1578
| Years: 1575 1576 1577 - 1578 - 1579 1580 1581 | |
| Decades: 1540s 1550s 1560s - 1570s - 1580s 1590s 1600s | |
| Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century | |
Events
- January 31 - Battle of Gemblours - Spanish forces under Don John of Austria and Alexander Farnese defeat the Dutch. Don John begins to recover control of the French-speaking Southern Netherlands
- August 4 - Battle of Al Kasr al Kebir - The Moroccans defeat the Portuguese. King Sebastian I of Portugal is defeated and killed in North Africa, leaving his elderly uncle, Cardinal Henry, as his heir. This initiates a succession crisis in Portugal.
- October 1 - Alexander Farnese, Prince of Parma, succeeds Don John as Spanish Governor-General of the Netherlands.
- Tibet - Sonam Gyrso receives from prince Atlan Khan the title of "Talaļ" and becomes the third Dalai Lama.
- Battle of Wenden - The Russians are defeated by the Swedes, who proceed to take Polotsk.
Births
- April 1 - William Harvey, physician, discovered blood circulation
- April 14 - King Philip III of Spain
- September 9 - Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
- December 2 - Agostino Agazzari, composer and writer on music
Deaths
- April 19 - Uesugi Kenshin, Japanese samurai and warlord
- August 4 - King Sebastian I of Portugal
- October 1 - Don John of Austria, illegitimate son of Emperor Charles V, victor of the Battle of Lepanto, Spanish Governor-General of the Netherlands
ca:1578
da:1578
de:1578
es:1578
eo:1578
fr:1578
nl:1578
pl:1578
ro:1578
sl:1578
fi:1578
sv:1578