1579

Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century

Decades: 1520s 1530s 1540s 1550s 1560s - 1570s - 1580s 1590s 1600s 1610s 1620s

Years: 1574 1575 1576 1577 1578 - 1579 - 1580 1581 1582 1583 1584

• January 23 - The Union of Utrecht united the northern Netherlands in a confederation called the United Provinces. William of Orange becomes Stadtholder, and the Duc d'Anjou, younger brother of Henry III of France is invited to become hereditary sovereign.
• March - Capture of Maastricht by the Spanish under Parma.

Births

Deaths

• February 20 - Nicholas Bacon, English politician