theatre
Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe builds Uraniborg, on the island of Hven, and makes it the world's leading observatory
Francis Drake sails from Plymouth, heading west for the Pacific and the East Indies
Domenikos Theotokopoulos moves to Spain, where he becomes known as El Greco
Francis Drake seizes a Spanish vessel laden with gold and silver in the Pacific, formerly a safe area for Spain
The Union of Arras and the Union of Utrecht split the Netherlands into Catholic and Protestant camps
A Spanish army marches into Portugal to claim the crown for the king of Spain, Philip II
The first Jesuit missionaries arrive in England, with Edmund Campion among their number
Francis Drake returns to England after his three-year voyage round the world and is knighted by Queen Elizabeth on board his Golden Hind
French author Michel de Montaigne, in his library tower, produces Europe's first volume of essays – published in this year under the simple title Essais
In the Oath of Abjuration the northern provinces of the Netherlands formally reject the rule of the Spanish king, Philip II
The first dramatic ballet, the Balet Comique de la Reine, is presented during French wedding festivities
Tasso, in Gerusalemme Liberata ('Jerusalem Liberated'), turns the first crusade into a romantic epic
Finland is granted the status of a separate grand duchy within the realm of Sweden
The new and more accurate Gregorian calendar is introduced by Gregory XIII in the papal states
The 18-year-old William Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway in Stratford-upon-Avon
Humphrey Gilbert claims Newfoundland on behalf of England's queen Elizabeth
John Dee sets off for six years of travel in Europe, during which his laboratory and library in Mortlake is plundered by former associates and rivals
England's queen Elizabeth sends 6000 troops to support the Dutch rebels against Spain
Catholics are now the martyrs in England, their numbers almost matching the Protestant martyrs of the previous reign
