1556

• January 4 – In Japan, Saitō Yoshitatsu, the eldest son of Saitō Dōsan, arranges the murders of his two younger brothers, Magoshiro and Kiheiji, and forces his father to flee from the Sagiyama Castle.
• January 16 – Charles V abdicates the thrones of the Spanish Empire (including his colonies in the New World) in favor of his son, Philip II, and retires to a monastery.{{cite book|author=Allied Powers (1919- ). Reparation Commission|title=Belgian Claims to the Triptych of Saint Ildephonse and the Treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eDQ6AQAAMAAJ|year=1921|page=35|language=en}}
• January 23 – The Shaanxi earthquake, the deadliest earthquake in history, occurs with its epicenter in Shaanxi province, China; 830,000 people may have been killed.{{cite journal |last1=Feng |first1=X. |last2=Ma |first2=J. |last3=Zhou |first3=Y. |last4=England |first4=P. |last5=Parsons |first5=B. |last6=Rizza |first6=M. A. |last7=Walker |first7=R. T. |title=Geomorphology and Paleoseismology of the Weinan Fault, Shaanxi, Central China, and the Source of the 1556 Huaxian Earthquake |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth |date=December 2020 |volume=125 |issue=12 |pages=1–23 |doi=10.1029/2019JB017848 |bibcode=2020JGRB..12517848F |s2cid=228829854 |url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019JB017848 |access-date=10 October 2023 |language=en |issn=2169-9313}}{{cite book |title=颤抖的地球: 地震科学 |date=2005 |publisher=清华大学出版社有限公司 |isbn=978-7-302-10694-4 |page=35 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0_2bizzqvFEC&q=1556 |access-date=10 October 2023 |language=zh}}
• January 24 – In India, at the Sher Mandal in Delhi, the Mughal Emperor Humayun trips while descending the stairs from his library and strikes the side of his head against a stone step, sustaining a fatal injury. He never regains consciousness and dies seven days later.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.532498|title=History of Mughal architecture.|last=Nath|first=Ram|publisher=Abhinav|year=1982|isbn=039102650X|oclc=59153735|author-link=Ram Nath}}{{page needed|date=June 2019}}
• February 5 – Truce of Vaucelles: Fighting temporarily ends between France and Spain.{{cite book |title=The Italian Wars 1494-1559: War, State and Society in Early Modern Europe |date=11 June 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-89939-6 |page=272 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnnJAwAAQBAJ&dq=truce+of+vaucelles+%225+february+1556%22&pg=PA272 |access-date=10 October 2023 |language=en}}
• February 14 – Akbar the Great ascends the throne of the Mughal Empire in India at age 13; he will rule until his death in 1605, by which time most of the north and centre of the Indian subcontinent will be under his control.{{cite book |last1=Parameswaran |first1=Dr S. Pari |title=ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL HISTORY: AN EAGLE'S VIEW FOR CIVIL SERVICES AND OTHER EXAMS |date=13 January 2023 |publisher=MJP Publisher |isbn=978-93-5528-240-8 |page=95 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GWWnEAAAQBAJ&dq=Akbar+13+%2214+february+1556%22&pg=PA95 |access-date=10 October 2023 |language=en}}
• March 21 – In Oxford, Thomas Cranmer, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, is burned at the stake for treason for his role in the English Reformation as chief bishop of the Anglican Church.{{cite web |last1=Acs |first1=Pal |title=Thomas Cranmer's Martyrdom as Parable |url=http://real.mtak.hu/72109/1/acs_thomas_cranmer.pdf |website=mtak.hu |access-date=10 October 2023}}
• March 22 – Reginald Pole, a Roman Catholic Cardinal, is appointed by Queen Mary of England as the new Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canterbury.{{Cite book |last=Duffy |first=Eamon |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npq81 |title=Fires of Faith: Catholic England under Mary Tudor |date=2009 |publisher=Yale University Press |jstor=j.ctt1npq81 |isbn=978-0-300-15216-6}}

• April 3 – In Qazvin, the Shah of Iran Tahmasp I, becomes enraged with the sexual orientation of his son Ismail II, and sends Ismail to Afghanistan to serve as the Iranian governor of Herat province.{{cite book |last=Newman |first=Andrew J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPgBAwAAQBAJ&q=false |title=Safavid Iran: Rebirth of a Persian Empire |publisher=I.B.Tauris |year=2008 |isbn=9780857716613 |page=33}}
• April 24 – Pál Márkházy surrenders the Hungarian fortress at Ajnácskő (now Hajnáčka in Slovakia) to the Ottoman Empire. Márkházy, accused of treachery, is stripped of his estates and title by the King of Hungary, and forced to flee to the Principality of Transylvania.{{cite journal |last=Papp |first=Sándor |title=From a Transylvanian principality to an Ottoman sanjak: The life of Pál Márkházi, a Hungarian renegade |journal=Chronica |volume=4 |page=59 |year=2004 |url=http://acta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/5780/1/chronica_004_057-067.pdf |issn=1588-2039}}
