1585
| Years: 1582 1583 1584 – 1585 – 1586 1587 1588 | |
| Decades: 1550s 1560s 1570s – 1580s – 1590s 1600s 1610s | |
| Centuries: 15th century – 16th century – 17th century | |
Events
- January 12 – The Netherlands adopts the Gregorian calendar
- Beginning of the Eighth War of Religion in France (also known as the War of the Three Henrys)
- August 8 – John Davis enters Cumberland Sound in quest for the North West Passage.
- August 17 – Capture of Antwerp by Spanish forces under the Prince of Parma.
- Chocolate introduced to Europe commercially
- England enters the Eighty Years' War
Births
- January 27 – Hendrick Avercamp, Dutch painter (d. 1634)
- March 16 – Gerbrand Adriaensz Bredero, Dutch writer (d. 1618)
- September 9 – Cardinal Richelieu, French statesman (d. 1642)
- October 9 – Heinrich Schütz, German composer (d. 1672)
- Uriel Acosta, Portuguese Jewish philosopher (d. 1640)
- Alexander Whitaker, Virginia Colony religious leader (d. 1616)
Deaths
- April 10 – Pope Gregory XIII (b. 1502)
- May 15 – Niwa Nagahide, Japanese retainer, samurai, and daimyo (b. 1535)
- December – Pierre de Ronsard, French poet (b. 1524)
Categories: 1585