1579 - Political Events

Political Events

The Union of Arras created in January unites Low Country Walloons (Catholics) with those of Hainaut and Artois, but the Union of Utrecht created January 23 joins Dutch patriots to the north in opposition to the hated Spaniards (see 1578). This final division of the former Netherlands establishes the United Provinces and marks the birth of the Dutch Republic. The Dutch insurgents sign a military alliance with England.

England's lord chancellor Sir Nicholas Bacon dies at London February 20 at age 68, having worked to undermine Europe's Catholic powers while maintaining the relatively moderate Protestantism of the English Church.

Irish patriot James (Fitzmaurice) Fitzgerald comes ashore in County Munster in July with a small force of Italians and Spaniards to support a rebellion against English Protestantism (see 1556). Backed by Pope Gregory XIII and Spain's Felipe II, they fail to gain the support of Fitzmaurice's cousin Gerald Fitzgerald, 14th (or 15th) earl of Desmond, but when Fitzmaurice is killed in August Desmond takes over and appeals to the Irish lords to join in the defense of Catholicism against the English Protestants (see 1580).

The Ottoman grand vizier Mehmed Sokollu is assassinated at Constantinople the night of October 11 at age 74. He has antagonized many people by opposing the war with Venice and last year's war with Persia.