Year 1578 (MDLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events January–June January 31 – Battle of Gembloux: Spanish forces under Don John of Austria and Alexander Farnese defeat the Dutch; Farnese begins to recover control of the French-speaking Southern Netherlands. April 27 – The Duel of the Mignons claims the lives of two favorites of Henry III of France, and two favourites of Henry I, Duke of Guise. May 26 – The Alteratie in Amsterdam ends Catholic rule, and opens Catholic worship there. May 31 – Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England to Frobisher Bay, Canada, on his third expedition. June 11 – Humphrey Gilbert is granted letters patent from the English crown to establish a colony in North America. July–December July – Martin Frobisher holds the first Thanksgiving celebration by Europeans in North America, on Newfoundland. He ships ore, which proves to be valueless fool's gold, which can only be used as road metal in London. August 4 – Battle of Alcácer Quibir in North Africa: The Moors defeat King Sebastian of Portugal, who is killed, leaving his elderly uncle, Cardinal Henry, as his heir, initiating a succession crisis in Portugal. August 20–September 6 – Francis Drake, during his circumnavigation, passes through the Strait of Magellan in his ship, the newly renamed Golden Hind. October 1 – Alessandro Farnese succeeds his uncle, Don John, as Governor of the Spanish Netherlands. October 21 – Battle of Wenden: The Russians are defeated by the Swedes, who proceed to take Polotsk. November 19 – Humphrey Gilbert and Walter Ralegh set out from Plymouth in England, leading an expedition to establish a colony in North America; forced to turn back six months later. Date unknown Battle of the Spoiling Dyke at Trumpan on the Scottish Isle of Skye: the Clan MacLeod are victorious over the MacDonalds of Uist in a feud. The Ottoman Empire conquers Abkhazia. Sarsa Dengel, Emperor of Ethiopia, defeats and kills Bahr negus Yeshaq along with his Ottoman allies, finally ending his rebellion. Sonam Gyrso receives from Prince Atlan Khan the title of Talaï, and becomes the third Dalai Lama of Tibet. The last outbreak of sweating sickness occurs in England. The Portuguese assist Lord Ōmura Sumitada, the first Christian Japanese diamyo, in repulsing an assault on Nagasaki by the Ryūzōji clan. Fur trade begins in Newfoundland in North