Events in year of 1587
- 01-29Deventer andZutphen surrender to Spain
- 02-01English Queen Elizabeth I signs Mary Stuarts death sentence
- 04-19Sir Frances Drake sails into Cadiz Spain and sinks Spanish fleet
- 07-222nd English colony forms on Roanoke Island off North Carolina
- 08-05Spanish troops conquer Lock
- 08-19Sigismund III becomes King of Poland
- 10-20Battle at Coultras: Henri van Navarra beats Catholic League
- 11-24Battle at Auneau: Henri de Guise wins
- 11-27Dutch County Groningen flood by dike break
- 12-17Earl Leicesters army leaves Netherlands
People born in year of 1587
- 01-08Johannes Fabricius: Denmark -- Astronomer (discovered sunspots)
- 01-16Alexander Adriaenssen: Flemish painter
- 04-17Marco Ivan Lukacic: Composer
- 08-18Virginia Dare: 1st English child born in New World
- 08-18Virginia Dare: 1st American born of English parents
- 11-16Joost van den Vondel: Cologne, Germany -- Dutch poet / dramatist (Jephtha)
People died in year of 1587
- 04-18John Foxe: Author (Book of Martyrs)
- 05-18Felix van Cantalice: Italian saint
- 07-06Michael Lauterbeck: Assassinated Fries Viceroy Willem Louis, executed
- 08-14Gugliemo Gonzaga: Composer, dies at 49
- 12-08Mary: Queen of Scots (1560-1587), executed
Events in year of 1588
- 01-22Pope Sixtus V decrees "Immense aeterni" (Reformed curia)
- 04-04Christian IV succeeds Frederik II as King of Denmark
- 05-09Duke Henri de Guises troops occupy Paris
- 05-12Catholic League under Duke Henri de Guise occupies Paris
- 05-13King Henri III flees Paris
- 05-19Spanish Armada sets sail for Lisbon, bound to England
- 05-30Spanish Aramada under Medina-Sidonia departs Lisbon to invade England
- 06-09Spanish Armada sails from Lisbon to England
- 07-11French King Henri III accept demands of Catholic League
- 07-18Admiral Howard beats Spanish Armada
- 07-21English fleet defeats Spanish armada
- 07-26John Hawkins becomes a knight
- 07-29Attacking Spanish Armada defeated and scattered by English defenders
- 07-29Duke Farneses troops ready for invasion of England
- 07-31English fleet beats Spanish Armada
- 08-01English Admiral Howard van Effingham beats Spanish Armada
- 08-06Spanish Armada under Medina Sidonia anchors
- 08-08Sea battle at Grevelingen: English fleet battles Spanish armada
- 08-12Medemblik surrenders to Spanish army
People born in year of 1588
- 01-12Jose Ribera [Lo Spagnoletto]: Spanish painter
- 02-19Pieter de Carpentier: Flemish Governor-General of Dutch East-Indies
- 02-26Nicolaus Erich: Composer
- 04-05Thomas Hobbes: England, United Kingdom -- Philosopher (Leviathan)
- 04-15Claudius Salmasius [Claude Saumaise]: French linguist
- 06-09Johann Andreas Herbst: Composer
- 09-08Marin Mersenne: France -- Mathematician / musician / philosopher (Cartesian)
- 09-10Nicholas Lanier: Composer
- 11-27Valerius Andreas [Walter Driessens]: Flemish historian
People died in year of 1588
- 02-09Marquis of Santa Cruz: Spanish Admiral
- 02-10Joost Sybrantsz Buyck: Amsterdam Merchant / regent, dies at about 82
- 03-17Petrus Dathenus: Flemish Minister / Physician (Psalms of David)
- 04-04Frederik II: King of Denmark / Norway (1559-88), dies at 53
- 04-19Paolo Veronese (Cagliari): Painter
- 06-10Valentin Weigel: German mystic
- 08-12Alfonso Ferrabosco: Composer, dies at 45
- 09-04Robert Dudley: Earl of Leicester, dies at 87
- 10-02Bernardino Telesio: Italian philosopher (Rerum in Child)
- 11-02Wilhelmus Damasi: Theologist / 1st Bishop of Roermond, dies at 63
- 12-23Hendrik de Guise: French leader of Catholic League, murdered at 37
Events in year of 1589
- 04-10Spanish troops conquer Geertruidenberg
- 08-01Murder attempt by Monk Jacques Clement on French King Hendrik III
- 09-21Battle at Arques: French King Henri IV beats Catholic League
People born in year of 1589
- 01-08Ivan [Dzivo F] Gundulic: Dalmatisch writer (Dubravka)
- 02-05Honorat de Brueil seigneur de Racan: French playwright / poet
- 02-07Jacob de Witt: Dutch Mayor (Dordrecht) / mathematician
- 03-03Gisbertus Voetius [Gijsbert Voet]: Dutch reformed theologist
- 03-19William Bradford: Gov of Plymouth colony for 30 years
- 07-02Guillaume van Messaus: Composer
- 07-09Johannes a Sancto Thoma [Poinset]: Portuguese theologist
- 08-10Pietro Antonio Tamburini: Composer
People died in year of 1589
- 03-22Lodovico Guicciardini: Ital historian, dies at 67
- 07-01Christophe Plantin: French / Belgian book publisher
- 08-02Henry III: King of Poland / France (1573-89), assassinated at 37
- 08-10Maarten Schenck Nideggen: Dutch army leader, drowned at about 49
- 08-11Maarten Schenck van Nideggen: Lt col (80 year war)
- 09-16Michael Bajus [Michel de Bay]: Belgian theologist
- 10-18Adolf van Nieuwenaar and Meurs: Viceroy of Utrecht, dies in battle
- 11-14Philipp Apianus [Bennewitz / Bienewitz]: German geographer, dies at 58