February 15

A member of the Neapolitan branch of the Angevin dynasty, Ladislaus ascended the throne at a young age. He fought repeatedly against Louis II of Anjou and sought to expand his influence in Italy. His conflicts with the papacy led to excommunications but also shifting alliances with major powers. Despite his military efforts, his rule was challenged by mercenary bands and internal dissent. He died childless in 1414, leaving the kingdom in a fragile state and ending his branch's direct line.

Ivan the Young was the firstborn son of Ivan III and Maria of Tver, designated heir to the Grand Principality of Moscow. He was appointed regent of Novgorod in his youth and played a key role in consolidating Muscovite power. His rivalry with his younger brother Dmitry and court intrigue led to his removal as heir. He died unexpectedly in 1490 before ascending the throne, altering the succession of the Russian rulership. His premature death shaped the future of the Moscow principality and the rise of Vasili III.

Born into the influential Medici dynasty, Piero assumed de facto leadership of Florence after his father Lorenzo's death. His unpopular concessions to King Charles VIII of France in 1494 triggered the expulsion of the Medici. Dubbed 'the Unfortunate' for his diplomatic failures, he led a short-lived and troubled rule. Exiled from Florence, he sought support across Italian courts but never regained his family's former power. He spent his final years wandering Europe and died in 1503, his reputation overshadowed by his father's legacy.

Juliana of Stolberg hailed from the noble Stolberg family and married William of Nassau, becoming Countess of Nassau. She bore sixteen children, many of whom played significant roles in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Her guidance and networks helped secure Protestant alliances in Europe during a time of religious conflict. Known for her intellectual interests, she maintained correspondence with leading reformers of her era. Juliana's legacy endures through her descendants, who shaped the future of the Netherlands and European politics.

Pedro Menéndez de Avilés was a seasoned naval commander who secured Spain's claims in La Florida. In 1565, he founded St. Augustine to counter French encroachment and establish a strategic Atlantic foothold. He served as the first governor of Florida, overseeing defense, colonization, and relations with indigenous peoples. His expeditions extended Spanish influence along the Gulf Coast and defended the settlement against rival powers. Known for his administrative skill and maritime leadership, he died in 1574 after a notable career. St. Augustine remains a testament to his ambitious vision for Spanish America.

Alfonso Fontanelli was a member of the Ferrarese nobility who cultivated music alongside diplomatic duties. He contributed to the development of the madrigal, composing expressive secular vocal works. Fontanelli traveled across Europe on diplomatic missions, representing Ferrara's interests at foreign courts. His music blends chromatic harmonies with refined textual expression characteristic of the early Baroque. Arrested later in life over a crime of passion, he returned to musical pursuits until his death in 1622. His works remain significant examples of late Renaissance and early Baroque composition.

Galileo Galilei made groundbreaking observations with early telescopes, including Jupiter's moons and lunar craters. He conducted experiments on motion, formulating principles that prefigured Newton's laws. His advocacy of the heliocentric model brought him into conflict with the Catholic Church and the Inquisition. Galileo improved scientific instruments and wrote influential works such as 'Sidereus Nuncius' and 'Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems'. His methods established the importance of experimentation and mathematical analysis in science. He spent his later years under house arrest but continued to write and refine his scientific ideas.

Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve, was commissioned by the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal to establish a colony in Canada. In 1642, he led a small group of settlers to the island of Montreal and founded the settlement of Ville-Marie. He negotiated alliances with Indigenous nations and defended the young colony against Iroquois raids. Maisonneuve governed Montreal for over a decade, laying foundations for its growth and fortifications. He returned to France in 1665, leaving behind a thriving settlement that evolved into modern Montreal. His leadership and vision are commemorated in the city's history and place names.

Charles Morton was a Cornish minister ejected from the Church of England for refusing to conform to the Act of Uniformity in 1662. He emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony, where he became a fellow and then president of Harvard College. Morton promoted classical education and Puritan theology, producing sermons and educational texts. He returned to England during the Restoration and continued to write on religious and scientific topics. His legacy includes contributions to early American academia and the transatlantic Puritan network.

Zeb-un-Nissa was the eldest daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb and was renowned for her literary talents. Writing under the pseudonym Makhfi, she composed passionate ghazals and philosophical masnavis. Her works explore themes of divine love, mysticism, and personal introspection within Sufi tradition. Despite political constraints, she maintained a private literary circle at the Agra court. Arrested later in life on suspicions of heresy, she spent her final years under house arrest. Her poetry was published posthumously, securing her place among the great Mughal-era writers.

Born into a family of artists in Nice, Charles-André van Loo rose to prominence in Paris as a student of his uncle Jean-Baptiste van Loo. His elegant Rococo style captivated the royal court, leading to commissions from King Louis XV and Queen Marie Leszczyńska. He created grand decorative schemes for royal residences, including Versailles and Fontainebleau. Appointed Principal Painter to the King, he influenced artistic tastes across Europe. Van Loo's blend of mythological subjects and refined portraiture helped define 18th-century French painting. He taught and mentored the next generation of artists before his death in Paris in 1765.

Acceded to the French throne at age five and initially ruled under the regency of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. His reign of nearly 59 years witnessed cultural flourishing, including the Rococo movement and Enlightenment salons. Louis XV expanded French colonial territories in North America and India but faced costly wars like the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. Despite attempts at reform, his authority weakened due to court intrigue and financial strain. Nicknamed “Louis the Beloved,” he was both celebrated for his patronage of the arts and criticized for military defeats. He died in 1774, leaving a legacy that set the stage for the challenges of his successor, Louis XVI.