Years: 1542 1543 1544 - 1545 - 1546 1547 1548

Decades: 1510s 1520s 1530s - 1540s - 1550s 1560s 1570s

Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century

Events

• February 27 - Battle of Ancrum Moor - Scots victory over superior English forces
• December 13 - Official opening of the Council of Trent (closed 1563)

Births

• April 2 - Elizabeth of Valois, Queen of Philip II of Spain (d. 1568)
• July 8 - Don Carlos of Spain, son of Philip II of Spain (d. 1568)
• Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza
• Luzzasco Luzzaschi, Italian (Ferrarese) composer of madrigals, also an organist and influential teacher
• Giulio Caccini, Italian (Florentine) composer, sometimes called the founder of opera

Deaths

• October 18 - John Taverner, composer
• Charles Brandon , 1st duke of Suffolk