Protestantism: The villagers around today's Baden-Baden elect their own priest in defiance of the local bishop. Later, in a move that would not be seen before the Protestant Reformation, he is also elected Pope by acclamatio, just to die that same day. It is rumored that Ildebrando di Soana heard of the acclamatio and used it later to get elected himself as Pope Gregory VII.

At the Second Diet of Speyer, a group of rulers (''German:'' Fürst) and independent cities (''German:'' Reichsstadt) protests the reinstatement of the Edict of Worms, beginning the Protestant Reformation.

The Council of Trent issues its conclusions in the Tridentinum, establishing a distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

Marriage in Paris of the future Huguenot King Henry IV of Navarre to Marguerite de Valois, in a supposed attempt to reconcile Protestants and Catholics.

The Union of Utrecht forms a Protestant republic in the Netherlands.

Henry IV of France publicly converts from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism.

The English Parliament passes the Act of Toleration protecting Protestants. Roman Catholics are intentionally excluded.