• May 28 (20th day of 4th month of Kōji 2) – In Japan, the Battle of Nagara-gawa takes place along the Nagara River in Mino Province near what is now the Gifu Prefecture. Saitō Yoshitatsu, with 17,500 troops, overwhelms and kills his father, Saitō Dōsan, who had attempted to avenge the Saitō family honor with less than 3,000 people.{{Cite book |last=Turnbull |first=Stephen |title=The Samurai Sourcebook |publisher=Cassell & Co. |year=1998 |ISBN=1-85409-523-4 |page=215}}
• June 14 – Lorenzo Priuli becomes the new Doge of the Venetian Republic.{{cite book |last1=MacKay |first1=George Eric |title=The Doges of Venice Chronologically Arranged with Historical Notes by George Eric Mackay |date=1878 |publisher=F. Ongania |page=105 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RSZqgy_j7EkC&dq=Lorenzo+Priuli+venice+%221556%22&pg=PA105 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=en}}
• June 27 – Thirteen English Protestants (11 men and two women), the "Stratford Martyrs", are burned at the stake at Stratford-le-Bow near London after being convicted of heresy.[http://www.exclassics.com/foxe/foxe347.htm Foxe's Book of Martyrs: 344. "Thirteen Martyrs Burned at Stratford-Le-Bow".] Exclassics.com. Retrieved 24 May 2013[https://web.archive.org/web/20140203103644/http://www.johnfoxe.org/freeman-marion.pdf List of martyrs according to Foxe]

• July 17 – Kostajnica Fortress in what is now Croatia falls to the Ottoman Empire and remains under Turkish control for the next 132 years.
• August 15 – Work begins on the Peresopnytsia Gospel at the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and continues for the next five years.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312070811/http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D17039%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html Information on the Peresopnytsia Gospel] from UNESCO
• August 27 – Charles V abdicates his position as Holy Roman Emperor in favor of his younger brother, Ferdinand, King of the Romans. The Imperial Diet postpones recognizing the abdication for the next 18 months.
• September 1 – After Pope Paul IV attempts to get King Henry II of France to join him in an invasion of Spanish-controlled Naples, Spain's Duke of Alba invades the Papal States in Italy.{{cite book |last1=Woodward |first1=Geoffrey |title=Philip II |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |location=London, New York |isbn=978-1317897736 |chapter=8}}

=== October–December ===

• October 7 – The Battle of Delhi is fought in India, at Tughlaqabad) near Delhi between forces of the Sur Empire (ruled by Muhammad Adil Shah) and the Mughal Empire (ruled by Akbar the Great). General Hemchandra Vikramaditya (Hemu) of the Suris overwhelms the forces commanded by the Mughal Governor of Delhi, Tardi Beg Khan within one day.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoRDAAAAYAAJ | title=Military History of India | publisher=Orient Longmans | last=Sarkar | first=Jadunath | author-link=Jadunath Sarkar | year=1960 | page=66 | isbn=9780861251551 }}
• November 5 – Second Battle of Panipat: Fifty miles north of Delhi, a Mughal army defeats the forces of Hemu and recaptures Delhi for the Mughal Empire, guaranteeing Akbar's rule.{{cite book |last1=Bhardwaj |first1=Kanwal Kishore |title=Hemu: Napoleon of Medieval India |date=2000 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-663-7 |pages=35–38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Emm0nTvllKoC&q=%225%20november%22 |access-date=10 October 2023 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Mubārak |first1=Abū al-Faz̤l ibn |title=The Akbar Nama of Abu-l-Fazl |date=1902 |publisher=Low Price Publications |isbn=978-81-7536-295-6 |pages=60–62 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TdIVAQAAMAAJ&dq=Panipat+hemu+akbar+%225+november+1556%22&pg=RA2-PA60 |access-date=10 October 2023 |language=en}}
• November 10 – The English ship Edward Bonadventure, commanded by Richard Chancellor is wrecked on the coast of Scotland at Pitsligo, killing most of its crew, including Chancellor. The few survivors include the first Russian ambassador to England, Osip Nepeya.{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5099?docPos=1|first=James |last=McDermott|chapter=Chancellor, Richard (d. 1556)|title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/5099 }}

• November 17 – In the Holy Roman Empire, the Steter Kriegsrat is founded as a War Council with five generals and five civil servants to advise the Habsburg rulers.{{cite book |editor-first=Richard |editor-last=Holmes |title=The Oxford companion to military history |year=2001 |page=411}}
• December 7 – The Mughal Emperor Akbar personally travels with Bairam Khan to lead an invasion force to defeat the Sultan of the Sur Empire, Sikandar Shah Suri.Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2007). The Mughul Empire, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, {{Listed Invalid ISBN|81-7276-407-1}}, pp.106-7
• December 27 – Péter Erdődy is appointed as the Ottoman Viceroy of Croatia after the death on September 7 of Nikola IV Zrinski.
