1568
Dutch Revolt Begins at Heiligerlee
A small Dutch force under Louis of Nassau defeated a Spanish detachment at Heiligerlee in Groningen. The skirmish was minor, but the symbolism was not: the Dutch Revolt had begun its long, stuttering march toward the Republic of the Seven United Provinces. The skirmish's significance was symbolic rather than military, transforming political dispute into armed resistance against Spanish authority.
Nobunaga Enters Kyoto
Oda Nobunaga rode into the imperial capital of Kyoto at the head of fifty thousand men and installed Ashikaga Yoshiaki as puppet shogun. Within five years he would dispose of the shogun entirely and begin imposing his authority on the quarreling daimyo of central Japan. His control of the capital and the emperor legitimized his authority over rival daimyo across the country.
Egmont and Hoorn Beheaded
The Flemish Catholic nobles Lamoral of Egmont and Philip de Montmorency, Count of Hoorn, were beheaded in Brussels's market square on Alba's orders, despite their Catholic loyalty. The executions shocked the Low Countries and converted many moderate nobles into committed rebels. Egmont had been admired as a hero of Gravelines and loyal servant of the crown, making his execution deeply shocking.
Morisco Revolt in the Alpujarras
Muslim converts in the Alpujarra mountains south of Granada rose against Philip II's decrees banning Arabic dress, language, and customs. The revolt dragged on for two years and ended with the mass deportation of Moriscos to other parts of Spain. Iberian religious uniformity was grinding toward its final, brutal conclusion.
Mercator Projects Greenland
Gerardus Mercator's world map using his new projection enlarged Greenland dramatically while making equatorial Africa appear small. Navigators welcomed the straight rhumb lines. Geographers grumbled about the distortion. The map argument over projection versus accuracy would continue for the next four centuries, and so would the projection. The projection preserved angles for navigation but distorted landmass sizes, making equatorial Africa appear misleadingly small for centuries of geographical education.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1568?
Saeculum lists 5 curated events from 1568. The most significant is Dutch Revolt Begins at Heiligerlee: A small Dutch force under Louis of Nassau defeated a Spanish detachment at Heiligerlee in Groningen.
What era was 1568 part of?
1568 falls within the Renaissance (1501-1650). Reformation, conquest, and the world drawn whole.
Which regions saw notable events in 1568?
The curated events from 1568 span Europe and East Asia.