1602
| Millennium: | 2nd millennium |
|---|---|
| Centuries: | 16th century–17th century–18th century |
| Decades: | 1570s1580s1590s–1600s–1610s1620s1630s |
| Years: | 159916001601–1602–160316041605 |
1602(MDCII) was acommon yearstarting on Tuesdayof theGregorian calendarand acommon year starting on Fridayof theJulian calendar,the 1602nd year of theCommon Era(CE) andAnno Domini(AD) designations, the 602nd year of the2nd millennium,the 2nd year of the17th century,and the 3rd year of the1600sdecade. As of the start of 1602, the Gregorian calendar was 10 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.
Events
[change|change source]- 3 January–Battle of Kinsale– the battle happened on 3 January1602according to theGregorian Calendarused by the Irish and Spanish forces in the battle, although, for the English who were still using the oldJulian Calendar,the date of the battle was 24 December 1601
- February 14–William ShakespeareFirst performance ofTwelfth NightonCandlemas
- March 20– TheDutch East India Companyis established asThe United East India Companyby the DutchStates-General
- May 15–Bartolomew Gosnoldbecomes the first European to discoverCape Cod.
- June–James Lancaster'sEast India Companyfleet arrives at Achin (nowAceh),Sumatrato deal with the local ruler. Having defeatedPortugal's ally, the ruler is happy to do business, and Lancaster seizes a large PortugueseGalleonand loots it.
- November 8– TheBodleian Libraryat theUniversity of Oxfordis opened to the public.
- December 11– A surprise attack by forces under the command of theDuke of Savoyand his brother-in-law,Philip III of Spain,is repelled by the citizens ofGeneva.(This actually took place after midnight, in the early morning ofDecember 12,but commemorations/celebrations onFête de l'Escaladeare usually held on December 11 or the closest weekend.)
- Ben JonsonwritesPoetaster
- William ShakespearewritesThe Merry Wives of Windsor
- PersiaandSpainconclude a defensive alliance and declare war on theOttoman Empire
- InPraque,Florian Mathiasperforms the first successful bowel surgery – removes a dagger from stomach
- Jesuit missionaryJeronimo de Angeluinarrives inJapan
- A private trading company is established inCopenhagen,with themonopolyon the trade withIceland.