February 15

Oswiu was King of Northumbria from 642 until his death in 670. He succeeded his brother Oswald and solidified control over both Bernicia and Deira. In 655, he defeated the pagan king Penda at the Battle of Winwaed. Oswiu played a crucial role in the Synod of Whitby in 664, aligning the English Church with Roman practices. His reign strengthened the power of Northumbria and advanced the spread of Christianity across Anglo-Saxon England.

Leontios was a Byzantine general who became emperor after leading a revolt against Justinian II in 695. He reigned from 695 to 698 and held the titles of strategos of the Anatolic Theme and governor of Syria prior to his elevation. During his brief rule, Leontios managed to repel Arab assaults on Constantinople and stabilize the empire's eastern front. Historians credit him with strengthening the empire's defenses and reorganizing its military administration. His downfall came when Justinian II returned to power, leading to Leontios's capture and execution in 706.

Born Apsimar, Tiberios III was a naval commander who seized the Byzantine throne in 698. He ruled until 705 and focused on fortifying the empire's coastal defenses and rearming the fleet. Under his leadership, the Byzantines halted several Arab naval raids in the Aegean Sea. Tiberios maintained diplomatic relations with the Frankish kingdom and attempted to secure the empire's western frontiers. He was eventually overthrown by the returning Justinian II and forced into monastic exile, dying shortly thereafter in 706.

Ibn Tabataba was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and a prominent figure in Zaydi Shi'a opposition to the Abbasids. He emerged as an anti-caliph during an uprising in 815 in the region of Qom and Kufa. His supporters sought to overturn Abbasid rule and establish a Shi'a caliphate under his leadership. Although the rebellion was short-lived, it inspired later Shi'a movements and highlighted sectarian tensions within the Islamic world. Ibn Tabataba died during the suppression of the revolt, but his legacy endured among Zaydi and other Shi'a communities.

Su Yugui served as a high-ranking official and chancellor during the turbulent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era. Born in 895, he rose through the imperial bureaucracy on merit and demonstrated exceptional legal and fiscal expertise. He advised multiple rulers and helped implement reforms to stabilize the government and economy. Su was respected for his moral uprightness and dedication to public service, earning the trust of his contemporaries. He died in 956, leaving behind a reputation as one of the period's most capable and honest administrators.

Gisela of Swabia was born around 990 into the powerful Conradine dynasty and became Holy Roman Empress as the wife of Emperor Conrad II. She played a key role in imperial politics, acting as regent for her son Henry III and influencing the succession. Gisela founded and supported numerous religious institutions, enhancing the relationship between the empire and the Church. Her diplomatic skill helped maintain stability among the empire's principalities and strengthened central authority. She died on February 15, 1043 and was remembered as one of the most effective and respected empresses of the Salian dynasty.

Born around 1070, Lucius II became pope in 1144 during a time of political strife between the papacy and Rome's commune. He was one of the first popes to personally command armed forces, attempting to regain control of the city from rebellious nobles. In February 1145, Lucius suffered fatal injuries while leading an assault on the Capitol Hill stronghold. His death marked the end of a brief but tumultuous papacy that highlighted the tensions between secular and ecclesiastical power. Lucius II was buried in St. Peter's Basilica and remembered for his willingness to defend papal prerogatives by force.

Conrad III was the first Hohenstaufen king of Germany, reigning from 1138 until his death in 1152. He was elected king after the deposition of Lothair III and struggled to consolidate his authority against rival princes. In 1147, Conrad led a German contingent on the Second Crusade, achieving mixed success against Muslim forces in the Holy Land. Despite setbacks like the defeat at Dorylaeum, he secured Jerusalem and returned home with enhanced prestige. His reign laid the foundation for the later prominence of the Hohenstaufen dynasty under his nephew Frederick I Barbarossa.

Born into a prominent noble family, William de Ufford became the 2nd Earl of Suffolk in 1369. He participated in military campaigns in France under King Edward III, earning recognition for his leadership. William also served as a diplomat, negotiating treaties with continental powers and managing royal finances. Known for his loyalty and martial skill, he maintained stability in his earldom during a period of national conflict. He died on February 15, 1382, leaving behind a legacy as a capable peer and veteran of the Hundred Years' War.

Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford, was born in 1385 into one of England's oldest noble families. He served as a trusted commander of King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War, notably at Agincourt in 1415. Richard led the English vanguard, distinguishing himself in the decisive victory against a larger French army. He also held the office of Lord Chamberlain and played a key role in royal ceremonies and governance. The Earl died in 1417 and was honored as one of the war's most skilled and loyal military leaders.

Giovanni II Bentivoglio was the de facto ruler of Bologna during the late 15th century. Born into the powerful Bentivoglio family in 1443, he consolidated his family's grip on the city through alliances and military strength. A patron of the arts and architecture, he commissioned works that enhanced Bologna's prestige. He fortified the city and navigated complex relations with the Papal States to maintain autonomy. His reign, though prosperous, faced opposition from rival nobles and the Pope. Ultimately, he was overthrown in 1506 and died in exile two years later, marking the end of Bentivoglio dominance.

José de Acosta was a Spanish Jesuit missionary who traveled extensively in Peru and Mexico in the late 16th century. Born in 1540, he studied theology in Spain before joining the mission to the New World in 1571. Over two decades, he witnessed and documented indigenous cultures, natural history, and ecological phenomena. His works, including "Natural and Moral History of the Indies", offered some of the first detailed European accounts of American flora, fauna, and native societies. Acosta's observations laid the groundwork for modern anthropology and ecology. He also advocated for the humane treatment of indigenous peoples and debated theological questions about the origins of the Americas. His legacy endures in both scientific and missionary circles.