| April 9 | Marcello Cervini elected Pope Marcellus II |
| April 17 | Siena surrenders for Spanish troops |
| May 23 | Giampietro Caraffa elected Pope Paul IV |
| September 25 | Freedom of Religion in Augsburg |
| September 30 | Oxford Bishop Nicholas Ridley sentenced to death as a heretic |
| October 21 | Emperor Charles V makes Erard of Pallandt earl of Culemborg |
| October 21 | English parliament refuses to recognize Philip of Spain as king |
| October 25 | Emperor Karel puts son Philip II in charge of Netherlands/Naples/Milan |
| November 17 | William of Orange becomes member of Council of State |
