Year by year · 16th century
1578
1578 in world history: 6 events, 6 births, 11 deaths and 1 state that came to an end. 993 recorded states existed that year.
Events
Martin Frobisher sails on his third Arctic voyage
Frobisher left Harwich with fifteen ships to mine what he believed was gold ore on Baffin Island. The ore proved worthless, and the Northwest Passage stayed unfound.
Moroccan forces destroy King Sebastian's army at Alcácer Quibir
Near Ksar-el-Kebir, Moroccan forces destroyed the Portuguese army of King Sebastian, who was killed with much of the nobility. Sebastian's death without an heir led to the union of the Portuguese and Spanish crowns in 1580.
Battle
Battle of Mimikawa
The Battle of Mimikawa was fought in 1578 on the Mimi River in Hyūga Province, Kyushu, between the Ōtomo and the Shimazu. Ōtomo Sōrin's army, advancing to restore an exiled client lord, was drawn into a trap and routed with heavy losses.
In the profiles
Portuguese EmpireKing Sebastião I is killed at Alcácer Quibir, triggering a succession crisis
Saadi SultanateVictory over Sebastian of Portugal at the Battle of Alcácer Quibir
Brunei SultanateSpain captures the capital in the Castilian War but soon withdraws
Born in 1578 6
Died in 1578 11
States that came to an end 1
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- Harvard
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