1564 - Political Events

Political Events

Swedish forces under the command of Nils Persson Silversparre invade Denmark in January, plundering and scorching an area extending from Göinge in the east through most of Bleckinge without encountering more than small groups of resistance fighters (see 1563). Another Swedish army invades the Danish province of Halland under the command of Knut Hakansson Hand and plunders the area surrounding Kungsbacka and Falkenberg, again meeting little resistance. Sweden's Erik XIV Vasa crosses the bridge of Brömsebro in early September. Local peasant levies in the province of Bleckinge are unable to prevent him from taking the old city of Ronneby September 4. At least 2,000 men, women, and children are murdered, and Ronneby is burnt to the ground after being plundered. The Swedish commander Klas Kristerson Horn then ravages the western part of Bleckinge (see 1565).

The Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I dies at Vienna July 25 at age 61 after an 8-year reign in which he has ended religious strife in the German states and converted the elected crowns of Bohemia and Hungary into hereditary Hapsburg possessions (while agreeing to pay tribute to the Ottoman sultan for Austria's share of Hungary). He is succeeded by his 36-year-old son, who will reign until 1576 as Maximilian II and is not content with paying tribute to Constantinople (see 1566).

The Peace of Troyes ends hostilities between France and England (see 1563). English court favorite Robert Dudley has led an ill-fated expedition to help the Huguenots, and Queen Elizabeth elevates him in September to earl of Leicester and Baron Denbigh. His wife, Amy (née Robsart), died in September 1560, having fallen (or been pushed) down a flight of stairs. Elizabeth proposes that he marry Mary, Queen of Scots. Huguenots and Catholics have joined forces to drive the English out of Havre, and England renounces all claims to Calais in return for 222,000 crowns (see 1558).

Irish chieftain Hugh O'Neill releases his rival Calvagh O'Donnell after 3 years of confinement in which O'Donnell has been subjected to the cruelest torture (see 1561). O'Donnell voyages to London and appeals to Elizabeth for help against the rebellious O'Neill (see 1565).

Mon rebels burn Pegu to the ground, but the Burmese king Braginoco (Bayinnaung) captures the Siamese capital Ayutthaya and brings Siam's royal family back to Burma as hostages (see 1563; 1568; Laos, 1565).