1580s in Denmark

Incumbents

• Monarch – Frederick II, Christian IV

Events

• 3 February – A great fire destroys a large part of Ribe. 11 streets and 213 houses burn down.

• The Kronborg Tapestries are commissioned. They are completed in 1596.

• The Dutch architect Philip Brandin oversees the construction of a new Nykøbing Castle.

Births

• 8 January – Jens Hermansson Juel, Governor-general of Norway
• 8 April – Augusta of Denmark, princess of Denmark and Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp

• 5 August – Hedwig of Denmark, princess of Denmark and Electress of Saxony
• 4 November – Christen Friis, nobleman
• 26 November – Frederick, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderburg-Norburg

• 2 January – Falk Lykke, nobleman
• 24 February – Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, Countess Consort of Nassau-Siegen
• 9 July – John, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein, prince of Denmark

• 15 March – Philip, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

• 12 February – Caspar Bartholin the Elder, polymath
• 5 August – Jesper Brochmand, theologian and Bishop of Zealand
• 14 October – Lisbet Bryske, author and landowner
• Undated – Lorenz van Steenwinckel, architect

• 2 January – Anders Arrebo, poet and bishop of Trondhjem
• 24 June – Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger, architect

• 13 May – Ole Worm, physician and antiquary

• Mogens Pedersøn – instrumentalist and composer
• Esaias Fleischer – pharmacist

Deaths

• 1 October – John the Elder, prince of Denmark and Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev

• 11 July – Peder Skram, naval admiral

• 26 December – Jørgen Lykke, nobleman

• 23 April – Christoffer Gøye
• 20 September – Hans Svaning, historian

• 20 November Eiler Grubbe, statesman and landholder

• 20 March – Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
• 1 October – Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Denmark
• 15 October – Elizabeth of Denmark, princess of Denmark and a Duchess of Mecklenburg

• 2 November – Hans Knieper, Flemish court artist

• 4 April – Frederick II, King of Denmark and Norway

• 18 January – Magnus Heinason, Faroese sailor and privateer
• 15 February – Anne Hardenberg, courtier and lady-in-waiting

• Melchior Lorck – painter and printmaker