138day.year

Lucius Aelius

(101 - 138)

adopted son and intended successor of Hadrian

adopted son and intended successor of Hadrian
Lucius Aelius was the adopted heir of Emperor Hadrian whose premature death prevented his ascent to the imperial throne.
Born in AD 101, Lucius Aelius was a prominent Roman aristocrat closely tied to Emperor Hadrian. In AD 136, Hadrian adopted him as his official successor, marking him as heir apparent to the empire. Despite his high status, Lucius Aelius never reigned, succumbing to a sudden illness in AD 138 at age 37. His unexpected death reshaped the line of succession, leading Hadrian to choose Antoninus Pius as the next emperor. Although he never held imperial power, his adoption highlights the volatility of Roman dynastic politics.
138 Lucius Aelius Hadrian
898day.year

Odo I

(860 - 898)

Frankish king

Frankish king
Odo I was a Frankish noble who defended his kingdom against Viking sieges and became King of Western Francia.
Born in 860, Odo was the son of Robert the Strong, a powerful Frankish count and military leader. He rose to prominence for his defense of Paris during the Viking siege of 885–886. In 888, the Frankish nobles elected him king after the deposition of Charles the Fat, reflecting his military prestige. As king of Western Francia, he fortified his realm against further Norse incursions and stabilized royal authority. He ruled until his death in 898, laying the groundwork for the emergence of the Capetian dynasty. His reign marks a turning point in consolidating regional power within the crumbling Carolingian empire.
898 Odo I
951day.year

Ramiro II

king of León and Galicia

king of León and Galicia
Ramiro II was a former monk who ascended the throne of León and achieved major victories against Moorish forces.
Initially dedicating himself to monastic life, Ramiro II was thrust into kingship of León in 931. He is celebrated for his stunning victory at the Battle of Simancas in 939 against the Caliphate of Córdoba. His military success halted the southward expansion of Moorish power into Christian territories. Ramiro reorganized his kingdom to strengthen defense and fostered Christian solidarity during the Reconquista. Despite personal reluctance, his reign from 931 to 951 left a legacy of resilience and religious devotion. He died on January 1, 951, and was succeeded by his son, bringing continued stability to the kingdom.
951 Ramiro II
1204day.year

Haakon III

(1182 - 1204)

king of Norway

king of Norway
Haakon III was King of Norway whose brief reign navigated civil strife and factional conflicts.
Born in 1182, Haakon III Sigurdsson ascended the Norwegian throne in 1202 amidst ongoing civil wars. He sought to reconcile the rival Bagler and Birkebeiner factions that had divided the kingdom for decades. Haakon’s diplomatic efforts aimed to restore royal authority and stabilize the realm’s governance. His sudden death on January 1, 1204, under mysterious circumstances, cut short these peace initiatives. His reign, though brief, marked a turning point towards ending Norway’s era of civil wars. He was succeeded by his infant son, continuing the fragile balance of power.
1204 Haakon III
1387day.year

Charles II

(1332 - 1387)

king of Navarre

king of Navarre
Charles II, called “the Bad,” was King of Navarre known for his cunning political maneuvers and shifting alliances.
Born in 1332, Charles II inherited the throne of Navarre in 1349 upon his mother’s death. Nicknamed “the Bad,” he was notorious for intrigues against the kings of France and alliances with England. He skillfully navigated the Hundred Years’ War to preserve Navarre’s independence and expand his influence. Charles faced imprisonment by French King Charles V but continued diplomatic and military campaigns upon release. His reign was marked by both territorial ambition and internal conflicts within his realms. He died on January 1, 1387, leaving a complex legacy of political cunning and resilience.
1387 Charles II
1496day.year

Charles d'Orléans

(1459 - 1496)

count of Angoulême

count of Angoulême
Charles d’Orléans was the Count of Angoulême and father of King Francis I of France.
Born in 1459, Charles belonged to the Valois-Orléans branch of the French royal family. He succeeded his father as Count of Angoulême in 1467, overseeing territories in western France. Charles married Louise of Savoy, later mother to Francis I, strengthening royal alliances. Though less politically prominent than his ancestors, he managed his estates and patronized the arts. He died on January 1, 1496, shortly before his son ascended the throne of France. His lineage ensured the continuity of the Valois dynasty during a period of dynastic transition.
1496 Charles d'Orléans
1515day.year

