What Happened in 1588

Major Events

  • May 28 King Philip II dispatches the Spanish Armada under the Duke of Medina-Sidonia from Lisbon, Portugal to invade England
  • Jul 29 The "Invincible" Spanish Armada is sighted approaching England, several skirmishes follow forcing the invading fleet to make a long and costly retreat around Scotland and Ireland
  • More 1588 Events

More People Born in 1588

Who Died in 1588

  • Jan 17 Qi Jiguang, Chinese general (Ming Dynasty general who led defense against Wokou pirates and the Great Wall), dies at 59
  • Feb 9 Álvaro de Bazán, Marquis of Santa Cruz, most important Spanish admiral of his day, dies at 61
  • Feb 10 Joost Sybrantsz Buyck, Amsterdam merchant and regent, dies at about 82
  • Feb 24 Johann Weyer, Dutch physician and occultist
  • Mar 10 Theodor Zwinger, Swiss physician and scholar, dies at 54

More 1588 Deaths



World Leaders in 1588