WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 16. CENTURY
Find out what all happened in the first half of the 16. century

The Ottoman Empire under Selim I defeats the Mamluk Sultanate and captures present-day Egypt at the Battle of Ridaniya. (22. January 1517)

Emperor Charles V opens the Diet of Worms (22. January 1521)

Having published nothing for eleven years, François Rabelais publishes the Tiers Livre, his sequel to Gargantua and Pantagruel. (23. January 1546)

Henry VIII of England secretly marries his second wife Anne Boleyn. (25. January 1533)

Lisbon, Portugal is hit by an earthquake—thousands die. (26. January 1531)

The Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25. (28. January 1521)

Henry VIII dies. His nine-year-old son, Edward VI becomes King, and the first Protestant ruler of England. (28. January 1547)

France cedes Naples to Aragon. (31. January 1504)

Spaniard Pedro de Mendoza founds Buenos Aires, Argentina. (2. February 1536)

Portuguese forces under Christovão da Gama capture a Muslim-occupied hill fort in northern Ethiopia in the Battle of Baçente. (2. February 1542)

The Portuguese navy defeats a joint fleet of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Sultan of Gujarat, the Mamlûk Burji Sultanate of Egypt, the Zamorin of Calicut, and the Republic of Ragusa at the Battle of Diu in Diu, India. (3. February 1509)

Irish rebel Silken Thomas is executed by the order of Henry VIII in London, England. (3. February 1534)

Henry VIII of England is recognized as supreme head of the Church of England. (11. February 1531)

Vasco da Gama sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on his second voyage to India. (12. February 1502)

Santiago, Chile is founded by Pedro de Valdivia. (12. February 1541)

Disfida di Barletta – tournament between 13 Italian and 13 French knights near Barletta. (13. February 1503)

Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England, is executed for adultery. (13. February 1542)

Edward VI of England is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. (20. February 1547)

Battle of Wayna Daga – A combined army of Ethiopian and Portuguese troops defeats a Muslim army led by Ahmed Gragn. (21. February 1543)

Spanish-Imperial army defeat French army at Battle of Pavia. (24. February 1525)