1565 (MDLXV) was a common year starting on Monday in the Julian calendar and a common year starting on Friday in the proleptic Gregorian calendar.

• March 1 – the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded.
• April 27 – Cebu City is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines.
• May 18 – The Ottoman troops landed on the island of Malta. The Great Siege of Malta began.
• June 17 – Matsunaga Hisahide assassinates the 13th Ashikaga Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru.
• August 28 – St. Augustine, Florida (named after St. Augustine), established. It is the oldest remaining European settlement in the United States.
• September 4 – Spanish fleet of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés lands on modern-day Florida to oust the French under Jean Ribault. He later destroys the French colony of Fort Caroline.
• September 8 – Pedro Menéndez de Avilés settles in St. Augustine, Florida.
• September 8 – The Knights of Malta lift the Turkish Siege of Malta (siege started on May 18).