Years: 1615 1616 1617 - 1618 - 1619 1620 1621

Decades: 1580s 1590s 1600s - 1610s - 1620s 1630s 1640s

Centuries: 16th century - 17th century - 18th century

Events

• March 8 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion (he soon rejects the idea after some initial calculations were made but on May 15 confirms the discovery).
• The margraves of Brandenburg is granted Polish approval to inherit Ducal Prussia.
• The Synod of Dort is convened.
• Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Mustafa I (1617-1623) to Osman II (1618-1622).
• May 23 - The Second Defenestration of Prague precipitates the Thirty Years' War.
• October 29 - English adventurer, writer, and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh is beheaded for allegedly conspiring against James I of England.

Births

• January 1 - Duke Karl I Ludwig of Pfalz, Heidelberg, Germany
• November 3 - Aurangzeb, Mughal emperor

Deaths

• August 23 - Gerbrand Adriaensz Bredero, Dutch poet and playwright (b. 1585)
• October 29 - Sir Walter Raleigh
• November 2 - Archduke Maximilian III of Austria