1579 in poetry

Events

• January 28 - Burmese poets Nawrahta Minsaw and Hsinbyushin Medaw become king and queen consort of Lanna
• Italian poet Torquato Tasso is confined in the Ospedale di Sant'Anna in Ferrara as insane; he remains here until 1586.

  Works published

Great Britain

• Thomas Churchyard, A lamentable and pitifull Description of the warres in Flanders, including two poems
• Anthony Munday, The Mirrour of Mutabilitie, or Principall Part of the Mirrour for Magistrates
• Edmund Spenser, writing as "Immerto", The Shepheardes Calender, many editions

  Other

• Philippe Desportes, an edition of his works; France
• Catherine Des Roches, also known as "Catherine Fradonnet", Oeuvres, Paris: Abel L'Angelier published this year and in 1578, France
• Giovanni Viperano, De poetica libri tres, Antwerp

  Births

• March 24 - Tirso de Molina, Spanish Baroque dramatist and poet
• August 1 - Luis Vélez de Guevara, Spanish dramatist, poet and novelist
• September 16 - Samuel Coster, Dutch playwright and poet
• December 20 - John Fletcher, English playwright and poet
• Arthur Johnston, Scottish poet and physician
• Rhys Prichard, Welsh language poet and Anglican vicar

  Deaths

• September 28 - Márton Rakovszky, Slovak poet and scholar
• November 21 - Cipriano Piccolpasso, Italian poet and author