• December 31 – All military authorities in the Holy Roman Empire are ordered to submit to the decisions of the Imperial War Council.

• The kings of Spain take control of the Flanders region, including what is now the French département of Nord.{{cite book |title=Diccionario Enciclopedico Hispano-Americano |date=1887 |publisher=W.M. Jackson |location=London |page=578 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ddBAQAAMAAJ&dq=espa%C3%B1a+flandes+norte+%221556%22&pg=PA578 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=es}}
• The Plantations of Ireland are started in King's County (now County Offaly) and Queen's County (now County Laois), the earliest attempt at systematic ethnic cleansing in Ireland, by the Roman Catholic ruler Queen Mary I of England.
• Future King Prince John, younger son of King Gustav I of Sweden becomes Duke of Finland.{{cite book |title=The Aaland Islands Question: Report Submitted to the Council |date=1921 |publisher=League of Nations Commission of Rapporteurs on the Åland Islands Question |page=8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nYZ_QRJFBo0C&dq=John+gustav+duke+of+finland+%221556%22&pg=PP17 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=fr}}
• Ivan the Terrible conquers Astrakhan, opening the Volga River to Russian traffic and trade.
• The Welser banking families of Augsburg lose colonial control of Venezuela.{{cite book |last1=Denzer |first1=Jörg |title=Die Konquista der Augsburger Welser-Gesellschaft in Südamerika (1528-1556): historische Rekonstruktion, Historiografie und lokale Erinnerungskultur in Kolumbien und Venezuela |date=2005 |publisher=C.H.Beck |isbn=978-3-406-53484-3 |page=190 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sQ2-439u1-YC&q=1556 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=de}}
• The false Martin Guerre appears in the French village of Artigat.{{cite journal |last1=Castaño |first1=Emilio José Álvarez |title=Le retour de Martin Guerre: de la impostura a la metahistoria |journal=FILMHISTORIA Online |date=21 December 2020 |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=99–108|url=https://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/filmhistoria/article/view/33116 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=es |issn=2014-668X}}
• The first printing press in India is introduced by Jesuits, at Saint Paul's College, Goa.{{cite book |last1=Saradesāya |first1=Manohararāya |title=A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992 |date=2000 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-7201-664-7 |pages=15–16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1YILeUD_oZUC&dq=henrique+henriques+st+paul+college+goa&pg=PA15 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=en}}

File:Maria of Nassau.jpg]]

• January 8 – Uesugi Kagekatsu, Japanese samurai and warlord (d. 1623)
• January 24 – Christian Barnekow, Danish noble, explorer and diplomat (d. 1612){{cite book |last1=Bohlen-Bohlendorf |first1=Julius von |title=Der Bischofs-Roggen und die Güter des Bisthums Roeskild |date=1850 |publisher=Löffler |page=24 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ldpAAAAAcAAJ&dq=Christian+Barnekow+%2224+januar+1556%22&pg=PA24 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=de}}
• February 4 – Dorothea of Hanau-Münzenberg, German noblewoman (d. 1638)
• February 7 – Countess Maria of Nassau (d. 1616){{cite book |last1=Beets |first1=Nicolaas |last2=Bond |first2=Nederlandsche Militaire |title=Onder Neerlands vlag: album ter herdenking van het vijf en twintig jarig bestaan van den Nederlandschen militairen bond : 1874-1899 |date=1899 |publisher=Van Holkema & Warendorf |page=11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GINVAAAAcAAJ&dq=Maria+van+Nassau+%227+februari+1556%22&pg=PA153 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=nl}}
• February 16 – Tōdō Takatora, Japanese daimyō (d. 1630){{cite book |first1=Chris|last1=Glenn |title=The Samurai Castle Master |date=2022 |publisher=Pen & Sword Books |isbn=978-1-3990-9658-4 |page=1 |url=https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Samurai-Castle-Master-Hardback/p/21669 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=en}}
