Early Modern
Siege of Leiden (1574): The Dutch Flood Their Land to Win
The Spanish army withdrew after rebel ships reached the city across flooded land; Leiden was relieved on 3 October 1574.
Region
Europe
Early Modern
Martin Frobisher's Arctic Voyages (1576-1578) and Fool's Gold
Frobisher failed to find a Northwest Passage or gold; the ore he brought home proved worthless, the Company of Cathay collapsed, and several Inuit taken to England died there.
Early Modern
Spanish Fury (1576): Mutinous Spanish Troops Sack Antwerp
Antwerp was looted and several thousand inhabitants were killed; four days later the provinces signed the Pacification of Ghent against the Spanish troops.
Early Modern
Tycho Brahe and Uraniborg (1576): Astronomy Before the Telescope
Tycho's observations at Uraniborg were the most accurate before the telescope and allowed Kepler to discover the laws of planetary motion.
Early Modern
Yermak's Conquest of Siberia (1582): The Fall of Qashliq
Yermak's Cossacks captured Qashliq in October 1582 and broke the power of the Khanate of Sibir; although Yermak was killed in 1584, Russia went on to conquer all of Siberia.
Early Modern
Tensho Embassy (1582): Japanese Envoys Visit the Pope in Rome
The first official Japanese embassy to Europe was received by Philip II, Gregory XIII and Sixtus V, and returned to Japan with a European printing press.
Early Modern
Matteo Ricci in China (1582-1610): The Jesuit Who Reached Beijing
Ricci established a lasting Jesuit presence in Beijing, introduced European mathematics and geography to Chinese scholars and shaped a missionary strategy of cultural accommodation.
Early Modern
Gregorian Calendar (1582): Pope Gregory XIII's Reform of Time
Ten days were dropped in October 1582 and a new leap-year rule created the calendar now used as the international civil standard.
Early Modern
Assassination of William the Silent (1584) in Delft
William of Orange was killed; the Dutch Revolt survived under new leaders, but Spain regained much of the southern Netherlands.
Early Modern
Babington Plot (1586): The Conspiracy to Kill Elizabeth I
The conspirators were executed in September 1586, and Mary's coded letter approving the plot led to her trial and execution.
Early Modern
Drake's Raid on Cádiz (1587): Singeing the King of Spain's Beard
English victory; dozens of Spanish ships and large stores were destroyed, delaying the Armada until 1588.
Early Modern
Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1587) at Fotheringhay
Mary was beheaded; Elizabeth disowned the act, and Philip II of Spain pressed ahead with the invasion of England.