Historical Events in 1572

• Jan 16 Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk is tried and convicted of high treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholicism in England
• Feb 5 Beggars assault Oisterwijk in the Netherlands, drive nuns out
• Mar 12 Poet Luís Vaz de Camões publishes the epic poem "Os Lusíadas" in Portugal

• Apr 1 Watergeuzen capture Brielle from the Spaniards, during the Eighty Years' War, gaining the first foothold on land for what would become the Dutch Republic.
• Apr 21 France & England sign anti-Spanish military covenant
• May 4 Dutch towns of Flushing and Veere side with Dutch rebels, the Sea Beggers (Geuzen) during the uprising against the Spanish
• May 15 Louis van Nassau and the Huguenots occupy Valenciennes

• Jun 11 Spanish co-land guardian Duke of Medinaceli arrives in Lock
• Jun 19 Garrison under Dutch Resisteance leader Adrian van Swieten occupies Oudewater
• Jun 21 Garrison under Adrian of Swieten conquers Gouda

Dutch Rebellion

Jun 24 Five clergymen of Dutch city Enkhuizen are hanged during the Dutch Rebellion against Philip II of Spain

• Jul 9 Death of the Gorcum Martyrs: Calvinist militant force the Watergeuzen (the Sea Beggars) capture and hang 19 Catholic priests in Brielle
• Jul 18 Provincial States of Holland recognize William I of Orange as Stadtholder of Holland, Friesland and Utrecht at a gathering in Dordrecht
• Jul 19 Battle at Saint Ghislain: Spanish army beats The Genlis' mercenaries
• Jul 23 William I of Orange's troops occupy Roermond on the Spanjaarden
• Aug 22 Failed assassination on Gaspard de Coligny, a French nobleman and admiral, a Huguenot leader in the French Wars of Religion (killed 2 days later)

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

Aug 24 St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of Protestants by Roman Catholics begins in Paris and later spreads to the French provinces

• Oct 2 Spanish army occupies, plunders and destroys Mechelen
• Oct 5 Spanish army under Alva's son Don Frederik plunders Mechelen
• Oct 18 Spanish troops attack Maastricht

Brahe Observes a Supernova

Nov 5 Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe observes a new star (supernova) with the naked eye in the Cassiopeia constellation, proving objects changed in world beyond the Moon and making his reputation [1]

• Nov 6 Supernova is observed in constellation known as Cassiopeia
• Nov 11 Duke of Alva's son Don Fredrik begins siege of Haarlem
• Nov 16 Troops under Spanish General Fadrique Alvarez de Toledo occupy and plunder Zutphen, Netherlands
• Dec 11 Spanish troops begin siege of Haarlem
• Dec 13 Spanish army beats Geuzen fleet (confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles) under admiral Lumey
• Dec 17 Spanish army starts fires in Haarlem, Netherlands