1578
| Years: 1575 1576 1577 – 1578 – 1579 1580 1581 | |
| Decades: 1540s 1550s 1560s – 1570s – 1580s 1590s 1600s | |
| Centuries: 15th century – 16th century – 17th century | |
Events
- January 31 – Battle of Gemblours – Spanish forces under Don John of Austria and Alexander Farnese defeat the Dutch. Don John begins to recover control of the French-speaking Southern Netherlands
- August 4 – Battle of Al Kasr al Kebir – The Moroccans defeat the Portuguese. King Sebastian I of Portugal is defeated and killed in North Africa, leaving his elderly uncle, Cardinal Henry, as his heir. This initiates a succession crisis in Portugal.
- October 1 – Alexander Farnese, Prince of Parma, succeeds Don John as Spanish Governor-General of the Netherlands.
- Tibet – Sonam Gyrso receives from prince Atlan Khan the title of "Talaï" and becomes the third Dalai Lama.
- Battle of Wenden – The Russians are defeated by the Swedes, who proceed to take Polotsk.
- The Ottoman Empire conquers Abkhazia.
Births
- April 1 – William Harvey, English physician (d. 1657)
- April 14 – King Philip III of Spain (d. 1621)
- July 9 – Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1637)
- December 2 – Agostino Agazzari, Italian composer (d. 1640)
- Giambattista Andreini, Italian actor and playwright (d. 1650)
- Robert Cushman, Plymouth Colony settler (d. 1625)
Deaths
- April 19 – Uesugi Kenshin, Japanese samurai and warlord (b. 1530)
- August 4 – King Sebastian I of Portugal (b. 1554)
- October 1 – Don John of Austria, Holy Roman Empire general and Governor-General of the Netherlands (b. 1547)
Categories: 1578