1567

1567 was a year shaped by continuing religious and political upheaval in Europe and by notable shifts in East Asia. In the Habsburg Netherlands, central authority under Philip II faced sustained resistance from Protestant and local elements following the Beeldenstorm of 1566. In response, the newly installed governor-general, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, the Duke of Alba, arrived in the province to restore order and impose royal rule. In September 1567 he established the Council of Troubles, a special tribunal known also as the Council of Blood, to prosecute rebels and heretics. The crackdown intensified the conflict that would evolve into the Dutch Revolt and contribute to the long-running Eighty Years’ War.

In Japan, 1567 was a turning point for the Sengoku period. Oda Nobunaga captured Inabayama Castle from the Saito clan, marking a significant step in his campaign to unify central Japan. He renamed the site and reorganized his power base, setting the stage for further expansion and consolidation.

Globally, the year sits in the broader context of Early Modern state formation and religious competition, with colonial and commercial networks continuing to expand in the Atlantic and Pacific worlds. While many events of this era were localized, 1567’s principal historical imprint lies in the intensified royal crackdown in the Netherlands and in Nobunaga’s rising strength in Japan, both contributing to substantial political realignments in their regions.