What Happened in January?

King Henry VIII of England leads an invasion of France during the Italian War of 1542–1546.

The Council of Trent reconvenes in Trento, Italy, to discuss reforms in response to the Protestant Reformation.

Ivan IV. known as Ivan the Terrible is crowned "Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia" on January 16, 1547, at the age of 16, marking the beginning of a new era for Russia, with a more centralized and powerful ruler at its head.

King Henry VIII of England dies, and his nine-year-old son Edward VI succeeds him as king, Edward is crowned on February 28, 1547

The German cities of Würzburg and Bamberg surrender to the forces of Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.

The City of São Paulo is founded in Brazil. The city’s name derives from its having been founded by Jesuit missionaries on the anniversary of the conversion of St. Paul.

The Shaanxi earthquake, believed to be the deadliest earthquake ever recorded, strikes China's Shaanxi and neighboring Shanxi province, killing or injuring and estimated 830,000 people. Although the quake lasted only seconds, it leveled mountains, altered the path of rivers, ignited fires that burned for days and caused massive flooding. More

Calais, the last English possession on mainland France, falls to the French, ending English territorial claims in France.

Elizabeth I is crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn and succeeded to the throne on the death of her half-sister Mary I in1558. Elizabeth's 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history. During it, a secure Church of England was established. Its doctrines were laid down in the 39 Articles of 1563, a compromise between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. More

The Edict of Saint-Germain is signed, granting French Protestants limited religious freedoms.

The Council of Trent concludes its meetings, marking the end of the Council's discussions on church reform.

Battle of Talikota in India sees the defeat of the Vijayanagara Empire by a coalition of Deccan Sultanates.

The Battle of Rio de Janeiro takes place. It was a small but significant skirmish in which a Portuguese force under Governor-General Mem de Sá attacked and destroyed the French settlement of Henriville.  Expand +

The Netherlands' Duke of Alva sets the penalty for treason at confiscation of property and death.

The Union of Lublin establishes the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, uniting the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Tsar Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible suppresses a rebellion in Novgorod, Russia, executing thousands. The massacre lasted from January 2 to Feb 12, 1570

The Royal Exchange in London is officially opened by Queen Elizabeth on January 23. 1571. It was designed by Sir Thomas Gresham as a center for commerce and trading stocks.

English astronomer Thomas Digges publishes a work promoting the Copernican system of astronomy.

The Battle of Gembloux sees Spanish forces defeat the rebel States Army during the Eighty Years' War.

The Union of Arras is signed, reconciling the Catholic southern provinces of the Netherlands with King Philip II of Spain.