ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

1570: A Year of Turmoil and Conquest

1570 was a year marked by significant events across various regions, including politics, warfare, and natural disasters. The common year began on Sunday in the Julian calendar.

In Scotland, January saw the assassination of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, by James Hamilton at his home in Linlithgow. This event sparked the Scottish civil war, as Hamilton's actions were seen as a betrayal by many nobles and subjects. The incident also marked the world's first known use of a firearm in combat.

Meanwhile, in England, Pope Pius V issued the bull Regnans in Excelsis on February 25, excommunicating Queen Elizabeth I and denying her claim to the English throne. This move was part of a broader effort by Catholic powers to counter the influence of Protestantism in Europe. The pope's decree also called for all subjects who had sworn allegiance to the queen to renounce their oath and return to the fold of the Catholic Church, threatening excommunication for those who refused.

In other parts of the world, February 8 saw a devastating earthquake strike Concepción, Chile, causing widespread destruction. In Brazil, March 20 marked the introduction of a decree guaranteeing Indian freedom, although it would prove insufficient in preventing further violence against indigenous populations.

The year also witnessed significant events in Asia and Europe. On July 30, Oda Nobunaga defeated Asai and Asakura at the Battle of Anegawa in Japan, solidifying his position as a powerful daimyō. In Cyprus, the Ottoman Empire began its conquest of the island on July 3, with over 350 ships and 60,000 troops landing near Larnaca before marching towards Nicosia.

The siege of Nicosia lasted for seven weeks, during which time the city's population was subjected to brutal treatment by the Ottomans. The Ottoman Empire also laid siege to Famagusta, but it would not fall until 1571.

In Europe, the year saw significant events in politics and world affairs. Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, was released from prison at the Tower of London shortly after his involvement with Spanish envoy Guerau de Spes and Bishop John Leslie began.

The year also marked the establishment of the Inquisition Tribunal in Lima, Peru on January 9, highlighting the growing presence of Catholic institutions in the Americas.