Tables of History : A.D. 1500 - 1599

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1-99 | 100-199 | 200-299 | 300-399
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800-899 | 900-999 | 1000-1099 | 1100-1199
1200-1299 | 1300-1399 | 1400-1499 | 1500-1599
1600-1699 | 1700-1799 | 1800-1899 | 1900-1919
1920-1939 | 1940-1959 | 1960-1979 | 1980-1999

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1500
  • Birth of Charles V
    As son of Philip I and Johanna (daughter of Ferdinand of Aragón and Isabella of Castille), Charles V was dynastically destined to inherit one of the largest empires in European history.
  • Augsburg Diet condemns Gypsies
    The Augsburg Reichstag (Diet) issues a condemnation of Roma (Gypsies), declaring them "traitors to the Christian countries" and accusing them of witchcraft, kidnapping of children, and banditry.
1503
  • Leonardo da Vinci paints "La Gioconda" (a.k.a. "Mona Lisa")
1504
  • Louis XII bans Gypsies from France
    Louis XII bans Roma (Gypsies) from living in France. Offenders are banished.
1508
  • The Pope gives rights of patronage in the new world to Spain
1508
  • Goa is captured by the Portuguese under Albuquerque
1510
  • The Grand Council of France strengthens ban on Gypsy residence in France
    The Grand Council of France renews the ban on Roma (Gypsy) residence in France. A second offence now results in hanging.
1512
  • The Burgos laws
    Las Leyes de Burgos determine rights and obligations for Spanish encomenderos in the new world, offering the indians protection from abuses.
  • Fifth Lateran Council begins
    The Catholic leadership discusses reform of the Church.
  • Roma (Gypsies) are expelled from Catalonia
  • In Rome, Michaelangelo Buonarotti completes the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
1515
  • Hormuz is captured by the Portuguese under Albuquerque
1517
  • The beginning of the Reformation
    Martin Luther posts his 95 theses in Wittenberg, on October 31.
  • Fifth Lateran Council ends
1520
  • The Catholic church excommunicates Martin Luther
    Luther responds by burning the bull of excommunication.
1521
  • Tenochtitlán falls to the Spanish under Hernan Cortes
  • Ferdinand Magellan dies in the Philippines, slain by natives
    His expedition continues under the command of Juan Sebastiano del Cano.
  • The Diet of Worms
    Martin Luther, brought before the Imperial Diet at the German city of Worms, refuses to recant his heresies.
1522
  • Rhodes falls to the Ottomans
  • Martin Luther returns to Wittenberg, completing his translation of the New Testament
1525
  • The battle of Pavia
    The battle ends in defeat for the French under Francis I, who is taken prisoner and brought to Madrid. As a condition of his release, he signs an unfavourable peace treaty. Upon being released, however, he repudiates the treaty and makes alliance against Spain with Florence, Venice, and the Papacy, among others.
  • Martin Luther marries a former nun, Katherina von Bora
  • Roma (Gypsies) are expelled from Holland
1526
  • The Ottomans achieve victory at Mohács, conquering Hungary
1527
  • Rome is pillaged by an Imperial army
    Pope Clement VII is held prisoner in the Castel Sant'Angelo (sometimes considered the "end of the Renaissance").
  • Niccolo Machiavelli dies
1529
  • "Ladies' Peace" at Cambrai, between France and Spain
  • The Ottomans besiege Vienna
1530
  • Charles V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Bologna by Pope Clement VII
1531
  • Union of Schmalkalden
    In Germany, a union of six princes and fourteen cities in northern Germany is formed, the purpose being to defend the (Protestant) faith of the members.
  • Ulrich Zwingli dies
1532
  • Francisco Pisarro leads his expedition from Panama to Peru
  • Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince" published posthumously
1533
  • In Peru, Francisco Pisarro has the Inca executed
1534
  • In England, Henry VIII breaks with Rome
    King Henry VIII declares Church of England independent of Rome
1536
  • Anti-Gypsy laws passed in Denmark
1538
  • Titian paints "Venus of Urbino"
1540
  • Explorer Hernando de Soto reaches Mississippi River
  • Ignatius Loyola founds Society of Jesus
1541
  • Anti-Gypsy laws passed in Scotland
1542
  • The "New Laws" instituted by the Spanish crown
    Las Nuevas Leyes, which are particularly restrictive of inheritance rights to encomiendas, meet with resistance in the new world. They are not made public in Mexico, and cause rebellion in Peru. The result is a compromise.
1543
  • Nicolaus Copernicus advances theory of heliocentric solar system
1545
  • The Council of Trent convenes
    Meeting in Otranto in Italy (until 1563), the Catholic church leadership discusses a response to the Reformation.
1546
  • The Schmalkaldic war breaks out
    Within a year, the Protestants have been defeated.
  • Martin Luther dies
1552
  • Emperor Charles V attempts to make his son Philip his heir to the imperial throne
    A rebellion by various princes, led by Maurice of Saxony, breaks out, and the Ottomans and the French seize the chance to declare war, too.
1555
  • The peace of Augsburg
    The terms of the peace allow Lutheran states to enjoy equal rights with Catholic, under the principle of cuius regio, eius religio (that is, the faith of the sovereign is to be the faith of the nation).
1556
  • Charles V abdicates
    His realm is divided among his younger brother Ferdinand and his son, Philip II.
1557
  • Anti-Gypsy laws passed in Lithuania
1559
  • The peace of Cateau-Cambrésis
    The war between France and Spain ends. France relinquishes her claims in Italy, and in the Burgundian territories. England cedes her last Continental domain, the port of Calais. France receives the three German bishoprics of Metz, Toul, and Verdun.
  • John Knox preaches sermon at Perth
    Generally regarded as the start of the Reformation in Scotland.
1563
  • The Council of Trent ends
1568
  • In Japan, Oda Nobunaga captures the capital city of Kyoto
    With the blessing of the Emperor, Nobunaga appoints his own candidate from the Ashikaga family to the office of shogun (supreme warlord, or dictator) of Japan.
  • Pope Pius V orders expulsion of Roma (Gypsies) from Roman Catholic Church domain
1569
  • The Jesuits commence missionary work in South America
1571
  • The battle of Lepanto
    The gathered navies of Venice, the Papacy, and Spain achieve a decisive naval victory over the Ottoman fleet.
1572
  • Dutch rebellion
    In the Netherlands, an armed rebellion against Spanish rule breaks out, led by William of Orange.
1579
  • The Union of Arras
    The southernmost, predominantly Catholic, regions of the Netherlands align themselves with Spain, turning, for a time, the Spanish fortunes of war.
1580
  • Portuguese-Spanish Union
    Portugal and her colonies are incorporated into the Spanish realm, when the Portuguese king, Henrique, makes Philip II his heir.
1581
  • The Union of Utrecht declares its independence
1582
  • Oda Nobunaga dies
  • University of Edinburgh founded, in Scotland
1584
  • William of Orange is assassinated
  • First British colony at Virginia
    Sir Walter Raleigh makes first British attempt at colonising North America, in Virginia.
1587
  • Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
1588
  • The Spanish Armada
    A huge Spanish fleet sails for England in an attempt to establish a bridgehead on the island. The attempt fails when the Armada is forced into the North Sea, where it founders in a storm.
1589
  • In Denmark, the death penalty is ordered for any Roma (Gypsies) who fail to leave the country
1598
  • The Edict of Nantes
    French Huguenots granted religious freedom.

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Last modified: July 20, 2001