Events

• February 27 - Battle of Ancrum Moor - Scots victory over superior English forces
• December 13 - Official opening of the Council of Trent (closed 1563)

Births

• April 2 - Elizabeth of Valois, Queen of Philip II of Spain (d. 1568)
• July 8 - Don Carlos of Spain, son of Philip II of Spain (d. 1568)
• Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza
• Luzzasco Luzzaschi, Italian (Ferrarese) composer of madrigals, also an organist and influential teacher
• Giulio Caccini, Italian (Florentine) composer, sometimes called the founder of opera

Deaths

• October 18 - John Taverner, composer
• Charles Brandon , 1st duke of Suffolk