1574
| Years: 1571 1572 1573 – 1574 – 1575 1576 1577 | |
| Decades: 1540s 1550s 1560s – 1570s – 1580s 1590s 1600s | |
| Centuries: 15th century – 16th century – 17th century | |
Events
- April 14 – Battle of Mookerheyde. Spanish forces under Sancho de Avila defeat the rebel forces of Louis of Nassau. Louis is killed.
- May 30 – On the death of King Charles IX of France, he is succeeded by his brother King Henry of Poland, who becomes King Henry III. His mother, Catherine de Medici, acts as Regent until Henry arrives from Poland.
- October 3 – The city of Leiden, besieged by the Spanish, is relieved by a Sea Beggar fleet under Louis Boisot.
- Murad III succeeds Selim II as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
Births
- March 7 – John Wilbye, English composer (date of baptism)
- May 6 – Pope Innocent X (d. 1655)
- October 14 – Anne of Denmark, queen of James VI of Scotland (d. 1619)
Deaths
- April 14 – Louis of Nassau, younger brother of William the Silent (b. 1538)
- April 21 – Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (b. 1519)
- May 30 – King Charles IX of France (b. 1550)
- September 1 – Guru Amar Das, third Sikh Guru (b. 1479)
- December 12 – Selim II, Ottoman Emperor (b. 1524)
Categories: 1574