| January 13 | Earl Henry Howard of Surrey sentenced to death |
| January 16 | Ivan IV the Terrible (17) crowns himself 1st tsar of Moscow |
| January 28 | 9-year-old Edward VI succeeds Henry VIII as king of England |
| February 3 | Russian czar Ivan IV (17) marries Anastasia Romanova |
| February 20 | King Edward VI of England was enthroned following death of Henry VIII |
| March 31 | Henry II succeeds Francois I as king of France |
| April 24 | Battle of Muhlberg: Emperor Karel V vs ruler Johan F the Brave |
| May 16 | Protestant German monarch surrenders to Karel in Wittenberg |
| May 19 | Monarch Johan Frederik surrenders to Karel |
| June 13 | King Ferdinand of Austria subjects himself on Turkish sultan Suleiman |
| June 20 | Count Philip van Hessen captured |
| June 21 | Great fire in Moscow |
| September 1 | Charles demands creation of Imperial League (German state) |
| September 10 | Battle at Pinkie, Midlothian: English beat the Scots |
| September 10 | English demand Edward VI, 10, wed Mary Queen of Scots, 5 |
