February 13

Hartmann Schedel was born in Nuremberg in 1440 and studied medicine at the universities of Leipzig and Padua. He served as a city physician in Nuremberg for most of his career. Schedel is best remembered for co-authoring and illustrating the Nuremberg Chronicle, one of the earliest and most extensively illustrated world histories. Published in 1493, it became a bestseller of the 16th century and influenced cartography and historiography. In addition to his work as a physician, he collected rare books and manuscripts, forming a significant private library. He died in 1514, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering humanist scholar.

Mary of Burgundy was born in Brussels in 1457 as the only child of Charles the Bold. She inherited the rich and powerful Burgundian State at the age of 20 upon her father’s death at the Battle of Nancy. As sovereign duchess, she faced internal revolts and negotiated the Great Privilege to secure local rights. Her marriage in 1477 to Archduke Maximilian I of Habsburg brought the Burgundian lands into the Habsburg sphere, altering the balance of power in Europe. Mary was known for her political acumen and negotiation skills during a turbulent period. She died unexpectedly in a riding accident in 1482, leaving a lasting impact on European geopolitics.

Elia Levita was born in Germany in 1469 and became one of the foremost Hebrew grammarians of the Renaissance. He served as a scholar at the court of Pope Leo X in Rome, where he produced important works on Hebrew grammar and lexicography. Levita is also remembered for writing the Bovo-Bukh, the earliest secular epic in Yiddish. His publications helped standardize Hebrew grammar and influenced later Semitic studies. He spent his later years in Venice working with Venetian publishers before he died in 1549.

Girolamo Aleandro was born near Motta di Livenza in 1480 and studied classics and theology at Padua and Paris. A skilled humanist and scholar, he entered the service of Pope Leo X and became a leading figure at the Diet of Worms in 1521. As papal nuncio, he delivered the papal bull condemning Martin Luther’s writings, marking a decisive moment in the Reformation. Aleandro was elevated to cardinal in 1538 and continued to influence church policy until his death in 1542. He also produced scholarly editions of classical texts and maintained a reputation as a learned Renaissance humanist.

Valentin Naboth was born in Calau in 1523 and studied mathematics and astronomy at the universities of Wittenberg and Padua. He served as a professor in Regensburg and later at the University of Ingolstadt. Naboth is noted for his astronomical tables and astrological treatises, including his work on predictive astrology. His publications, such as the Tabulae Planetarum, were widely used by scholars and navigators in the late 16th century. He contributed to the calculation of planetary positions and influenced future astronomers through his precise observational methods. Naboth died in Ingolstadt in 1593, leaving a legacy as a leading astronomer of his time.

Elisabeth of Hesse was born in Marburg in 1539, the daughter of Landgrave Philip I of Hesse. In 1558, she married Frederick III, Elector Palatine, becoming Electress at Heidelberg. A committed Protestant, she played a key role in promoting Reformed theology and invited prominent theologians to her court. Elisabeth was known for her patronage of education and support for religious refugees. Her influence extended to political and religious affairs within the Palatinate until her death in 1582. She left a lasting impact on the development of Calvinism in Germany.

Johann Reinhard I was born in Buchsweiler in 1569 and inherited the County of Hanau-Lichtenberg in 1599. He governed during a period of religious tension and the early years of the Thirty Years’ War. Johann Reinhard strengthened his county’s defenses and navigated alliances with neighboring princes to maintain stability. He arranged dynastic marriages that expanded his family’s influence and patronized local churches and schools. His leadership balanced the demands of faith and politics until his death in 1625. His reign set the stage for his successors during one of the most turbulent eras in German history.

Fabio Chigi was born in Siena in 1599 and served as a papal diplomat and Secretary of State under Pope Urban VIII. He was elected pope in 1655 and took the name Alexander VII. His pontificate was marked by extensive architectural commissions, including works by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in Rome. Alexander VII also sought to mediate conflicts among European powers and was involved in the Jansenist controversy. He promoted missionary activities and reorganized church finances. Alexander VII died in 1667, remembered for his cultural patronage and diplomatic outreach.

William V was born in Kassel in 1602 and succeeded his father as Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel in infancy. He came of age during the turmoil of the Thirty Years’ War and aligned with the Protestant Union. His reign saw military engagements, financial difficulties, and the sponsorship of mercenary troops. William took refuge in East Frisia after French forces occupied his lands in 1637. Despite losses, he maintained his family’s claim and influence across Europe. He died in exile later that year, remembered for his struggles to defend his principality during wartime.

Étienne François Geoffroy was born in Saint-Symphorien-de-Marmagne in 1672 and served as a professor of chemistry and medicine at the Jardin du Roi in Paris. In 1718, Geoffroy published his famous affinity tables, illustrating the relative tendency of substances to combine. His work laid foundational concepts for the study of chemical reactions and influenced later chemists. He also conducted research on medical treatments, including opium and plant extracts. Geoffroy’s systematic approach to chemistry contributed to the development of the science before his death in 1731.

He was a leading figure in Venetian Rococo painting, renowned for his warm color palette and soft lighting. His works often depicted everyday life and religious themes with dramatic chiaroscuro. He trained in Bologna before settling in Venice, where he became a member of the Academy of St. Luke. Piazzetta's paintings influenced artists across Europe and helped define 18th-century Venetian art. His masterpieces include The Guardian Angel and The Bead Stringers.

He rose to prominence with his bold tactics at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782. As Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet, he protected British trade routes from French privateers. Elevated to the peerage as 1st Baron Rodney in 1782, he later served as a member of Parliament. Rodney's innovative naval strategies influenced British maritime doctrine for decades. Despite controversies over prize money, he remained a celebrated figure in naval history.