February 21

Born in 1397 as a Portuguese princess, Isabella married Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, becoming duchess consort in 1420. During Philip’s absences, she served as regent of Burgundy, skillfully managing state affairs and diplomacy. A noted patron of the arts, she supported Burgundian painters, poets, and manuscript illuminators at her court. Her refined taste helped shape the cultural flowering of Burgundy, making it a center of late medieval art. Isabella’s leadership fostered stability and prosperity until her death in 1471, leaving a lasting imprint on European politics and culture.

Born in 1462 to King Henry IV of Castile and his queen, Joan of Portugal, Joanna was declared Princess of Asturias at birth. Rumors about her paternity weakened her position, yet she was proclaimed queen upon her father’s death in 1474. Her claim triggered the War of the Castilian Succession against her half-aunt Isabella I, backed by Portuguese forces. In 1475 she married King Afonso V of Portugal, aiming to strengthen her cause, but peace in 1479 confirmed Isabella’s rule. Joanna spent her later years in Portugal, living quietly until her death in 1530, remembered for her contested reign and its dynastic impact.

Joachim I Nestor was born in 1484 as the eldest son of Elector John Cicero of Brandenburg. He ascended to the electorate after his father’s death in 1499, focusing on administrative and financial reforms. A devout Catholic, he resisted the spread of Protestantism and worked to maintain religious unity in his territories. He fortified Brandenburg’s defenses and forged alliances through strategic marriages, including to Elizabeth of Denmark. His reign stabilized the region and set the stage for Brandenburg’s rise in the Holy Roman Empire before his death in 1535.

Ralph Neville was born in 1498 into the influential Neville family of northern England. He succeeded as the 4th Earl of Westmorland and became a trusted courtier under King Henry VIII. Neville held key offices, including Chamberlain to Prince Edward, and participated in diplomatic missions to Scotland. He played a role in suppressing uprisings and managed extensive estates, enhancing his family’s political power. Married to Mary Stafford, he strengthened noble alliances, and died in 1549, remembered as a capable Tudor statesman.

Philipp V was born in 1541 and inherited the County of Hanau-Lichtenberg in the heart of the Holy Roman Empire. His reign coincided with the Reformation, and he sought to balance Lutheran and Calvinist factions under his rule. He introduced coinage reforms to stabilize the economy and managed diplomatic relations with neighboring states. Highly educated, he patronized scholars and supported the founding of schools and churches in his domain. Philipp’s leadership fostered religious tolerance and administrative efficiency until his death in 1599.

Edward Hawke was born in 1705 and joined the Royal Navy as a cabin boy, rapidly rising through the ranks. As Admiral, he commanded the fleet at the decisive Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759 against France. His naval victories secured British control of the seas during the Seven Years’ War. Created Baron Hawke in recognition of his service, he later served as First Lord of the Admiralty. Hawke’s strategic innovations and leadership cemented his reputation; he died in 1781, leaving a lasting naval legacy.

Born in Kiel as the grandson of Peter the Great, Peter III ascended to the Russian throne in January 1762. He admired Prussia and introduced military and administrative reforms that alienated the Russian nobility. Despite granting religious freedom to Lutheran and Protestant minorities, he faced strong opposition from the Orthodox Church. His unpopular policies and personal demeanor fueled a palace coup led by his wife, Catherine, in July 1762. Deposed after just six months, he died under mysterious circumstances shortly thereafter. His short reign paved the way for Catherine the Great’s long and influential rule over the Russian Empire.

Born Princess Friederike Catharina in 1783, she married King Jerome Bonaparte in 1807 and became Queen of Westphalia. She supported cultural initiatives and charitable works in her kingdom and was admired for her intellect and grace. Twice acting as regent during her husband’s military campaigns, she gained a reputation for capable leadership. Following the fall of Napoleon, she returned to Stuttgart and continued her philanthropic efforts. Her legacy endures in the artistic and social institutions she helped to establish.

Born in 1794 in Xalapa, Santa Anna fought in the Spanish American wars of independence and rose to prominence in Mexico’s military. He seized power through rapid shifts of allegiance and held the presidency eleven times between 1833 and 1855. A central figure in the Texas Revolution, he led forces at the Battle of the Alamo and was defeated at San Jacinto. His leadership during the Mexican–American War and his controversial rule left a complex legacy of nationalism and self-enrichment. Exiled several times, he returned to Mexico before his death in 1876. His tumultuous career reflects the challenges of nation-building in 19th century Latin America.

Korechika Anami was a Japanese general and politician who served as the 54th Minister of War in 1945. Born in 1887, he rose through the ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army and held key command positions. As Minister of War during Japan's final months of World War II, he faced the critical decision of accepting Allied surrender terms. Anami was known for his loyalty to the emperor and efforts to balance military strategy with the nation's well-being. He died in 1945 shortly after the war's end, leaving behind a complex legacy. Historians continue to study his role in Japan's transition from war to peace.

Anton Vratuša participated in the Yugoslav partisan resistance during World War II and later joined the diplomatic service, representing Yugoslavia at the United Nations. He held various governmental roles before serving as Prime Minister of Slovenia from 1978 to 1980. A noted academic, he taught political science and authored works on federalism and international relations. Vratuša's career bridged the worlds of politics, diplomacy, and academia during the Yugoslav era. His leadership and scholarship left a mark on Slovenian and Yugoslav history. He lived to the age of 101, passing away in 2017.

Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwe's liberation struggle against colonial rule and became Prime Minister at independence in 1980. In 1987, he became the country's first executive President, a position he held until 2017. Initially praised for expanding education and healthcare, his later years were marked by economic collapse, land reform controversies, and human rights abuses. Mugabe's legacy remains deeply contested, blending liberation heroism with authoritarian governance. He was ousted in a coup in 2017 and died in exile in 2019.