History
1586
General
Population: 528 Million*
- Entertainment: Writers include William Webbe (discourse on English poetry), Caesar Baronius (Catholic history), William Camden (British counties)
Art includes El Greco "Burial of Count Orgaz"
- Exploration: Thomas Cavendish leaves Plymouth on voyage of circumnavigation
- Religion: Pope Sixtus V promises financial aid to send Spanish Armada against England
Pope Sixtus V fixes number of cardinals at 70 and issues a bull forbidding usury
- Deaths: King of Poland Stephen Bathory, Painter Luis de Morales, Poet and soldier Sir Philip Sidney, John Sandys (executed for Catholic beliefs)
Americas
- Francis Drake sails to West Indies
Asia
- India: Akbar conquers Kashmir in India
- Indonesia: Kelut eruption kills 10,000
- Japan: Beginning of Kabuki theater in Japan
Europe
- England: Sir Francis Walsingham unravels Babington Plot to murder Elizabeth I proving involvement of Mary Queen of Scots in the plan - Anthony Babington and fellow conspirators tried and executed for plot
Mary Queen of Scots tried for treason at Fotheringay – sentence in pronounced against her and Elizabeth confirms it
Mary QOS recognizes Philip II of Spain as heir
Corn shortage
Blessed John Sandys sentenced for Catholic beliefs in England – hung but then fights back and wrestles with executioner while being disembowled
- Hungary: Famine in Hungary and Ireland famine because of Wars of Desmond result in cannibalism
- Ireland: Famine in Hungary and Ireland famine because of Wars of Desmond result in cannibalism
- Italian States: Rebuilding of St. John Lateran at Rome
- Poland: End of reign of King of Poland Stephen Bathory of Transylvania
- Switzerland: Ludwig Pgygger forms League of the Seven Swiss Catholic Cantons
Middle East
- Persia: Abbas I becomes Shah of Persia
South
- Florida: Drake plunders St. Augustine