• February 21 – Sethus Calvisius, German calendar reformer (d. 1615){{cite book |last1=Sittard |first1=Josef |title=Compendium der Geschichte der Kirchenmusik mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des kirchlichen Gesanges: von Ambrosius zur Neuzeit |date=1881 |publisher=Levy & Müller |page=201 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i4RDBE21z-QC&dq=Sethus+Calvisius+%2221+februar+1556%22&pg=PA201 |access-date=11 October 2023 |language=de}}
• March 7 – Guillaume du Vair, French statesman and philosopher (d. 1621){{cite book|author1=St James Press|author2=Anthony Levi|author3=Retired Professor of French Anthony Levi|title=Guide to French Literature: Beginnings to 1789|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oqkRAQAAMAAJ|year=1992|publisher=St. James Press|isbn=978-1-55862-159-6|page=265}}
• March 13 – Dirck van Os, Dutch merchant (d. 1615)
• April 8 – David Hoeschel, German librarian (d. 1617){{cite book |last1=Brucker |first1=Johann Jakob |title=Ehren-tempel der Deutschen Gelehrsamkeit: in welchem die Bildnisse gelehrter |date=1747 |publisher=Haid |page=98 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgJq4glvHT8C&dq=David+Hoeschel+%228+april+1556%22&pg=PA98 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=de}}
• April 9 – Andreas von Auersperg, Carniolan noble and military commander in the battle of Sisak (d. 1593)
• April 27 – François Béroalde de Verville, French writer (d. 1626){{cite book |last1=Haag |first1=Eugène |title=La France protestante: ou, Vies des protestants français|date=1852 |publisher=J. Cherbuliez |page=10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5IxNAQAAMAAJ&dq=Fran%C3%A7ois+B%C3%A9roalde+de+Verville+%2227+avril+1556%22&pg=PA10 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=fr}}
• May 31 – Jerzy Radziwiłł, Polish Catholic cardinal (d. 1600){{cite web |title=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church - Biographical Dictionary - Consistory of December 12, 1583 |url=https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1583.htm#Radziwill |website=cardinals.fiu.edu}}
• June 6 – Edward la Zouche, 11th Baron Zouche, English politician and diplomat (d. 1625){{cite ODNB |title=Zouche, Edward la, eleventh Baron Zouche|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-30301|year=2004 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/30301}}
• June 13 – Pomponio Nenna, Italian composer (d. 1608){{cite web |title=NENNA, Pomponio |url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/pomponio-nenna_%28Dizionario-Biografico%29/ |website=www.treccani.it |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=it-IT}}
• June 24
• Victoria of Valois, French princess (d. 1556)
• Joan of Valois, French princess (d. 1556)
• July 9 – Elizabeth Finch, 1st Countess of Winchilsea, English countess (d. 1634){{cite book |last1=Stephen |first1=Leslie |title=Dictionary of National Biography |date=1891 |publisher=Macmillan |page=409 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UycJAAAAIAAJ&dq=Elizabeth+Finch+%229+july+1556%22&pg=PA409 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=en}}
• July 22 – Otto Henry, Count Palatine of Sulzbach (d. 1604){{cite book |last1=Back |first1=Friedrich |title=Die evangelische Kirche im Lande zwischen Rhein, Mosel, Nahe und Glan bis zum Beginn des 30jährigen Krieges: ¬Theil ¬II, ¬Die Reformation der Kirche sowie der Kirche Schicksale und Gestaltung bis zum Jahre 1620; Abth. 1 |date=1873 |publisher=Marcus |page=10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uNJgAAAAcAAJ&dq=Otto+Heinrich+%2222+juli+1556%22&pg=PA145 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=de}}
• July 26 – James Melville, Scottish divine and reformer (d. 1614){{cite book |last1=Stephen |first1=Leslie |title=The Dictionary of National Biography, Founded in 1882 by George Smith |date=1922 |publisher=H. Milford |page=241 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xZ7Xp-wvpHwC&dq=James+Melville+%2226+july+1556%22&pg=PA241 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=en}}
• August 10 – Philipp Nicolai, German Lutheran pastor (d. 1608){{cite book |last1=Wendt |first1=Hans Hinrich |title=Dr. Philipp Nicolai |date=1859 |publisher=Nolte & Köhler |page=4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LsI5AAAAcAAJ&dq=Philipp+Nicolai+%2210+august+1556%22&pg=PA4 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=de}}
