February 21

Abe no Seimei was born in 921 and served as an onmyōji at the imperial court during Japan's Heian period. He gained fame for his expertise in astrology, divination, and exorcism, advising several emperors on state rituals and celestial events. Legends attribute supernatural powers to him, from controlling spirits to averting disasters, making him a figure of enduring folklore. His practices formed the basis of onmyōdō, a blend of natural science and mysticism that deeply influenced Japanese culture. After his death in 1005, his legacy continued through literature, theatre, and annual festivals in Kyoto celebrating his mystical traditions.

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.

Sethus Calvisius was born in 1556 in Thuringia and studied at the University of Wittenberg. He served as cantor in Leipzig, where he published influential works on Gregorian chant and counterpoint. Calvisius was an accomplished astronomer, producing calendars, eclipse predictions, and advocating for reform. Appointed Thomaskantor, he elevated Leipzig’s musical traditions and wrote theoretical treatises on rhythm and tuning. His interdisciplinary career bridged science and the arts, embodying the Renaissance spirit until his death in 1615.

Born in 1609 in Italy, Raimondo Montecuccoli entered Habsburg service as a cavalry officer. He distinguished himself during the Thirty Years’ War and achieved the rank of Field Marshal. Montecuccoli introduced reforms in army organization, training, and logistics to enhance battlefield efficiency. His victory at the Battle of Saint Gotthard in 1664 halted Ottoman advances into Central Europe. A prolific military writer, his strategic memoirs influenced European commanders, leaving a lasting legacy before his death in 1680.

Rebecca Nurse was born in 1621 in England and emigrated to Salem Village in Massachusetts Bay Colony. Celebrated for her piety and strong character, she was a respected member of the Puritan community. In 1692, she was accused of witchcraft in the hysteria of the Salem witch trials. Despite extensive testimony in her favor, she was convicted and hanged on July 19, 1692. Her death shocked contemporaries and helped spark the end of the trials; she was posthumously exonerated in 1711.

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.