March 28

Born in 126 AD, Pertinax rose through the military and administrative ranks of the Roman Empire. After the assassination of Commodus, he was proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard. His short rule focused on financial reforms and restoring discipline to the army. He attempted to curb corruption and stabilize the empire's finances. Despite initial support, his reforms angered the Praetorians. He was assassinated after just 87 days in power. His brief reign marked the beginning of the Year of the Five Emperors.

Born around 532, Guntram was the third son of Chlothar I and became king of Burgundy in 561. He was known for his piety and efforts to maintain stability among the Frankish realms. Guntram acted as arbiter between his feuding brothers and nephews, striving for unity in a fragmented kingdom. He founded charitable institutions and supported the Church. Despite internal conflicts, his reign was marked by relative peace and consolidation. He was later canonized as a saint for his generosity and devotion.

Ordulf succeeded his father Bernard II as Duke of Saxony in 1059. His rule was characterized by efforts to strengthen ducal authority and expand territorial control. He allied with neighboring princes and engaged in conflicts with Slavic tribes along Saxony’s eastern border. Ordulf’s reign saw the reconstruction of fortifications and support for missionary activities. He maintained a cautious relationship with the Holy Roman Emperor, balancing autonomy with imperial loyalty. His leadership helped shape the political landscape of northern Germany during a turbulent period.

Born in 1180, Go-Toba ascended the throne in 1183 at a young age, but real power was held by the Kamakura shogunate. Despite this, he patronized the arts, particularly poetry and court culture, leading to the flourishing of Waka poetry. In 1221, he staged the Jokyu War in an attempt to restore imperial authority, but was defeated and exiled to the Oki Islands. During his exile, he continued to compose poetry and engage in cultural pursuits. Go-Toba’s legacy endures through the rich body of poetry he produced and the political tensions his rebellion highlighted.

Born in 1170, Valdemar II ruled Denmark from 1202 until his capture in 1223 and again from 1225. He expanded Danish influence by conquering parts of northern Germany and the Baltic coast. His legal reforms, including the Jutland Code of 1241, laid the foundations for Danish law. Valdemar sponsored trade and strengthened the navy, turning Denmark into a regional power. Known for both martial prowess and legal innovation, he balanced warfare with governance. His reign is often seen as a golden age of medieval Denmark.

Born in 1530 as Ivan IV in Moscow, he became Grand Prince of Moscow at age three. In 1547, he crowned himself Tsar of All Russia, centralizing power and modernizing the army. He instituted the Oprichnina, a policy of secret police and mass repressions against the boyars. His reign saw the conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan, expanding Russian territory eastwards. Known for his volatile temperament, he alternated between enlightened policies and brutal violence. Ivan’s complex legacy includes both the foundation of a tsarist autocracy and his fearsome reputation.

Born in 1678, Thomas Micklethwaite entered public service in the early 18th century. He was appointed to the Treasury Commission in 1714, overseeing national finances during the early Georgian era. As Lord Commissioner, he played a role in stabilizing Britain’s economy following the War of the Spanish Succession. A supporter of Whig policies, he worked alongside leading politicians to implement fiscal reforms. Micklethwaite’s career illustrates the rising influence of parliamentary governance in Hanoverian Britain. He died in 1718, leaving a legacy as a capable financial administrator.

James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, was born in 1797 into an aristocratic English family. He pursued a military career, serving in the Peninsular War and rising through the cavalry ranks. In 1854, as Colonel of the 11th Hussars, he infamously led the doomed Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. Though criticized for strategic errors, the charge became emblematic of courage under fire. Brudenell also served in Parliament and was known for his flamboyant personality and dueling history. He died in 1868, leaving a complex legacy of valor and controversy.

Petrus Jacobus 'Piet' Joubert (1831–1900) was a key military and political figure in the South African Republic (Transvaal). He led Boer forces to victories in the First Anglo-Boer War and served twice as Commandant-General. Joubert was known for his fairness, strict discipline, and moral integrity. He ran for president of the republic but was narrowly defeated in elections. His leadership helped shape the early Boer state and its resistance against British imperialism.

Born in 1861, Lomer Gouin trained in law before entering politics as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party. He became Premier of Quebec in 1905 and remained in office for fifteen years, making him one of the province's longest-serving leaders. During his tenure, he championed legal and educational reforms, modernized infrastructure, and promoted significant industrial and hydroelectric development. Gouin strengthened Quebec's autonomy within Canada and laid the groundwork for future economic expansion. After retiring from provincial politics in 1920, he continued to influence public affairs as a Canadian senator. He remained an influential figure until his death in 1929, leaving a lasting legacy on Quebec's governance.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was born in 1890 in Denison, Texas, and raised in Kansas. He rose to prominence as Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during WWII. Eisenhower planned and executed Operation Overlord, the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944. After the war, he served as Army Chief of Staff and later as President of Columbia University. He was elected President in 1952, serving two terms and overseeing post-war prosperity and Cold War tensions. Eisenhower championed the Interstate Highway System and enforced desegregation in schools. He passed away in 1969, remembered as a unifying leader and strategic military planner.

Shin Kanemaru (1914–1996) was a prominent Japanese politician and member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He held key cabinet posts, including Director General of the National Public Safety Commission. Kanemaru served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1984 to 1985 under Prime Minister Nakasone. Known as a powerful LDP faction leader, he played a central role in policy and party finances. His career ended amid the 1992 political funding scandal, highlighting Japan's challenges with corruption. Kanemaru's impact on postwar Japanese politics remains a subject of study for political historians.