• August 16 – Bartolomeo Cesi, Italian painter (d. 1629){{cite book |last1=Crespi |first1=Luigi |title=La Certosa di Bologna descritta nelle sue pitture |date=1793 |publisher=A san Tommaso d'Aquino |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qV-xwYldIxIC&dq=Bartolomeo+Cesi+%2216+agosto+1556%22&pg=PA45 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=it}}
• September 21 – William Harris, English knight (d. 1616)
• October 18
• Charles I, Duke of Elbeuf, French duke and nobleman (d. 1605){{cite book |last1=Moreau |first1=Jean |title=Histoire de ce qui s'est passé en Bretagne |date=1836 |publisher=Brest |page=25 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ql0IAAAAQAAJ&dq=Charles+I+d%27Elbeuf+%2218+octobre+1556%22&pg=PA25 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=fr}}
• John Dormer, English Member of Parliament (d. 1626){{cite web |title=DORMER, Sir John (1556-1627), of Dorton and Long Crendon, Bucks. |url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/dormer-sir-john-1556-1627 |website=www.historyofparliamentonline.org |access-date=12 October 2023}}
• October 24 – Giovanni Battista Caccini, Italian artist (d. 1613){{cite book |last1=Pope-Hennessy |first1=Sir John Wyndham |title=Italian High Renaissance and Baroque Sculpture |date=1986 |publisher=Phaidon |isbn=978-0-7148-2417-8 |page=261 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gWbsAAAAMAAJ&q=%2224%20october%201556%22 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=en}}
• October 26 – Ahmad Baba al Massufi, Malian academic (d. 1627){{cite book |last1=Akyeampong |first1=Emmanuel Kwaku |last2=Gates Jr |first2=Henry Louis |title=Dictionary of African Biography |date=2 February 2012 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-538207-5 |page=124 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39JMAgAAQBAJ&dq=%2226+october+1556%22+Ahmad+Baba+al-Timbukti&pg=PA124 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=en}}
• November 25 – Jacques Davy Duperron, French cardinal (d. 1618){{cite web |title=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church - Biographical Dictionary - Consistory of June 9, 1604 |url=https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1604.htm#Perron |website=cardinals.fiu.edu |access-date=12 October 2023}}
• November 28 – Francesco Contarini, Doge of Venice (d. 1624){{cite book |last1=Rendina |first1=Claudio |title=I dogi: storia e segreti |date=1984 |publisher=Newton Compton |page=350 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XUwiAQAAIAAJ&q=%2228%20novembre%201556%22 |access-date=13 October 2023 |language=it}}
• December 5 – Anne Cecil, Countess of Oxford, English countess (d. 1588){{cite book |last1=Nelson |first1=Alan H. |title=Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford |date=1 August 2003 |publisher=Liverpool University Press |isbn=978-1-78138-772-6 |page=309 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rnRvEAAAQBAJ&dq=Anne+Cecil+%225+december+1556%22&pg=PA309 |access-date=13 October 2023 |language=en}}
• December 17 – Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, Indian composer (d. 1627){{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Barbara Stoler |title=The Powers of Art: Patronage in Indian Culture |date=1992 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-562842-5 |page=203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q3_WAAAAMAAJ&q=%2217%20december%201556%22 |access-date=13 October 2023 |language=en}}
• December 27 – Jeanne de Lestonnac, French saint (d. 1640)
• date unknown
• Margaret Clitherow, English Catholic martyr (d. 1586){{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=George H. |title=A New Manuscript of Mush's Life of Margaret Clitherow |journal=Journal for Manuscript Research |date=1966 |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=103–106 |doi=10.1484/J.MSS.3.464 |url=https://www.brepolsonline.net/doi/abs/10.1484/J.MSS.3.464?journalCode=mss |access-date=13 October 2023}}
• Ahmad Baba al Massufi, Sudanese writer and political leader (d. 1627){{cite book |title=International Bulletin |date=1973 |publisher=Africa Institute of South Africa |page=396 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lmbjAAAAMAAJ&q=%2226%20october%201556%22 |access-date=13 October 2023 |language=en}}
• Alexander Briant, English Jesuit martyr (d. 1581){{cite ODNB |title=Briant, Alexander [St Alexander Briant]|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-3378|year=2004 |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/3378}}

