1586 - Political Events

Political Events

Sir Francis Drake surprises the heavily fortified city of San Domingo on Hispaniola January 1 and forces its Spanish governor to pay a heavy ransom. He captures Cartagena on the Spanish Main in February, first plundering and then ransoming the city. Drake burns San Agostin (St. Augustine), Florida, June 7.

Former lord deputy of Ireland Sir Henry Sidney dies at Ludlow, Shropshire, May 5 at age 56.

Another plot to assassinate England's Protestant queen is discovered by spies of Elizabeth's secretary of state Sir Francis Walsingham (whose daughter is the wife of the soldier and poet Sir Philip Sidney) (see Throckmorton, 1583; 1584). Anthony Babington, 25, a Roman Catholic page to Mary, Queen of Scots, has conspired with Jesuit priest John Ballard, who is seized August 4 and betrays his confederates in a confession that is obtained in all likelihood through torture. Babington flees to St. John's Wood, disguises himself, reaches Harrow, gains shelter from a Catholic convert, but is discovered in late August and locked up in the Tower of London. He is executed at Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, September 20 along with Ballard and five others after all have been convicted of high treason. Mary denies any knowledge of Babington but Elizabeth's cryptographer Thomas Phelippes deciphers Mary's coded letters to the conspirators; Mary is convicted October 25 of involvement in the scheme and her life hangs in the balance (see 1587).

The Battle of Zutphen 17 miles northwest of Arnhem September 22 ends in victory for the Dutch Staats-General over Spanish forces (see 1585). Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, lays siege to Zutphen with about 10,000 men; Alexander Farnese, duke of Parma, arrives with about 15,000 to relieve the siege, and Leicester suffers a defeat November 11. His nephew Sir Philip Sidney takes a bullet in the thigh and dies at Arnhem 26 days later at age 32, having declined to take water that he was offered on the battlefield (he insisted that it be given to another wounded man).

Poland's Stephen Báthory dies suddenly of apoplexy near Grodno December 12 at age 53 after an 11-year reign. His death ends Polish plans to unite Poland, Muscovy, and Transylvania into one great state (see 1587).

The Mughal emperor Akbar annexes the kingdom of Kashmir.

The Japanese emperor Goyozei makes Hideyoshi prime minister (Dajodaijin) at year's end and gives him the name Toyotomi (rich citizen) (see 1584; 1587).