| January 15 | 3rd sitting of Council of Trente opens |
| January 17 | Edict of St. Germain recognizes Huguenots in France |
| March 1 | Blood bath at Vassy: General de Guise allows 1200 huguenots murder |
| March 9 | Kissing in public banned in Naples (punishable by death) |
| March 15 | General Francois de Guise enters Paris |
| April 30 | 1st French colonists in US: Jean Ribaut and Hugenots at Parris Is NC |
| June 1 | Emperor Ferdinand and Sultan Suleiman signs treaty |
| September 17 | Council of Trente takes ecclesiastical canon |
| December 19 | Battle at Dreux: Anne de Montmorency and huguenots under Conde captured |
