Roman emperor
Roman emperor
Roman Emperor from 379 to 395 who was the last ruler to govern both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.
Born on January 11, 347, Theodosius I rose to become Eastern Roman Emperor in 379.
He strengthened Nicene Christianity and suppressed paganism throughout the empire.
After reuniting the empire under his rule, he became the last emperor to govern both East and West.
He issued the Edict of Thessalonica in 380, establishing Nicene Christianity as the state religion.
His reign saw consolidation of imperial authority and significant theological controversies.
Theodosius died in 395, leaving a divided empire to his sons and a lasting Christian legacy.
347
Theodosius I
first Caliph of Córdoba
first Caliph of Córdoba
First Caliph of Córdoba who oversaw political expansion and led al-Andalus into a golden age of culture and learning.
Abd-ar-Rahman III was born on January 11, 889, and became Emir of Córdoba in 912.
In 929 he assumed the title of Caliph, enhancing his authority over Muslim Iberia.
His reign marked a period of political stability and territorial expansion into Christian kingdoms.
He patronized arts, science, and architecture, commissioning the development of Madinat al-Zahra.
Under his leadership, Córdoba became one of the most advanced cities in medieval Europe.
Abd-ar-Rahman III died in 961, leaving a legacy of cultural flourishing and strong centralized rule.
889
Abd-ar-Rahman III
Caliph of Córdoba
Mongolian emperor
Mongolian emperor
Fourth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire who directed military campaigns in Syria and China.
Möngke Khan, born on January 11, 1209, was a grandson of Genghis Khan and fourth Great Khan of the Mongols.
Elected in 1251, he consolidated power and sought to unify the vast empire.
He organized major expeditions against the Song Dynasty in southern China and the Ayyubid states in the Middle East.
Under his rule, the Mongol administrative system was further developed and refined.
Möngke's reign ended in 1259 during the siege of Diaoyu Fortress in Sichuan.
His death led to succession disputes and eventual fragmentation of the Mongol Empire.
1209
Möngke Khan
Emperor Kōmyō of Japan
Emperor Kōmyō of Japan
Northern Court Emperor of Japan during the Nanboku-chō period, noted for his patronage of Buddhist temples.
Emperor Kōmyō was born on January 11, 1322, ascending the Northern Court throne in 1336.
His reign occurred during the Nanboku-chō period when rival imperial courts vied for legitimacy.
Supported by the Ashikaga shogunate, he maintained Northern Court authority in Kyoto.
Kōmyō was known for his support of Buddhist culture and construction of temples.
After abdicating in 1348, he continued to influence court politics as a retired emperor.
He died in 1380, remembered for his cultural and religious contributions.
1322
Emperor Kōmyō
Emperor Go-En'yū of Japan
Emperor Go-En'yū of Japan
Emperor of Japan's Northern Court during the Nanboku-chō period, involved in the court rivalry with the Southern Court.
Emperor Go-En'yū was born on January 11, 1359, becoming Northern Court Emperor in 1371.
He reigned amid ongoing conflict between the Nanboku-chō rival courts in Kyōto and Yoshino.
His rule was largely shaped by the influence of the Ashikaga shogunate.
Go-En'yū's court maintained Buddhist traditions and patronized ritual ceremonies.
He abdicated in 1382 but continued to play a role in court affairs as a retired sovereign.
He passed away in 1393, with his era reflecting the complex dual sovereignty of the period.
1359
Emperor Go-En'yū
English politician
English politician
English politician and Member of Parliament known for his defense of parliamentary privileges and role in the lead-up to the Civil War.
William Strode was born on January 11, 1589.
He served as MP for Ilchester and was one of the five members targeted in King Charles I’s failed arrest attempt in 1642.
A staunch Parliamentarian, he defended parliamentary rights against royal prerogative.
His outspoken opposition led to his imprisonment and later release under parliamentary pressure.
Strode played a key role in formulating the Petition of Right, limiting the king’s authority.
He continued to influence legal and political reforms during the English Civil War period.
Strode died in 1666, remembered as a champion of constitutional governance.
1589
William Strode
3rd Earl of Essex, English general and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
3rd Earl of Essex
English general and politician
Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
3rd Earl of Essex, prominent Parliamentarian general and political leader during the English Civil War.
