1590 (MDXC) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar, the 1590th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 590th year of the 2nd millennium, the 90th year of the 16th century, and the 1st year of the 1590s decade. As of the start of 1590, the Gregorian calendar was 10 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.

• March 14 – Battle of Ivry – Henry IV of France again defeats the forces of the Catholic League under the Duc de Mayenne.
• May – August – Unsuccessful siege of Paris by Henry IV of France. Henry is forced to raise the siege when the Duke of Parma comes to its relief with a Spanish army.
• May 17 – Anne of Denmark is crowned queen of Scotland.
• August 18 – John White, the governor of the Colony of Roanoke, returns from a supply-trip to England and finds his settlement deserted.
• September 15 – Pope Urban VII succeeds Sixtus V.
• December 5 – Pope Gregory XIV succeeds Urban VII.
• Coptic Pope Gabriel VIII succeeds Yoannis XIV.
• Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria Meletius I succeeds Silvester.
• Japan is united by Toyotomi Hideyoshi