1558 - Political Events

Political Events

Calais falls January 20 to François de Lorraine, 2nd duc de Guise, after 211 years in English hands (see Guise, 1557). Guise goes on to capture Guines and Ham, expelling the English and forcing England to give up hope of conquering France (see 1564).

The Battle of Gravelines July 13 ends in victory for Spanish forces commanded by the 35-year-old Lamoral, comte d'Egmont, over the French army of Paul des Thermes (see 1557; Cateau-Cambrésis, 1559).

The former Holy Roman Emperor Charles V eats eel pie at the monastery of Yuste in early September, suffers indigestion for 3 weeks, and dies September 21 at age 58. His son will return to Spain from the Netherlands next year and reign until 1598 as Felipe II.

England's glorious Elizabethan age begins as Mary Tudor dies suddenly of smallpox at London November 17 at age 42; being childless, she is succeeded by her half sister Elizabeth, now 25. Daughter of Henry VIII by the late Anne Boleyn, the new queen makes it clear that she intends to rule more than in name only: "I am but one body, naturally considered, though by [God's] permission a Body Politic to govern." Her accession raises hopes that Elizabeth will put an end to the persecution of Protestants that has wracked the country and bring peace between Catholics and Protestants, but England is militarily weak and in difficult economic straits, and the new queen's advisers urge her to effect an alliance through marriage either with France or Spain. Her sole secretary and principal adviser is Sir William Cecil, 38, and despite his opposition, she immediately makes her friend (and possibly her lover) Robert Dudley, now 27, master of the horse. Catholics call her the "bastard queen" and regard her as a usurper, but Elizabeth will reign until 1603 in a golden period of English arts and letters.

Vietnam's Nguyen family gains control of the southern part of the country, which it will rule from Hue until about 1620 (see 1545; 1673).