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, was born on January 11, 1591.
As Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire and a nobleman, he held significant regional influence.
Appointed commander-in-chief of Parliament’s forces in 1642, he led early campaigns against Royalist armies.
Essex’s cautious tactics reflected his political concerns and desire to limit bloodshed.
His army’s defeats at Edgehill and Lostwithiel shaped the war’s early dynamics.
After resigning his command in 1646, he retired from public life amidst political conflicts.
He died the same year, leaving a complex legacy as both military leader and politician.
1591
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
1st duc de Broglie, French general and diplomat
1st duc de Broglie
French general and diplomat
French nobleman who served as a general and diplomat under Louis XIV.
François-Marie, 1st duc de Broglie, born in 1671, was a French general celebrated for his military leadership during the reign of Louis XIV. As a member of the high aristocracy, he held key commands in campaigns across Europe. He also represented France as a diplomat, negotiating treaties that shaped the balance of power. His career spanned the War of Spanish Succession and other major conflicts of the era. Remembered for his strategic skill and courtly influence, he died in 1745.
1671
François-Marie, 1st duc de Broglie
Nevisian-American general, economist and politician, 1st United States Secretary of the Treasury
Nevisian-American general
economist and politician
1st United States Secretary of the Treasury
Founding Father of the United States who served as its first Secretary of the Treasury.
Alexander Hamilton, born in Nevis in 1755, was a key architect of the U.S. Constitution and the nation’s financial system. As the first Secretary of the Treasury, he established the national bank and a framework for federal fiscal policy. Hamilton’s writings in The Federalist Papers helped secure ratification of the Constitution. He was also a leading general in the Revolutionary War and practiced law in New York. His rivalry with Aaron Burr culminated in their famous duel, which led to his untimely death in 1804.
1755
Alexander Hamilton
United States Secretary of the Treasury
American lawyer and politician, 2nd United States Secretary of the Treasury, 24th Governor of Connecticut
American lawyer and politician
2nd United States Secretary of the Treasury
24th Governor of Connecticut
American statesman who served as the second U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Governor of Connecticut.
Oliver Wolcott Jr., born in 1760, was an American lawyer and politician active in the early republic. Appointed by President Washington, he served as the second Secretary of the Treasury, overseeing national finances after Alexander Hamilton. Later, as Governor of Connecticut from 1817 to 1827, he guided his state through economic growth and infrastructure development. A graduate of Yale, Wolcott also held judicial and legislative roles. His leadership helped shape both federal policy and Connecticut’s governance before his death in 1833.
1760
Oliver Wolcott Jr.
United States Secretary of the Treasury
Governor of Connecticut
American businessman and politician
American businessman and politician
American businessman and politician who served in the Minnesota Territorial Legislature.
Socrates Nelson was an American entrepreneur and political figure born in Stillwater, Minnesota Territory in 1814. He established a successful general store and banking ventures as the region grew. Nelson was elected to the Minnesota Territorial Legislature, where he advocated for infrastructure development and statehood. He participated in drafting legislation to support railroads and schools in the territory. Nelson also invested in land and timber, contributing to local economic expansion. His leadership helped shape the political and commercial foundations of early Minnesota. He died in 1867 after a career blending business acumen and public service.
Socrates Nelson
Scottish-Canadian lawyer and politician, 1st Prime Minister of Canada
Scottish-Canadian lawyer and politician
1st Prime Minister of Canada
Scottish-Canadian lawyer and politician who became the first Prime Minister of Canada.
Sir John A. Macdonald was born in Glasgow in 1815 and emigrated to Kingston, Upper Canada, with his family as a child. He studied law and became a barrister before entering politics in the Province of Canada. Macdonald emerged as a leading advocate for Confederation, uniting British North American colonies in 1867. He served as Canada’s first Prime Minister from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878 to 1891. His government established the Canadian Pacific Railway, expanded the nation westward, and negotiated treaties with Indigenous peoples. Macdonald’s legacy is complex, marked by both national building and controversial policies toward Indigenous communities. He died in 1891, leaving a profound impact on Canadian history.
1815
John A. Macdonald
Prime Minister of Canada