Year by year · 16th century
1521
1521 in world history: 23 events, 5 births, 10 deaths, 2 works, 5 states founded and 1 that came to an end. 1,014 recorded states existed that year.
Events
Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther
The bull Decet Romanum Pontificem formally cut Martin Luther off from the Catholic Church after he refused to recant. The break hardened the divide that became the Protestant Reformation.
Magellan's expedition reaches the Philippines
After crossing the Pacific, Ferdinand Magellan's ships sighted Samar and landed at Homonhon. Magellan was killed on Mactan in April, but one ship completed the first circumnavigation in 1522.
Luther is summoned to recant before the Diet of Worms
Before Emperor Charles V, Martin Luther acknowledged his books but asked for time to answer whether he would retract them. The next day he refused, defying both emperor and Pope.
Ferdinand Magellan is killed on Mactan
Magellan died fighting the forces of the chief Lapulapu in the Philippines. Under Juan Sebastián Elcano, one ship of his fleet returned to Spain in 1522, completing the first circumnavigation.
Duke of Buckingham is executed for treason
Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, was beheaded on Tower Hill after a trial for allegedly plotting against Henry VIII. His fall showed how dangerous royal blood had become under the Tudors.
Charles V issues the Edict of Worms against Luther
The emperor declared Martin Luther an outlaw and banned his writings. Protected by Frederick the Wise at the Wartburg, Luther began translating the New Testament into German.
Tenochtitlan falls to Cortés and his allies
After a siege of nearly three months, Spanish forces and their Tlaxcalan allies captured Cuauhtémoc and the Aztec capital. Mexico City, capital of New Spain, rose on its ruins.
Pope Leo X names Henry VIII 'Defender of the Faith'
Pope Leo X granted Henry VIII the title Fidei Defensor for his treatise attacking Martin Luther. Henry later broke with Rome, yet British monarchs still use the title, abbreviated 'F.D.' on coins.
The Zwickau prophets arrive in Wittenberg
Three men of the Radical Reformation, exiled from Zwickau, arrived in Wittenberg, where their ideas won favour with Andreas Karlstadt and others. The unrest that followed brought Martin Luther back from protective custody at the Wartburg in March 1522.
Battle
Battle of Villalar
The Battle of Villalar was fought on 23 April 1521 near Valladolid, where royalist cavalry routed the army of the Castilian Comuneros.
Siege
Siege of Belgrade (1521)
The Siege of Belgrade in 1521 was the capture of the Hungarian fortress city by the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
Revolt
Vijayabahu Kollaya
The Vijayabahu Kollaya, the "plunder of Vijayabahu", was a palace revolt in 1521 in the Kingdom of Kotte, Sri Lanka, in which three sons of King Vijayabahu VI killed their father, who had favoured another heir.
In the profiles
Aztec EmpireTenochtitlan falls after a three-month siege; Cuauhtémoc is captured
New SpainTenochtitlan falls to Hernán Cortés and his indigenous allies
Crown of CastileThe Comuneros are defeated at the Battle of Villalar
Brunei SultanateAntonio Pigafetta describes the water city of Brunei
Mesoamerican religionThe fall of Tenochtitlan to the Spanish and their allies ends the Aztec state religion
TlaxcalaTlaxcalan forces help take Tenochtitlan, which falls on 13 August
Wars and longer events
Born in 1521 5
Died in 1521 10
Works 2
States founded 5
States that came to an end 1
Great speeches
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- APA
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- Harvard
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