1540
Jesuits Officially Approved
Pope Paul III issued the bull Regimini Militantis Ecclesiae, formally recognizing the Society of Jesus.
Sher Shah Suri Drives Out Humayun
The Afghan warrior Sher Shah Suri crushed the Mughal emperor Humayun at Kannauj and drove him into exile in Persia.
Coronado Marches for Cibola
Francisco Vazquez de Coronado led a glittering expedition of three hundred Spaniards and thirteen hundred native allies out of Compostela in search…
Ming Wakou Piracy Surges
Along the southeastern coast of Ming China, so-called wakou pirates, many of them actually Chinese with some Japanese, Portuguese, and renegade participants…
Henry VIII Divorces Anne of Cleves
After six months of awkward marriage to a bride chosen by portrait, Henry VIII obtained a quick annulment from Anne of Cleves on grounds of non-consummation.
Jesuits Arrive in Portugal's Empire
Francis Xavier and other early Jesuits departed Lisbon aboard Portuguese Indiamen bound for Goa, Malacca, and beyond.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1540?
Saeculum lists 6 events from 1540. The most significant is Jesuits Officially Approved: Pope Paul III issued the bull Regimini Militantis Ecclesiae, formally recognizing the Society of Jesus. Ignatius of Loyola became the first Superior General.
What era was 1540 part of?
1540 falls within the Renaissance (1501-1650). Reformation, conquest, and the world drawn whole.
Which regions saw notable events in 1540?
The events from 1540 span Europe, South Asia, North America and East Asia.