Louis XII

(1462 - 1515)

king of France

king of France
Louis XII was King of France known for his popular reforms and ambitious Italian campaigns.
Born in 1462, Louis XII ascended the French throne in 1498 as a member of the Valois-Orléans line. He earned the title “Father of the People” by implementing judicial and tax reforms that eased common burdens. Louis pursued military glory in Italy, capturing Milan in 1500 and leading campaigns in Naples and Genoa. Facing financial strain, he negotiated the sale of Milan to Maximilian I in 1513 to fund further wars. His marriage policies were driven by dynastic and diplomatic considerations across Europe. He died on January 1, 1515, leaving the crown to his successor Francis I and a mixed legacy of reforms and warfare.
1515 Louis XII
1559day.year

Christian III

(1503 - 1559)

king of Denmark

king of Denmark
Christian III was King of Denmark and Norway from 1534 to 1559 who established Lutheranism as the state religion.
Christian III was King of Denmark and Norway from 1534 to 1559 who established Lutheranism as the state religion. He succeeded to the throne after the Count's Feud, a civil war that secured his rule. During his reign, he reorganized church properties and strengthened royal authority through legal reforms. He maintained diplomatic relations with European powers amidst religious upheaval. His governance laid the foundations for modern Scandinavian statehood. His legacy reshaped the political and religious landscape of Northern Europe.
1559 Christian III
1766day.year

James Francis Edward Stuart

(1688 - 1766)

Jacobite pretender

Jacobite pretender
James Francis Edward Stuart, known as the 'Old Pretender', was the Jacobite claimant to the British thrones.
James Francis Edward Stuart was born in 1688 at St. James's Palace, London. He was the son of King James II of England and VII of Scotland. Following his father's deposition, he was recognized by Jacobites as James III of England and VIII of Scotland. He lived in exile in France and Rome, maintaining a court and planning uprisings. His supporters led the Jacobite Rising of 1715 to restore him to the throne. Despite repeated efforts, he never secured the crown and spent his life in exile.
1766 James Francis Edward Stuart
1789day.year

Fletcher Norton

(1716 - 1789)

1st Baron Grantley, English lawyer and politician, British Speaker of the House of Commons

1st Baron Grantley English lawyer and politician British Speaker of the House of Commons
Fletcher Norton, 1st Baron Grantley, was a British lawyer and Speaker of the House of Commons from 1770 to 1780.
Fletcher Norton was born in 1716 in Sheffield, England. He studied law at the Middle Temple and became a prominent barrister. Norton entered Parliament in 1756 and was known for his legal expertise and eloquence. He was elected Speaker of the House of Commons in 1770 and presided over critical debates on colonial policy. His tenure coincided with rising tensions leading to the American Revolution. In 1782, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Grantley in recognition of his parliamentary service.
1789 Fletcher Norton, 1st Baron Grantley British Speaker of the House of Commons
1881day.year

Louis Auguste Blanqui

(1805 - 1881)

French activist

French activist
Louis Auguste Blanqui was a French socialist and revolutionary activist who spent many years imprisoned for his beliefs.
Born in Puget-Théniers in 1805, Blanqui became a leading voice of revolutionary socialism in France. He participated in the 1839 and 1870 insurrections, advocating for a radical overthrow of the existing order. Arrested multiple times, he endured over thirty years of imprisonment, where he continued to write political pamphlets. His influential works, including 'Eternal Revolutionary,' inspired later socialist and communist movements. Blanqui was known for his organized approach to revolution and emphasis on a disciplined vanguard. Despite his activism, he never seized power but remained a symbol of resistance. Blanqui died on January 1, 1881, and is remembered as a steadfast revolutionary figure.
1881 Louis Auguste Blanqui
1892day.year

Roswell B. Mason

(1805 - 1892)

American lawyer and politician, 25th Mayor of Chicago

American lawyer and politician 25th Mayor of Chicago
Roswell B. Mason was an American lawyer and politician who served as Mayor of Chicago during the Great Fire.
Born in Aurora, New York, in 1805, Mason pursued a career in law before entering public service. He was elected as the 25th Mayor of Chicago in 1869, just two years before the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Mason led the city’s immediate response to the disaster, coordinating emergency relief and rebuilding efforts. He supported improvements to the city’s waterworks and infrastructure to prevent future catastrophes. After leaving office, he remained involved in civic affairs and banking. Mason’s leadership during one of Chicago’s darkest hours cemented his place in the city’s history. He died on January 1, 1892, remembered for his dedication to urban resilience.
1892 Roswell B. Mason Mayor of Chicago