The naval Battle of Diu takes place in the Arabian Sea, in the port of Diu, India, between the Portuguese and the Ottoman Empires. The Portuguese prevailed establishing control of the trade. More
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What Happened in February?
Emperor ascensions, legendary battles, and assassinations. Discover what happened this month in history. Explore pivotal events from February that helped shape the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci arrives back in Spain after his final voyage to the New World.
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León sets foot in Florida, the first known European arrival in what is now the United States.
The Fifth Council of the Lateran, an important council of the Roman Catholic Church, is convened by Pope Leo X in Rome.
The Habsburg forces win a decisive victory over France at the Battle of Pavia on February 24, 1525, during the Italian War of 1521–1526. The French army was virtually destroyed, and King Francis I was captured by the Habsburgs, leading to a shift in power in Italy and forcing France to accept humiliating terms in the subsequent Treaty of Madrid.
Battle of Pavia: Spanish and Imperial forces defeat the French, capturing King Francis I of France during the Italian Wars.
The city of Santiago, Chile, is founded by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia on February 12, 1541
Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII, is executed at the Tower of London for adultery and treason.
Protestant reformer Martin Luther dies in Eisleben, Germany. on February 18, 1546. He was 62 years old and had returned to his hometown to mediate a dispute between the counts of Mansfeld.
King Edward VI of England is crowned at Westminster Abbey at the age of nine following the death of Henry VIII.
Pope Julius III, born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, is elected after a long and contentious conclave, following Paul III's death.
Lady Jane Grey, who briefly ruled as Queen of England, is executed for treason.
Galileo Galilei, Italian astronomer, mathematician, and physicist, is born in Pisa, Italy.
Pope Pius V excommunicates Queen Elizabeth I of England with the papal bull "Regnans in Excelsis."
Université de Reims is founded in France by a bull of Pope Gregory XIII.
Pope Gregory XIII issues the papal bull "Inter gravissimas," reforming the calendar and introducing the Gregorian calendar which became effective on October 4, 1582 at which time it became October 15, 1582. It was quickly adopted by much of Catholic, but not Protestant, Europe which adopted it much later.
The Gregorian calendar is now widely used around the world. With the exception of Ethiopia, Nepal, Iran and Afghanistan, the Gregorian calendar is now the world's universal civil calendar, old style calendars remaining in use in religious or traditional contexts. More
Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed at Fotheringhay Castle, in Northamptonshire. After nineteen years in captivity, she was found guilty of plotting the assassination of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. More
The first recorded performance of Shakespeare's play "Henry VI, Part 1" takes place.
Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder dies in Brussels, Belgium.
Irish rebel Hugh O'Neill signs the Second Treaty of Dungannon, effectively ending the Nine Years' War in Ireland.