1596
| Years: 1593 1594 1595 - 1596 - 1597 1598 1599 | |
| Decades: 1560s 1570s 1580s - 1590s - 1600s 1610s 1620s | |
| Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century | |
Events
- April 9 - Spanish troops capture Calais
- September 17 - The Spanish capture Amiens
- September 20 - Diego de Montemayor founded the city of Monterrey, Mexico.
- First water closet, by Sir John Harrington, is installed in a manor near Kelston in England
Births
- January 13 - Jan van Goyen, painter (+ 1656).
- March 31 - René Descartes, French philosopher.
- June 23 - Johan Banér, Swedish soldier in the Thirty Years War.
- June 29 - Emperor Go-Mizunoo of Japan
- August 16 - Frederick V, elector palatine of the Rhine Palatinate and briefly titled King of Bohemia.
- August 19 - Princess Elizabeth Stuart of Scotland, later Queen consort Elizabeth of Bohemia.
- September - James Shirley, English dramatist.
- Thomas Francis, prince of Carignano.
- Constantijn Huygens, Dutch poet.
- Praise-God Barebone, English leather-seller and Fifth Monarchy man.
- Moses Amyraut, French Protestant theologian and metaphysician.
- Michael I of Russia.
- Pietro da Cortona, Italian painter.
Deaths
- January 28 - Sir Francis Drake, English explorer, soldier.
- February 17 - Friedrich Sylburg, German classical scholar.
- Blaise de Vigenère, Cryptographer, diplomat, scientist, and author.
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