Explore 118 historical events from 1550–1559.
The army of the Mughal Empire was the military force by which the Mughal emperors established and expanded their empire. Although its origins, like the Mughals themselves, were in …
A Mughal army under Humayun and Bairam Khan defeats an Afghan army under Sikandar Shah Suri in the battle of Sirhind, al
The College of Arms is the heraldic authority for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and some Commonwealth realms; the heraldic authority for Scotland is the Court of the Lord Lyon.…
The College of Arms is reincorporated by Royal charter signed by Queen Mary I of England and King Philip II of Spain.
Lodovico Zacconi was an Italian composer and musical theorist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. He worked as a singer, theologian, and writer on music in northern Ita…
Lodovico Zacconi, Italian composer and theorist (died 1627)
Giovanni Antonio Magini was an Italian astronomer, astrologer, cartographer, and mathematician.
Giovanni Antonio Magini, Italian mathematician, cartographer and astronomer (died 1617)
Edward Kelley or Kelly, also known as Edward Talbot, was an English Renaissance occultist and scryer. He is known for working with John Dee in his magical investigations. Besides t…
Edward Kelley, English spirit medium (died 1597)
Polydore Vergil or Virgil, widely known as Polydore Vergil of Urbino, was an Italian humanist scholar, historian, priest and diplomat, who spent much of his life in England. He is …
Polydore Vergil, English historian (born 1470)
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.
Pope Marcellus II (born 1501)
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 (born 1503)
Gemma Frisius was a Dutch physician, mathematician, cartographer, philosopher, and instrument maker. He created important globes, improved the mathematical instruments of his day a…
Gemma Frisius, Dutch physician, mathematician, and cartographer (born 1508)
John Bradford (1510–1555) was an English Reformer, prebendary of St. Paul's, and martyr. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London for alleged crimes against Queen Mary I. He was bu…
John Bradford, English reformer, prebendary of St. Paul's (born 1510)
Oronce Fine was a French mathematician, cartographer, editor and book illustrator.
Oronce Finé, French mathematician and cartographer (born 1494)
Pope Paul IV, born Gian Pietro Carafa, was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 23 May 1555 to his death, in August 1559. While serving as papal nuncio i…
Gian Pietro Carafa became Pope Paul IV, beginning a tumultuous four-year papacy during which the Papal States suffered a
Mary I of England (1516–1558) and Philip of Spain married at Winchester Cathedral on Wednesday 25 July 1554.
The royal wedding of Mary I and Philip II of Spain celebrated at Winchester Cathedral.
Pietro de' Medici was a Tuscan prince of the House of Medici as a son of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Pietro de' Medici, Italian noble (died 1604)
Mary I was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain as the wife of King Philip II from January 1556 until her death in 1558. She made vigorous attempts to rev…
Queen Mary I grants a royal charter to Derby School, as a grammar school for boys in Derby, England
Benedetto Giustiniani was an Italian clergyman who was made a cardinal in the consistory of 16 November 1586 by Pope Sixtus V.
Benedetto Giustiniani, Italian clergyman (died 1621)
Elisabeth of Austria was Queen of France from 1570 to 1574 as the wife of King Charles IX. A member of the House of Habsburg, she was the daughter of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Empe…
Elisabeth of Austria, French queen (died 1592)
Gaspara Stampa was an Italian poet. She is considered to have been the greatest woman poet of the Italian Renaissance, and she is regarded by many as the greatest Italian woman po…
Gaspara Stampa, Italian poet (born 1523)
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, was an politician and military officer of the Tudor era. He was an uncle of two of the wives of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howar…
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, English soldier and politician, Lord High Treasurer (born 1473)
Lady Jane Grey, also known as Lady Jane Dudley after her marriage, and nicknamed as the "Nine Days Queen", was an English noblewoman who was proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland…
Lady Jane Grey takes the throne of England.
Louise of Lorraine was Queen of France as the wife of King Henry III from their marriage on 15 February 1575 until his death on 2 August 1589. During the first three months of thei…
Louise of Lorraine, Queen of France (died 1601)
Albert Frederick was the Duke of Prussia, from 1568 until his death. He was a son of Albert of Prussia and Anna Marie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He was the second and last Prussian duk…
Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia (died 1618)
Lady Jane Grey, also known as Lady Jane Dudley after her marriage, and nicknamed as the "Nine Days Queen", was an English noblewoman who was proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland…
The attempt to install Lady Jane Grey as Queen of England collapses after only nine days.
Michael Servetus was a Spanish theologian, physician, cartographer, and Renaissance humanist. He was the first European to correctly describe the function of pulmonary circulation,…
Michael Servetus is arrested by John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland as a heretic.