Events

• February 12 - After claiming the throne of England the previous year, Lady Jane Grey is beheaded for treason alongside her husband.
• March 17 - Princess Elizabeth imprisoned in The Tower
• April 12 - Mary of Guise becomes Regent of Scotland
• July 23 - 25 - Wedding of Queen Mary I of England and King Philip of Naples, only son of Emperor Charles V in Winchester, England
• August 12 - Battle of Renty . French forces led by Francis, Duke of Guise turn back an invasion of Picardy by Charles V.
• The French forces in Siena surrender to the Imperialists after a long siege
• Mikael Agricola becomes the bishop of Turku
• Jesuits found Sao Paulo in Brazil

Births

• January 9 - Pope Gregory XV
• May 20 - Paolo Bellasio, Italian composer
• November 30 - Sir Philip Sidney, English courtier and poet
• Girolamo Diruta, Italian composer of the Venetian school

Deaths

• January 1 - Pedro de Valdivia conquistador of Chile and founder of Santiago, Chile
• February 12 - Lady Jane Grey, deposed Queen of England.
• February 23 - Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, father of Lady Jane Grey.