5th February » A group of early Kirishitan called Japanese Christians are Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan known as killed by the new government of Japan for being seen as a threat to Japanese society.
24th June » The first Netherlands Dutch voyage to the East Indies reaches Bantam (city) Bantam (on Java (island) Java).
17th August » Islands Voyage: Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Sir Walter Raleigh set sail on an expedition to the Azores.
4th October » The first Guale uprising begins against the Spanish missions in Georgia.
26th October » Imjin War: Admiral Yi Sun-sin routs the Japanese Navy of 300 ships with only 13 ships at the Battle of Myeongnyang.
Famous Birthdays in 1597
12th January » François Duquesnoy, Flemish sculptor (d. 1643)
31st January » John Francis Regis, French priest and saint (d. 1640)
24th February » Vincent Voiture, French poet (d. 1648)
1st March » Jean-Charles de la Faille, Flemish mathematician (d. 1652)
18th March » Jérôme le Royer de la Dauversière, French religious leader, founded the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal (d. 1659)
9th April » John Davenport (minister) or John Davenport, English minister, co-founded the New Haven Colony (d. 1670)
21st August » Roger Twysden, English historian and politician (d. 1672)
19th November » Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate (1597–1660) or Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate (d. 1660)
23rd December » Martin Opitz, German poet and composer (d. 1639)
Famous Deaths in History for 1597
19th January » Maharana Pratap, Indian ruler (b. 1540)
29th January » Elias Ammerbach, German organist and composer (b. 1530)
20th June » Willem Barentsz, Dutch cartographer and explorer (b. 1550)
4th October » Sarsa Dengel, Ethiopian emperor (b. 1550)
21st December » Peter Canisius, Dutch priest and saint (b. 1521)