1588
Spanish Armada Sails
A fleet of one hundred and thirty ships under the reluctant Duke of Medina Sidonia entered the English Channel in a crescent formation, meaning to rendezvous…
Hideyoshi's Sword Hunt
Toyotomi Hideyoshi decreed that all peasants must surrender their swords, spears, and firearms.
Battle of Gravelines
Off the Flemish sandbanks of Gravelines, English ships scattered the Armada with long-range gunnery and forced it north into the gales of the North Sea.
Rome's Obelisk Raised
Pope Sixtus V's architect Domenico Fontana, using eight hundred men, one hundred forty horses, and an elaborate system of capstans, erected an ancient…
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1588?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1588. The most significant is Spanish Armada Sails.
What era was 1588 part of?
1588 falls within the Renaissance (1501-1650). Reformation, conquest, and the world drawn whole.
Which regions saw notable events in 1588?
The events from 1588 span Europe and East Asia.