Explore 189 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)
Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, duc de Bouillon, was a member of the powerful House of La Tour d'Auvergne, the Prince of Sedan and a marshal of France. He was a prominent Huguenot fig…
Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Marshal of France (died 1623)
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)
The Peace of Augsburg, also called the Augsburg Settlement, was a treaty between Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and the Schmalkaldic League, signed on 25 September 1555 in the Germa…
The Peace of Augsburg is signed by Emperor Charles V and the princes of the Schmalkaldic League.
Count Ferenc II Nádasdy de Nádasd et Fogarasföld was a Hungarian nobleman and a distinguished soldier. His family, the Nádasdy family, was one of the wealthiest and most influentia…
Ferenc Nádasdy, Hungarian noble (died 1604)
Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby was the son of Katherine Willoughby, 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, and Richard Bertie. Richard Bertie was Lady Willoughby d…
Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, English diplomat (died 1601)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Thomas of Villanova, OSA was a Spanish Augustinian friar, preacher, ascetic and religious writer. He served as Archbishop of Valencia from 1545 to 1555 and was famous for the exten…
Saint Thomas of Villanueva, Spanish bishop and saint (born 1488)
Justus Jonas, the Elder, or simply Justus Jonas, was a German Lutheran theologian and reformer. He was a Jurist, Professor and Hymn writer. He is best known for his translations of…
Justus Jonas, German academic and reformer (born 1493)
Hugh Latimer was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and Bishop of Worcester during the Reformation, and later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI. In 1555 under the Cat…
Hugh Latimer, English bishop and saint (born 1487)
Nicholas Ridley was an English Bishop of London. Ridley was one of the Oxford Martyrs burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions, for his teachings and his support of Lady …
Nicholas Ridley, English bishop and martyr (born 1500)
Olimpia Fulvia Morata was an Italian poet, translator and classical scholar. One of the few women in sixteenth-century Europe who worked primarily in the classical languages rather…
Olympia Fulvia Morata, Italian-German scholar and educator (born 1526)
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)
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)