Events in year of 1540
- 01-06King Henry VIII of England married his 4th wife, Anne of Cleves
- 02-09The 1st recorded race meet in England (Roodee Fields, Chester)
- 02-14Emperor Charles V enters Ghent without resistance, executes rebels
- 03-04Protestant count Philip of Hessen marries 2nd wife
- 03-19Court of Holland names Amsterdam sheriff John Hubrechtsz a "heretic"
- 04-29Emperor Charles declares all privileges of Gent ended
- 05-04Venice and Turkey sign Treaty of Constantinople
- 06-03Hernando de Soto crosses Appalachian Mountain, 1st European to do so
- 06-10Thomas Cromwell arrested in Westminister
- 06-24Henry VIII divorces his 4th wife, Anne of Cleves
- 06-29English ex chancellor Thomas Cromwell sentenced as heretic
- 07-28English King Henry VIII marries Catharine Howard, his 5th wife
- 08-25Explorer Hernando de Alarcon travels up Colorado River
- 08-29Emperor Karel deprives city Gent definitive rights / privileges
- 09-27Pope Paul III recognizes Society of Jesus / Order of the Jesuits
- 09-27Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded by Ignatius Loyola
- 10-02Venice / Turkey signs peace
- 10-11Emperor Karel names his son Philip, Duke of Milan
People born in year of 1540
- 01-25Edmund Campion: London, England -- Saint / Jesuit martyr (Decem Rationes)
- 06-23Johann Baptista Serranus: Composer
- 07-11Adolf van Nassau: German Son of Willem the Rich / Juliana of Stolberg
- 08-05Joseph Justice Scaliger: Proposed Julian dating
- 12-31Silvio Antoniano: Italian Cardinal / theologist (Tre libri)
People died in year of 1540
- 01-27Angela Merici: Italian Monk / monastery
- 02-02George Schenck van Toutenburg: Gov / Viceroy of Frisia / Groningen
- 05-06Jean Luis Vives: Spanish theory / humanist / reformer, dies at 48
- 05-22Francesco Guicciardini: Italian Historian / President of Romagna, dies at 57
- 07-11Jan Szapolyai: Anti-king of Hungarian
- 10-04Helius Eobanus Hessus: German humanist / Poet (Silvae)
Events in year of 1541
- 03-18Hernan de Soto observes 1st recorded flood in America (Mississippi River)
- 04-04Ignatius of Loyola becomes 1st superior-general of Jesuits
- 05-08Hernando de Soto discovers Mississippi River
- 06-18Irish parliament selects Henry VIII as King of Ireland
- 08-26Turkish Sultan Suleiman occupies Buda / annexes Hungary
- 11-09Queen Catharine Howard confined in London Tower
- 12-29Isabella of Poland and King Ferdinand of Austria sign Treaty of Gyalu
People born in year of 1541
- 10-31Hendrik van Kinschot: Dutch lawyer
- 11-09Menso Alting: Dutch reformed vicar / theologist
People died in year of 1541
- 01-06Bernard van Orley: Flemish royal Painter of Hungary, dies at about 52
- 05-27Margaretha: Duchess of Salisbury, beheaded
- 07-04Pedro de Alvarado: Spanish occupier, dies at about 56
- 09-23Philippus A Paracelsus: Swiss Physician / alchemist, dies at 47
- 12-24Andreas R Bodenstein von Carlstadt: Radical Lutheran, dies at about 61
Events in year of 1542
- 01-21Parliament passes bill of attainder against Queen Katherine Howard
- 06-27Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo claims California for Spain
- 07-12French troops under Maarten van Rossem occupies Flanders
- 07-21Pope Paul III begins inquisition against Protestants (Sactum Officium)
- 08-02French troops leave Flanders
- 08-23Rabbi Joseph Caro completes his commentary of Tur Code
- 08-24Conquistador Francisco de Orellana returns to Spain
- 09-28Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovers California, at San Diego Bay
- 10-07Explorer Cabrillo discovered Catalina Island off California coast
- 11-22Spain delegates "New Laws" against slavery in America
- 11-24Battle at Solway Moss: English beat Scottish King James
People born in year of 1542
- 02-22Santino Garsi: Composer
- 06-15Richard Grenville: English parliament leader / Vice-Admiral (Roanoke)
- 06-24Juan de la Cruz [de Yepes]: Spanish Carmelet / poet / Saint
- 07-06Elisabeth van Nassau: Daughter of Willem / Juliana van Stolberg
- 10-04Roberto Bellarmino: Italian theologist / diplomat
- 10-14Abul-Fath Djalal-ud-Din: 3rd Mogol Emperor of India (1556-1605)
- 10-15Djalalud-Din Mohammed Akbar: Emperor of India (1556-1605)
- 12-07Mary Stuart: Queen of Scotland (1560-1587)
People died in year of 1542
- 01-10Gerardus Noviomagus [Gerrit Geldenhauer]: Dutch theologist, die at 59
- 02-13Catharine Howard: Queen of England / 5th Wife of Henry VIII, beheaded
- 05-21Hernando de Soto: Dies while searching for gold near Mississippi River
- 06-19Leo Jud[ae]: Swiss pastor / church Reformer
- 10-27Abraham ben Avigdor: Rabbi / Author (commentary on Tur)
- 12-14James: King of Scotland (1513-42), dies at 30
- 12-28Albert Pigge [Pighius]: Dutch Theologist / astronomer, dies at about 52