| March 11 | Geuzen army leaves Walcheren to return to Oosterweel |
| March 13 | Battle at Oosterweel: Spanish troops destroy Geuzenleger |
| April 11 | Dutch prince William of Orange flees from Antwerp to Breda |
| May 15 | Mary, Queen of Scots marries James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell |
| June 15 | Battle at Carberry Scot: Protestant troops beat Earl Bothwells army |
| June 15 | Genoa Italy expels Jews |
| June 16 | Mary, Queen of Scots, imprisoned in Lochleven Castle prison Scotland |
| June 20 | Jews are expelled from Brazil by order of regent Don Henrique |
| July 24 | Mary Queen of Scots is forced to abdicate and 1-year-old James VI becomes King of Scotland |
| August 8 | Duke of Alva's army enters Brussels Belgium |
| September 9 | Lomaraal van Egmond and Philip van Hoorne captured |
| September 29 | War of Religion - Huguenots try to kidnap king Charles IX |
| October 6 | Duke of Alva becomes land guardian of Netherlands |
| November 10 | Battle at St-Denis: French government army vs Huguenots |
