1572 Facts for Kids

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	15th century – 16th century – 17th century
Decades:	1540s 1550s 1560s – 1570s – 1580s 1590s 1600s
Years:	1569 1570 1571 – 1572 – 1573 1574 1575

The year 1572 was a time of big changes and important events around the world. There were conflicts in Europe, especially related to religion, and major shifts in power in places like Japan and South America. It was also a year when people made new discoveries about the stars.

Key Events of 1572
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Key Events of 1572

Conflicts and Changes in Europe

January 16 – In England, Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk faced serious charges for his role in a plan called the Ridolfi plot. This plot aimed to bring back the Catholic faith in England.
April 1 – A group of Dutch rebels, known as the Sea Beggars, captured the important port city of Brielle. This victory sparked many uprisings in the regions of Holland and Zealand. Soon, most of these areas, except for Amsterdam, were under rebel control.
June 25 – The Sea Beggars continued their success by taking the city of Gorkum. They held several Roman Catholic priests prisoner there.
July 9 – Sadly, the Sea Beggars executed 19 Roman Catholic priests they had captured earlier. This happened in Brielle.

A Royal Wedding and a Terrible Massacre

August 18 – A grand wedding took place in Paris, France. Henry III of Navarre, who was a Huguenot (French Protestant), married Marguerite de France. She was the sister of King Charles IX. This marriage was hoped to bring peace between Protestants and Catholics.
August 24 – Just a few days after the wedding, a terrible event happened in Paris. This day is known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Thousands of Protestants were killed by Catholics, including a leader named Gaspard de Coligny. This happened on the orders of King Charles IX. Henry of Navarre and the Prince of Condé barely escaped with their lives. This sad event led to the start of the Fourth War of Religion in France.

Sieges and Battles

November 9 – Catholic forces loyal to the king began a long attack on Sancerre. This city was a stronghold for the Huguenots in central France. The city bravely defended itself for almost eight months. Interestingly, it was one of the last times slings were used as weapons in European history.
December – The Duke of Alva, a Spanish commander, started a long attack on the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands. This was known as the Siege of Haarlem.

Events Around the World

The Muromachi period in Japan came to an end. This marked a significant change in Japanese history.
The famous astronomer Tycho Brahe observed a new, very bright star in the sky. This was a supernova (an exploding star) and is now called SN 1572. He saw it in the constellation Cassiopeia.
Vilcabamba, the last independent part of the Inca Empire, was conquered by the Spanish. This marked the end of the Inca Empire.