Events in year of 1579
- 01-06Artois / Hainault / Dowaai sign pro-Spanish Union of Arras
- 01-07England signs an offensive and defensive alliance with Netherland
- 01-23Union of Utrecht signed, forming protestant Dutch Republic
- 01-25Treaty of Utrecht signed, marks beginning of Dutch Republic
- 03-05Betuwe joins Union of Utrecht
- 03-06Veluwe joins Union of Utrecht
- 03-23Friesland joins Union of Utrecht
- 04-11Venlo joins Union of Utrecht
- 05-07Congress of Cologne forms in the Netherlands
- 05-17Artois / Henegouwen / French-Flanders sign Treaty / Peace of Parma recognizing Spanish Duke van Parma as land guardian
- 06-17Anti-English uprising in Ireland
- 06-17Francis Drake entered SF Bay
- 06-17Sir Francis Drake lands on coast of California
- 07-21Mechelen surrenders to Duke of Parma
- 07-26Francis Drake leaves SF to cross Pacific Ocean
- 07-28Cardinal Granvelle returns to Madrid
- 07-29Antwerp request union with of Utrecht
- 07-29King Philip II arrests plotters Antonio Perez and Princess van Eboli
- 08-17Francois van Anjou visits English Queen Elizabeth I
- 09-13Breda forms Union of Utrecht
- 10-07English royal marriage of Queen Elizabeth I to Duke of Anjou
People born in year of 1579
- 01-04Willem Teellinck: Dutch theologist / vicar
- 02-09John Meursius [van Meurs]: Dutch historian
- 04-12Francois de Bassompierre: Marshal of France
- 07-25Valerius Otto: Composer
- 08-18Charlotte Flandrina van Nassau: Daughter of Willem I of Orange
- 08-24John Amner: Composer
- 11-11Frans Snyders: Flemish animal painter
- 11-22Jan Baptist Stalpart van der Wiele: Dutch lawyer / pastor / lyricist
- 12-12Heinrich Steuccius: Composer
- 12-20John Fletcher: Elizabethan dramatist (Phylaster)
People died in year of 1579
- 10-24Albrecht V von Wittelsbach: Duke of Bavaria, dies at 51
Events in year of 1580
- 03-15Spanish King Philip II puts 25,000 gold coins on head of Prince Willem of Orange
- 03-17Prince Willem of Orange welcomed in Amsterdam
- 04-11Drenthe joins Union of Utrecht
- 06-17Battle at Hardenberg: Spanish troops beat rebels
- 06-18States of Utrecht forbid Catholic worship
- 06-25Book of Concord, standards of Lutheran Church, 1st published
- 08-25Battle of Alcantara, Spain defeats Portugal
- 09-19Treaty of Plessis-lez-Tours (Anjou / Dutch States-General)
- 09-26Francis Drake with Spanish treasure returns to England
- 11-09Spanish troops lands in Ireland
- 11-26French Huguenots and Roman Catholics sign peace treaty
People born in year of 1580
- 01-12Jean Baptiste van Helmont: Belgian chemist (found boiling pt temp)
- 04-18Thomas Middleton: English playwright (Game of Chess)
- 07-06Johann Stobaeus: Composer
- 09-17Charlotte Brabantia: Countess of Nassau / Daughter of Willem of Orange
People died in year of 1580
- 01-18Antonio Scandello: Italian Composer (Passion of John), dies at 63
- 01-31Hendrik: Portuguese Cardinal / epilepticus / regent (1578-80)
- 02-15Cunerus Petri: Dutch Theologist / Bishop of Leeuwarden
- 03-03Jacob Hillebrand: Dutch Mayor of Groningen
- 05-27Jonker Barthold Entens van Mentheda until Middelstum
- 06-15Nicolaas van Nieuwland: Corrupt 1st Bishop of Haarlem, dies at 70
- 06-18Juliana van Stolberg: Engraver of Nassau
- 07-25Baltazar Alvarez: Spanish Jesuit / writer, dies at 47
- 08-19Andrea Palladio: Architect / writer (Il Redentore, Venice), dies at 71
- 08-25Frederick Schenk van Toutenburg: Last Archbishop of Utrecht
- 08-30Emanuel Philibert: Duke of Savoy / Governor of the Netherlands
- 10-27John Bonga: Beggar
- 11-09Gaspar Schetz: South Netherlands, minster of chief treasurer, dies at 67
- 11-21Willem Van Hoorn: Baron of Heze, Governor of Brussels, executed
- 12-01Edmund Campion: English Jesuit, hanged at 42
- 12-01Giovanni Morone: Italian Theologian / diplomat / cardinal, dies at 71
Events in year of 1581
- 01-16English parliament passes laws against Catholicism
- 01-28James VI signs 2nd Confession of Faith in Scotland
- 03-25Portugese Cortes calls Philip II King of Portugal
- 04-01Portugese Cortes subjects himself on Philip II
- 04-04Frances Drake completes circumnavigation of world
- 04-04Francis Drake becomes knight
- 04-15Cortes van Thomar accepts Philip II as King of Portugal
- 07-14English Jesuit Edmund Campion arrested
- 07-24States of Holland / Zealand recognized by Willem van Orange
- 08-02Leiden University names Snellius Math Professor
- 10-15Commissioned by Catherine De Medici, the 1st ballet "Ballet Comique de la Reine, " is staged in Paris
- 11-07Queen Elizabeth I and Francois of Anjou wed
- 11-29Doornik surrenders to Duke of Parma
People born in year of 1581
- 01-04James Ussher: Archbishop of Armagh (gave age to Earth based on bible)
- 02-04Daniel Selich: Composer
- 05-06Frans Francken [the Younger]: Painter
- 06-18Thomas Overbury: Poet
- 07-02Johann Staden: Composer
- 10-09Claude G Bachet de Meziriac: French mathematician / theologist
- 10-19Dimitri Ivanovitch: Russian Son of Ivan IV "the Terrible"
- 12-09Emilia Secunda Antwerpiana: Daughter of Willem of Orange
People died in year of 1581
- 01-22Joost de Damhoudere: Flemish lawyer
- 01-22Seerp Galama: Dutch nobleman / military / politician, dies at 52
- 04-03Huibert Duifhuis: Roman Catholic pastor (Rotterdam / Utrecht)
- 07-23Georges Lalaing: Viceroy of Friesland