Explore 98 historical events from 1500–1509.
Pedro Álvares Cabral was a Portuguese nobleman, military commander, navigator and explorer regarded as the European discoverer of Brazil. He was the first human in history to ever …
Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral lands in Brazil (discovery of Brazil)
Pedro Álvares Cabral was a Portuguese nobleman, military commander, navigator and explorer regarded as the European discoverer of Brazil. He was the first human in history to ever …
Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvarez Cabral reaches new coastline (Brazil)
The Battle of Cerignola was fought on 28 April 1503 between Spanish and French armies outside the town of Cerignola, Apulia, Kingdom of Naples, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) …
The Battle of Cerignola is fought
Henry II, nicknamed Sangüesino because he was born in Sangüesa, was the King of Navarre from 1517. The kingdom had been reduced to a small territory north of the Pyrenees mountains…
Henry II of Navarre (died 1555)
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish transatlantic voyages in the name of the Catholic Monarchs, opening…
Christopher Columbus sets of from Cádiz for his fourth voyage
Charles Wriothesley was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was the last member of a dynasty of heralds that started with his grandfather—Garter P…
Charles Wriothesley, English Officer of Arms (died 1562)
Henry VIII was King of England from 22 April 1509 until he died in 1547. After the pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Henry passed legislation that severed …
Henry VIII ascends the throne of England on the death of his father, Henry VII
The Lisbon massacre started on Sunday, 19 April 1506 in Lisbon when a crowd of churchgoers attacked and killed several people in the congregation whom they suspected were Jews. The…
In Lisbon, Portugal, a crowd began a massacre of Jews who had been forced to convert to Christianity
Lady Mary of Looz-Heinsberg, Dutch: Maria van Loon-Heinsberg, was a noble lady from the House of Looz and through marriage Countess of Nassau-Siegen.
Mary of Looz-Heinsberg, Dutch noble (born 1424)
Henry VII, also known as Henry Tudor, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of t…
Henry VII of England (born 1457)
Henry VIII was King of England from 22 April 1509 until he died in 1547. After the pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Henry passed legislation that severed …
Henry VIII ascends the throne of England on the death of his father, Henry VII
Pope Julius II was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 1503 to his death, in February 1513.
Pope Julius II places the Italian state of Venice under interdict
The Battle of Agnadello, also known as Vailà, was fought on 14 May 1509 between the army of King Louis XII of France and the Venetian rear-guard elements commanded by Bartolomeo d'…
Battle of Agnadello: In northern Italy, French forces defeat the Republic of Venice
Henry VIII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 22 April 1509, and King of Ireland from 18 June 1542, until his death in 1547.
Henry VIII of England marries Catherine of Aragon
Henry VIII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 22 April 1509, and King of Ireland from 18 June 1542, until his death in 1547.
Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon are crowned King and Queen of England
Krishnadevaraya was emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529 and the third ruler of the Tuluva dynasty. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rulers in Indian history,…
Krishnadevaraya ascends to the throne as Emperor of Vijayanagara, marking the beginning of the regeneration of the…
Krishnadevaraya was emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529 and the third ruler of the Tuluva dynasty. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rulers in Indian history,…
Krishnadeva Raya is crowned Emperor of Vijayanagara at Chittoor.
Étienne Dolet was a French scholar, translator and printer. He was a controversial figure throughout his lifetime, which was buffeted by the opposing forces of the Renaissance and …
Étienne Dolet, French scholar and translator (died 1546)
Ippolito (II) d'Este was an Italian cardinal and statesman. He was a member of the House of Este, and nephew of the other Ippolito d'Este, also a cardinal. He despoiled the then 1,…
Ippolito II d'Este, Italian cardinal and statesman (died 1572)
Henry VII, also known as Henry Tudor, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of t…
Henry VII of England (born 1457)
Lady Margaret Beaufort was a major figure in the Wars of the Roses of the late 15th century, and mother of Henry VII of England, the first Tudor monarch. She was also a second cous…
Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby (born 1443)
John Calvin was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was the principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theo…
John Calvin, French pastor and theologian (died 1564)
João da Nova was a Galician-born explorer in the service of Portugal. He is credited as the discoverer of Ascension and Saint Helena islands.
João da Nova, Portuguese explorer (born 1460)
Catherine of Aragon was Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until its annulment on 23 May 1533. She had previously been Princess of…
Catherine of Aragon (pictured) married King Henry VIII of England, becoming the first of his six wives
Charles Wriothesley was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was the last member of a dynasty of heralds that started with his grandfather—Garter P…
Charles Wriothesley, English Officer of Arms (died 1562)
Primož Trubar or Primus Truber was a Slovene Protestant Reformer of the Lutheran tradition, mostly known as the author of the first Slovene language printed book, the founder and t…
Primož Trubar, Slovenian Protestant reformer (died 1586)
Ludovico Maria Sforza, also known as Ludovico il Moro, and called the "arbiter of Italy" by historian Francesco Guicciardini, was an Italian nobleman who ruled as the Duke of Milan…
Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan (born 1452)
Robert Blackadder was a medieval Scottish prelate, diplomat and politician, who was Abbot of Melrose, Bishop-elect of Aberdeen and Bishop of Glasgow; when the latter was elevated …
Robert Blackadder, bishop of Glasgow
Na'od was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1494 to 31 July 1507, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. His regnal name was Anbasa Bazar. His reign was marked by internal tension between t…
Na'od, Ethiopian emperor
Alessandro Piccolomini was an Italian humanist, astronomer and philosopher from Siena, who promoted the popularization in the vernacular of Latin and Greek scientific and philosoph…
Alessandro Piccolomini, Italian astronomer and philosopher (died 1579)
George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau, and also a Protestant Reformer. After 1544 he becam…
George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, German prince (died 1553)
Pietro Crinito, known as Crinitus, or Pietro Del Riccio Baldi, was a Florentine humanist scholar and poet who was a disciple of Poliziano.
Crinitus, Italian scholar and academic (born 1475)
Martin Behaim, also known as Martin von Behaim and by various forms of Martin of Bohemia, was a German textile merchant and cartographer. He served John II of Portugal as an advise…
Martin Behaim, German-Bohemian geographer and astronomer (born 1459)
John V of Saxe-Lauenburg was the eldest son of Duke Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg and Adelheid of Pomerania-Stolp, daughter of Duke Bogislaus VIII of Pomerania-Stolp. He succeeded h…
John V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg (born 1439)