1556 - Political Events

Political Events

The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V resigns his Spanish kingdoms and Sicily January 16 (see 1555). He resigns Burgundy soon after, leaves the Empire to his brother Ferdinand, and sails from Flushing September 17 to settle as a guest at a monastery in Estremadura, where he will die in 1558. His inept son Felipe (Philip) is left to rule Spain, the Netherlands, Milan, Naples, Franche-Comte, and the rich Spanish colonies.

The Truce of Vaucelles signed February 5 makes peace between Felipe of Spain and France's Henri II.

England's Queen Mary recalls Sir Anthony Saint Leger from Ireland and appoints a new viceroy more amenable to her plan for reconciling the Irish Church with the Vatican and planting English colonies in Ireland (see O'Neill's rebellion, 1562).

The czar of Muscovy Ivan IV (the Terrible) completes his conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan from the Tatars. His triumph opens the way for Russian expansion to the east and southeast.

The Mughal emperor Humayan dies January 27 after falling from his library roof in Delhi. His son Jalal-ud-Din, 14, returns from exile and will reign until 1605 as Akbar with initial guidance from his regent Bairam Khan. Akbar defeats Hindu forces at the Battle of Panipat in the Punjab November 5 and regains the Hindustani empire.

Members of the Cayor nobility on the west coast of Africa rebel against the Wolof empire that has ruled since shortly after 1200 and establish their own independent state in what later will be Senegal. Without access to the sea and trade with Europe, the Wolof's importance will soon decline. The Baol whose satellite state has been part of the Wolof empire will soon come under Cayor control and will remain subject to Cayor rule until 1686.