File:Thomas Cranmer by Gerlach Flicke.jpg]]

File:St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuits.jpg]]

• January 8 – Anne Shelton, English courtier, elder sister of Thomas Boleyn (b. 1475){{cite ODNB |title=Shelton family|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-70835|year=2004 |access-date=13 October 2023 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/70835}}
• January 27 – Humayun, 2nd Mughal Emperor (b. 1508){{cite book |last1=Syed |first1=Muzaffar H. |title=History of Indian Nation : Medieval India |date=20 February 2022 |publisher=K. K. Publications |page=116 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=US5gEAAAQBAJ&q=%2227%20january%22 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=en}}
• February 12 – Giovanni Poggio, Italian cardinal and diplomat (b. 1493){{cite web |title=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church - Biographical Dictionary - Consistory of November 20, 1551 |url=https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1551-ii.htm#Poggio |website=cardinals.fiu.edu |access-date=14 October 2023}}
• February 26 – Frederick II, Elector Palatine (1544–1556) (b. 1482){{cite book |title=Neues Archiv für die Geschichte der Stadt Heidelberg und der rheinischen Pfalz |date=1890 |publisher=G. Koester |page=97 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OuLlLPAfCaIC&dq=Friedrich+II+pfalz+%2226+februar+1556%22&pg=PA97 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=de}}
• March 21 – Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury (burned at the stake) (b. 1489){{cite book|author=J.R. Broome|title=Thomas Cranmer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X3JxDZ9QUGQC&pg=PA5|date=June 1998|publisher=Gospel Standard Publications|isbn=978-1-897837-11-5|pages=5}}
• April 18
• Luigi Alamanni, Italian poet and statesman (b. 1495){{cite book |title=Efemeridi letterarie di Roma |date=1806 |publisher=Vincenzo Poggioli |page=339 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gqPEM8sj6v8C&dq=Luigi+Alamanni+%2218+aprile+1556%22&pg=PA339 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=it}}
• John Gage, English courtier of the Tudor period (b. 1479){{cite ODNB |title=Gage, Sir John|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-10272|year=2004 |access-date=13 October 2023 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/10272}}
• April 26 – Valentin Friedland, German scholar and educationist of the Reformation (b. 1490){{cite book |title=Jahrbücher der deutschen Turnkunst: Blätter für die Angelegenheiten die deutschen Turnwesens, vornehmlich in seiner Richtung auf Erziehung und Gesundheitspflege |date=1890 |publisher=Anhuth |page=76 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OFZpiwNRpaMC&dq=Valentin+Friedland+%2226+april+1556%22&pg=PA76 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=de}}
• May 4 – Luca Ghini, Italian physician and botanist (b. 1490){{cite journal |last1=Chiarugi |first1=Alberto |title=NEL QUARTO CENTENARIO DELLA MORTE DI LUCA GHINI 1490–1556 |journal=Webbia |date=January 1957 |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=1–14 |doi=10.1080/00837792.1957.10669672 |bibcode=1957Webbi..13....1C |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00837792.1957.10669672 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=it |issn=0083-7792}}
• May 28 – Saitō Dōsan, Japanese warlord (b. 1494)
• June 10 – Martin Agricola, German composer (b. 1486){{cite book|author=Don Michael Randel|title=The Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HXILEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT25|date=30 October 2002|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-25572-2|pages=25}}
• June 24 – Joan of Valois, French princess (b. 1556){{cite book |last1=Kosior |first1=Katarzyna |title=Becoming a Queen in Early Modern Europe: East and West |date=2019 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-11848-8 |pages=139–172 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-11848-8_5 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=en |chapter=Conception, Childbirth, and Motherhood: Performing a Royal Family|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-11848-8_5 |s2cid=150761162 }}
