1559 - Religion

Religion

Pope Paul IV founds the Order of the Golden Spur as a military body, but Fernando, duque de Alva, now 51, defeats the papal forces. The pope dies at Rome August 18 at age 83 and Romans vent their anger at him by demolishing his statue, liberating the prisoners of the Inquisition, and scattering the Inquisition's records. Paul is succeeded by Giovanni Angelo de' Medici, 60, no kin to Florence's de' Medici family; the father of three children, he will reign until 1566 as Pius IV.