Major Events
- Jan 14 Church authorities in Rome burn Hebrew books
- Jan 17 France gains Bresse, Bugey, Valromey & Gex in treaty with Spain
- Feb 8 Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, leads an unsuccessful revolt in London against Queen Elizabeth
- Feb 13 Fleet of five British East India Company vessels departs on their 1st voyage from London, led by Sir James John Lancaster commanding the "Red Dragon"; journey takes nearly 16 months
- Feb 25 Robert Devereux, English 2nd Earl of Essex, executed for treason against the Crown of England
- Jul 30 Spanish garrison of Rhine birch surrenders to Earl Mauritius
- Aug 6 Spanish garrison of Meurs surrender to earl Mauritius
- Aug 27 Olivier van Noort completes first Dutch exploration of new world
- Oct 21 Memorial service for Daitokuji's Shinju held for Ikkyu Sojun in Kyoto
- Oct 24 Johannes Kepler succeeds Tycho Brahe as imperial mathematician to Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II
- More 1601 Events
Louis XIII
Tycho Brahe
William Shakespeare
Elizabeth I