Events

• January 12 - The Netherlands adopts the Gregorian calendar
• Beginning of the Eighth War of Religion in France (also known as the War of the Three Henrys)
• August 8 - John Davis enters Cumberland Sound in quest for the North West Passage.
• August 17 - Capture of Antwerp by Spanish forces under the Prince of Parma.
• Chocolate introduced to Europe commercially
• England enters the Eighty Years' War

Births

• January 27 - Hendrick Avercamp - Dutch painter of winter scenes
• March 16 - Gerbrand Adriaensz Bredero, Dutch poet and playwright (d. 1618)
• September 9 - Cardinal Richelieu, French statesman. (d. 1642)
• October 9 - Heinrich Schütz, composer
• Uriel Acosta, Portuguese Jewish philosopher
• Alexander Whitaker, Virginia Colony religious leader (d. 1616)

Deaths

• April 10 - Pope Gregory XIII
• May 15 - Niwa Nagahide, Japanese retainer, samurai, and daimyo
• December - Pierre de Ronsard, French poet (b. 1524)