Explore 50 historical events from 1500–1509.
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)
Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici, nicknamed the Popolano, was an Italian banker and politician, the brother of Giovanni il Popolano. He belonged to the junior branch of the Hous…
Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici, Italian banker and politician (born 1463)
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
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 visits the Cayman Islands and names them Las Tortugas after the numerous turtles there
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
Georg Major was a Lutheran theologian of the Protestant Reformation.
Georg Major, German theologian and academic (died 1574)
John III, nicknamed The Pious, was the King of Portugal and the Algarve from 1521 until he died in 1557. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of …
John III of Portugal (died 1557)
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)
Sir James Tyrrell was an English knight who was a trusted servant of King Richard III of England. He is known for allegedly confessing to the murders of the Princes in the Tower un…
James Tyrrell, English knight (born 1450)
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Florence after whom America is named.
Amerigo Vespucci, this time under Portuguese flag, set sail for western lands
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Florence after whom America is named.
Amerigo Vespucci, this time under Portuguese flag, sets sail for western lands
Pope Marcellus II, born Marcello Cervini degli Spannocchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 10 April 1555 to his death, 22 days later.
Marcellus II, pope of the Catholic Church (died 1555)
Domenico della Rovere was an Italian cardinal and patron of the arts.
Domenico della Rovere, Catholic cardinal (born 1442)
John Devereux, 9th Baron Ferrers of Chartley was an English peer.
John Devereux, 9th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, English Baron (born 1463)
Columba of Rieti was an Italian religious sister of the Third Order of St. Dominic who was noted as a mystic. She was renowned for her spiritual counsel, devotion to the Blessed Sa…
Columba of Rieti, Italian Dominican tertiary Religious Sister (born 1467)
George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly was a Scottish nobleman and Chancellor of Scotland from 1498 to 1501.
George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly, Earl of Huntly and Lord Chancellor of Scotland (born 1440)
John I Albert was King of Poland from 1492 to his death and Duke of Głogów from 1491 to 1498. He was the fourth Polish sovereign from the Jagiellonian dynasty and the son of Casimi…
John I Albert, Polish king (born 1459)
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)
Alexander Ales or Alexander Alesius was a Scottish theologian who emigrated to Germany and became a Lutheran supporter of the Augsburg Confession.
Alexander Ales, Scottish theologian and academic (died 1565)
Johann Stumpf was an early writer on the history and topography of Switzerland as well as a theologian and cartographer.
Johann Stumpf, Swiss writer (died 1576)
Federico II of Gonzaga was the ruler of the Italian city of Mantua from 1519 until his death. He was also Marquis of Montferrat from 1536.
Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua (died 1540)
Duke Ernest of Bavaria was the Administrator of the dioceses of Passau and Salzburg and pledge lord of Glatz.
Ernest of Bavaria, pledge lord of the County of Glatz (died 1560)
Bartolomeu Dias was a Portuguese mariner and explorer. In February 1488, he became the first European navigator to round the southern tip of Africa and to demonstrate that the most…
Bartolomeu Dias, Portuguese explorer and navigator (born 1451)