Year by year · 16th century

1581

1581 in world history: 3 events, 2 births, 4 deaths, 2 states founded and 4 that came to an end. 995 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 26 July

    Dutch provinces renounce Philip II in the Act of Abjuration

    The States General of the rebel provinces declared that Philip II had forfeited his rule by tyranny. The Act of Abjuration was in effect a declaration of independence for what became the Dutch Republic.

    Dutch EmpireAct of AbjurationDutch Republic

  2. Event

    Cortes of Tomar

    The Cortes of Tomar was the assembly of the Portuguese estates held at Tomar in April 1581, which recognised Philip II of Spain as King Philip I of Portugal.

ProfileState874 states with a known seat in 1581Open the atlas at 1581 →

In the profiles

Born in 1581 2

Died in 1581 4

States founded 2

States that came to an end 4

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1581. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1581
MLA
“1581.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1581. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1581.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1581.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1581’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1581 (Accessed: ).