• July 31 – Ignatius of Loyola, Spanish founder of the Jesuit order and saint (b. 1491){{cite book |last1=Loyola |first1=Ignatius |last2=O'Conor |first2=Joseph |title=The autobiography of St. Ignatius |date=1900 |publisher=Benziger Brothers |location=New York |page=165 |url=https://archive.org/details/stignatiusautobi00ignauoft/page/n179/mode/2up?q=july |access-date=14 October 2023}}
• August 1 – Girolamo da Carpi, Italian painter (b. 1501){{cite book |last1=Olszewski |first1=Edward J. |last2=Dunbar |first2=Burton Lewis |title=Sixteenth-century Italian Drawings |date=2008 |publisher=Harvey Miller |isbn=978-1-905375-10-3 |page=141 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uZPrAAAAMAAJ&q=Girolamo+da+Carpi+1+agosto+1556 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=en}}
• August 11 – John Bell, Bishop of Worcester{{cite book |last1=Abingdon |first1=Thomas |title=The Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of Worcester |date=1723 |publisher=W. Mears; and J. Hooke |page=104 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5J9bAAAAQAAJ&dq=John+Bell+%2211+august+1556%22&pg=PA104 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=en}}
• August 17 – Victoria of Valois, French princess (b. 1556)
• September – Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell, Scottish traitor (b. 1512){{cite book |last1=Meginness |first1=John Franklin |title=The Historical Journal |date=1894 |publisher=Gazette and Bulletin Print. House |page=66 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZUyAQAAMAAJ&dq=Patrick+Hepburn+%22september+1556%22&pg=PA66 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=en}}
• October 7 – Frederick of Denmark, Prince-bishop (b. 1532){{cite book |last1=Roerdam |first1=Holger |title=Historiske Kildeskrifter og Bearbejdelser af Dansk Historie |date=1873 |publisher=G. E. C. Gad |page=706 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ajULGtXUXu0C&dq=Frederik+af+Danmark+%2227+oktober+1556%22&pg=PA706 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=da}}
• October 21 – Pietro Aretino, Italian author (b. 1492){{cite book |last1=Aretino |first1=Pietro |title=L'oeuvre du divin Arétin |date=1909 |publisher=Bibliothèque des Curieux |page=3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FL4uAQAAIAAJ&dq=Pietro+Aretino+%2221+octobre+1556%22&pg=PA3 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=fr}}
• November 10 – Richard Chancellor, English Arctic explorer (drowned at sea) (b. c. 1521){{cite book |last1=Wagner |first1=John A. |last2=Schmid |first2=Susan Walters |title=Encyclopedia of Tudor England |date=9 December 2011 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-59884-299-9 |page=249 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7uPNEAAAQBAJ&dq=Richard+Chancellor+%2210+november+1556%22&pg=PA249 |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=en}}
• November 14 – Giovanni della Casa, Italian poet (b. 1503){{cite book |title=Opere di Monsignor Giovanni Della Casa |date=1806 |publisher=Società tipografica de'Classici italiani |page=79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2xs8AQAAMAAJ&q=14%20novembre%201556%22 |access-date=15 October 2023 |language=it}}
• date unknown
• Tullia d'Aragona, Italian poet, author and philosopher (b. 1510){{cite web |title=Tullia d'Aragona |url=http://www.projectcontinua.org/tullia-d-aragona/ |website=projectcontinua |access-date=15 October 2023}}
• Fuzûlî, Turkish poet (b. 1494){{cite thesis |last=DEMİREL |first=Hamide |date= |title=A study of the poet Fuzuli (c. 1480-1556) with special reference to his Turkish, Persian, and Arabic divians|url=https://teav.ankara.edu.tr/xmlui/bitstream/handle/20.500.12575/44013/12101.pdf?sequence=1 |type=PhD|page=1 |publisher=University of Durham |access-date=15 October 2023}}
• probable
• Brian mac Cathaoir O Conchobhair Failghe, last of the Kings of Ui Failghe
• Jacob Clemens non Papa, Flemish composer (b. 1510){{cite book |title=A General History of Music, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Period. To which is Prefixed, a Dissertation on the Music of the Ancients.|date=1789 |publisher=Robson and Clark, Bond-Street |page=311 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vCbJ4lV9sa4C&dq=Jacob+Clemens+non+Papa+%221556%22&pg=PA309 |access-date=15 October 2023 |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1556}}