Events

• May 5 - Peace of Beaulieu or Peace of Monsieur (after Monsieur, the Duc d'Anjou, brother of the King, who negotiated it). End of the Fifth War of Religion Once again, the Protestants are granted freedom of worship.
• October 3 - The "Spanish Terror ". Mutinous Spanish troops capture and sack Antwerp.
• November 2 - Rudolf II becomes Holy Roman Emperor.
• November 4 - Eighty Years' War: In Belgium, Spain captures Antwerp (after three days the city was nearly destroyed).
• November 8 - Eighty Years' War: Pacification of Ghent - The States-General of the Netherlands meet and unite to oppose Spanish occupation.
• The city Fredrikstad of Norway founded by king Frederick II of Denmark and Norway.
• Beginning of the Seventh War of Religion in France.
• First known Autobiography is written by Thomas Wythorne .

Births

• November 27 - Shimazu Tadatsune, Japanese daimyo
• William Ames - philosopher

Deaths

• May 30 - Harada Naomasa, Japanese retainer and samurai under Oda Nobunaga
• October 12 - Emperor Maximilian II
• Don Luis de Requesens, Spanish Governor-General of the Netherlands.