The 1520s

1521 505 years ago

Battle of Mactan: Explorer Ferdinand Magellan is killed by natives in the Philippines led by chief Lapulapu

The Battle of Mactan was fought on a beach in Mactan Island between Spanish forces led by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan along with local allies, and Lapulapu, the chie…

Battle of Mactan: Explorer Ferdinand Magellan is killed by natives in the Philippines led by chief Lapulapu

1521 505 years ago

Christian II of Denmark is deposed as king of Sweden and Gustav Vasa is elected regent.

Christian II, was a monarch under the Kalmar Union, reigning as King of Denmark and Norway from 1513 until 1523. He was briefly King of Sweden from 1520 until 1521. As king of Denm…

Christian II of Denmark is deposed as king of Sweden and Gustav Vasa is elected regent.

1521 505 years ago

The Ottoman Turks capture Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade).

The Ottoman Turks were an Oghuz Turkic ethnic group in Anatolia. Originally from Central Asia, they migrated to Anatolia in the 13th century and founded the Ottoman Empire, in whic…

The Ottoman Turks capture Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade).

1521 505 years ago

Peter Canisius, Dutch-Swiss priest and saint (died 1597)

Peter Canisius was a Dutch Jesuit priest known for his strong support for the Catholic faith during the Protestant Reformation in Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Switzerland an…

Peter Canisius, Dutch-Swiss priest and saint (died 1597)

1521 505 years ago

Maria of Portugal, Duchess of Viseu (died 1577)

Maria, Duchess of Viseu was an infanta of Portugal, the only daughter of King Manuel I of Portugal and his third wife, Eleanor of Austria. A noted patron of the arts and buildings,…

Maria of Portugal, Duchess of Viseu (died 1577)

1521 505 years ago

Swedish War of Liberation: Swedish troops defeat a Danish force in the Battle of Västerås

The Swedish War of Liberation, also known as Gustav Vasa's Rebellion and the Swedish War of Secession, was a significant historical event in Sweden. Gustav Vasa, a nobleman, led a …

Swedish War of Liberation: Swedish troops defeat a Danish force in the Battle of Västerås

1521 505 years ago

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham was an English nobleman. He was the son of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Katherine Woodville and nephew of Elizabeth Woodville …

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason

1521 505 years ago

The Diet of Worms ends when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, issues the Edict of Worms, declaring Martin Luther an outlaw

The Diet of Worms of 1521 was an imperial diet of the Holy Roman Empire called by Emperor Charles V and conducted in the Imperial Free City of Worms. Martin Luther was summoned to …

The Diet of Worms ends when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, issues the Edict of Worms, declaring Martin Luther an outlaw

1521 505 years ago

Spanish forces defeat a combined French and Navarrese army at the Battle of Noáin during the Spanish conquest of Iberian

The Kingdom of France is the historiographical name or umbrella term given to various political entities of France in the medieval and early modern period. It was one of the most p…

Spanish forces defeat a combined French and Navarrese army at the Battle of Noáin during the Spanish conquest of Iberian

1521 505 years ago

After an extended siege, forces led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés capture Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc and conquer the…

The fall of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Mexica, was an important event in the Spanish conquest of the Mexica. It occurred in 1521 following extensive negotiations between loca…

After an extended siege, forces led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés capture Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc and conquer the…

1521 505 years ago

John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev (died 1580)

Hans the Elder was the only Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev. The predicate the Elder is used to distinguish him from his nephew, Hans the Younger, who held Sønderborg from 156…

John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev (died 1580)

1521 505 years ago

Pope Urban VII (died 1590)

Pope Urban VII, born Giovanni Battista Castagna, was head of the Catholic Church, and leader of the Papal States from 15 to 27 September 1590. His papacy is the shortest recognized…

Pope Urban VII (died 1590)

1521 505 years ago

Zhengde, Chinese emperor (born 1491)

The Zhengde Emperor, personal name Zhu Houzhao, was the 11th emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1505 to 1521. He succeeded his father, the Hongzhi Emperor.

Zhengde, Chinese emperor (born 1491)

1521 505 years ago

Sebastian Brant, German author (born 1457)

Sebastian Brant was a German humanist and satirist. He is best known for his satire Das Narrenschiff.

Sebastian Brant, German author (born 1457)

1521 505 years ago

Tamás Bakócz, Hungarian cardinal (born 1442)

Tamás Bakócz OP was a Hungarian archbishop, cardinal and statesman. He was a serious candidate in the 1513 papal conclave.

Tamás Bakócz, Hungarian cardinal (born 1442)

1521 505 years ago

Ottoman wars in Europe: The Ottoman Turks occupy Belgrade.

A series of military conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and various European states took place from the Late Middle Ages up through the early 20th century. The earliest conflicts…

Ottoman wars in Europe: The Ottoman Turks occupy Belgrade.

1521 505 years ago

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, English academic and politician, Lord High Treasurer (died 1598)

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, was an English statesman, the chief adviser of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 157…

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, English academic and politician, Lord High Treasurer (died 1598)

1521 505 years ago

Ferdinand Magellan, Portuguese sailor and explorer (born 1480)

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer best known for planning and leading the 1519–1522 Spanish expedition to the East Indies. During this expedition, he discovered the Stra…

Ferdinand Magellan, Portuguese sailor and explorer (born 1480)

1521 505 years ago

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, Welsh politician, Lord High Constable of England (born 1478)

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham was an English nobleman. He was the son of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Katherine Woodville and nephew of Elizabeth Woodville …

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, Welsh politician, Lord High Constable of England (born 1478)

1521 505 years ago

Leonardo Loredan, Italian politician, 76th Doge of Venice (born 1436)

Leonardo Loredan was a Venetian nobleman and statesman who reigned as the 75th Doge of Venice from 1501 until his death in 1521. As a wartime ruler, he was one of the most importan…

Leonardo Loredan, Italian politician, 76th Doge of Venice (born 1436)

1521 505 years ago

Josquin des Prez, Flemish composer (born 1450)

Josquin Lebloitte dit des Prez was a composer of Renaissance music, who is variously described as French or Franco-Flemish. Considered one of the greatest composers of the Renaissa…

Josquin des Prez, Flemish composer (born 1450)

1521 505 years ago

Edward Stafford (pictured), whose father had been beheaded for rebelling against King Richard III of England, was himsel

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham was an English nobleman. He was the son of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Katherine Woodville and nephew of Elizabeth Woodville …

Edward Stafford (pictured), whose father had been beheaded for rebelling against King Richard III of England, was himsel

1520

The Revolt of the Comuneros begins in Spain against the rule of Charles V

The Revolt of the Comuneros was an uprising by citizens of Castile against the rule of Charles I and his administration between 1520 and 1521. At its height, the rebels controlled …

The Revolt of the Comuneros begins in Spain against the rule of Charles V

1520

Hernan Cortés defeats Pánfilo de Narváez, sent by Spain to punish him for insubordination

Hernán Cortés, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish conquistador, military commander, explorer, captain general, and writer who led an expedition that caused the fall …

Hernan Cortés defeats Pánfilo de Narváez, sent by Spain to punish him for insubordination