Year 1542 (MDXLII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events January–June February 2 – Battle of Baçente: The Portuguese under Cristóvão da Gama capture a Muslim-occupied hillfort in northern Ethiopia. February 14 – Guadalajara, Mexico, is founded by the Spaniards after three previous attempts failed, due to aggressive opposition from local tribes. March 8 – Antoine Escalin des Eymars, the French ambassador, returns from Constantinople, with promises of Ottoman aid in a war against Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. March – Renyin palace rebellion: A group of Ming Dynasty palace women fail to murder the Jiajing Emperor, and are executed by slow-slicing. April 4–16 – Battle of Jarte in Ethiopia: The Portuguese under Cristóvão da Gama encounter the army of Imam Ahmad Gragn, and inflict upon him two successive defeats. May 19 – The Prome Kingdom, in modern-day central Burma, is conquered by the Taungoo Dynasty. June–December June 27 – Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo mistook California for an island and claimed it for Spain. July 24 – Guelders Wars: Maarten van Rossum leaves Antwerp, having failed to take it by siege. August – Battle of the Hill of the Jews: During the rainy season, Cristóvão da Gama captures a strategic position and many badly-needed horses. August 24 – Battle of Haddon Rig: Scotland defeats England. August 27 – Citizens of Hildesheim in the Holy Roman Empire profess themselves to the Lutheran teachings. As a pledge owner, the city provides for the carrying out of the Protestant Reformation in the city and Peine. Priests from the localities of Clauen, Hohenhameln, Soßmar, Schmedenstedt, Lengede and Rosenthal resume their offices in the interest of the Reformation. August 28 – Battle of Wofla in Ethiopia: Reinforced with at least 600 arquebusiers and cavalry, Imam Ahmad Gragn attacks the Portuguese camp. The Portuguese are scattered; Cristóvão da Gama is captured and executed. September 4 – The earliest recorded Preston Guild Court is held in Lancashire, England, in the modern sequence, which lasts unbroken until 1922. September 28 – Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo lands in what is now San Diego Bay, and names it "San Miguel"; it will later become the city of San Diego. October 7 – Cabrillo becomes the first European to set foot on Santa Catalina Island, California. November 24 – Battle of Solway Moss: An English army invades Scotland, and defeats