March 20

Born in 759, Alfonso II ascended to the throne of Asturias at a young age and secured his kingdom's borders. He established Oviedo as his capital, commissioning churches and monasteries that became cultural centers. Alfonso forged strategic alliances and repelled Viking incursions along the Cantabrian coast. He maintained a cautious stance toward the Andalusian Emirate, balancing diplomacy and defense. Under his rule, Asturias experienced a period of religious revival and artistic growth. Alfonso II's patronage of the Church earned him the epithet 'the Chaste,' and he was later revered as a key figure in the Reconquista.

Ascended the throne in 1325, he implemented sweeping administrative changes aimed at centralizing power. Tughluq introduced token currency, a pioneering yet ultimately flawed economic experiment. He attempted to shift the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, causing widespread hardship among his subjects. His campaigns extended the sultanate's reach but also triggered revolts and regional uprisings. Known for his scholarly interests, he built libraries and patronized poets and scholars. Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign left a complex legacy of innovation, ambition, and administrative challenges.

Alexios III Megas Komnenos ascended the throne of Trebizond in 1349, inheriting a realm under constant threat from emerging powers. During his long rule, he navigated complex relations with the Genoese and mounted defenses against Ottoman encroachment. He implemented administrative reforms to stabilize the economy of the Black Sea principality. Despite occasional court intrigues and family rivalries, he maintained a relative peace that allowed culture and trade to flourish. Late in his reign, rising Ottoman power forced him into a costly tribute and diminished the empire’s autonomy. His legacy endures as the longest-reigning emperor of Trebizond, remembered for balancing diplomacy and resilience.

Henry Bolingbroke deposed his cousin Richard II in 1399 and was crowned King Henry IV, establishing the Lancastrian line. His reign was marked by noble revolts and challenges to his legitimacy, including the Percy rebellions. He defended his realm against Welsh uprisings led by Owain Glyndŵr, striving to maintain royal authority. Henry’s health declined in later years, and he spent much of his reign grappling with illness and political unrest. He laid foundations for the later success of his son Henry V, but never witnessed the victories at Agincourt. Henry IV died in 1413, leaving a complicated legacy of dynastic struggle and the evolution of English monarchy.

Sigismund I Kęstutaitis emerged as a key figure during the Lithuanian civil war, claiming the grand ducal throne in 1432 with Polish support. He worked to strengthen the central authority of the grand duchy and curtail the influence of rival nobles. Sigismund continued diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of Poland, balancing Lithuanian autonomy and external alliances. His policies included administrative reforms aimed at improving governance over the diverse territories of the state. In 1440, he was tragically assassinated in Trakai, creating a power vacuum and renewed internal strife. His brief but impactful rule left a legacy of stronger ducal authority and paved the way for his successors.

Brother of Queen Jane Seymour and uncle to King Edward VI, Thomas Seymour rose to prominence as Lord High Admiral. He married the Dowager Queen Catherine Parr, causing scandal and fueling rumors at the royal court. As Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, he held significant maritime and coastal responsibilities. Seymour’s political maneuvering and alleged attempts to influence the young Edward VI led to charges of treason. In 1549, he was arrested, tried, and executed, marking one of the most dramatic downfalls of Tudor England. His life reflects the volatile mix of ambition and intrigue that defined the Tudor court.

Born a prince of the House of Hohenzollern, Albert became Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights in 1511. Facing military and financial pressures, he secularized the monastic state in 1525, establishing the Duchy of Prussia under Polish suzerainty. Albert adopted Lutheran Protestantism, making Prussia the first Protestant state in Europe. He implemented educational and administrative reforms to modernize his territories. His reign laid the foundations for the rise of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power. Albert died in 1568, remembered for transforming a medieval order into a secular duchy.

Born in 1557 as the younger son of Emperor Maximilian II, Matthias became Archduke of Austria and later Emperor in 1612. He inherited a realm divided by Protestant and Catholic tensions on the eve of the Thirty Years' War. Matthias attempted to broker religious compromises and centralize Habsburg authority. His reign saw uprisings in Hungary and Bohemia, signaling the depths of confessional strife. Despite diplomatic efforts, he failed to prevent the outbreak of wider war after his death. He died in 1619, leaving the empire on the brink of devastation but also a clearer Habsburg succession line.

Born in Scone, Scotland, in 1705, Murray rose to become Attorney General for England and Wales and later Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench. He presided over landmark cases, most notably Somersett’s Case in 1772, which dealt a significant blow to the legality of slavery in Britain. His judgments clarified principles of contract law, maritime commerce, and property rights, earning him the reputation as one of Britain’s greatest judges. Elevated to the peerage in 1776, Lord Mansfield balanced legal innovation with a commitment to fairness, leaving a legacy that endures in common law jurisdictions worldwide. His opinions were widely studied by legal scholars across Europe.

Born into a noble family in 1802, Kossuth became a lawyer and journalist advocating for Hungarian autonomy within the Habsburg Empire. As governor-president during the 1848–49 revolution, he implemented progressive reforms, including press freedom and economic modernization. After defeat by Austrian and Russian forces, he embarked on a global lecture tour to rally support for Hungary’s cause. Kossuth’s eloquence earned him international admiration, though he never saw his homeland gain full independence. He spent his later years in exile in Italy and Turkey, dying in 1894, and remains a national hero in Hungary.

George Curzon (1859-1925), 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, was a dominant figure in British imperial politics. As Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905, he implemented administrative reforms and controversially partitioned Bengal. Returning to Britain, he held key cabinet positions and ultimately served as Foreign Secretary from 1919 to 1924. Curzon's strategic vision shaped British foreign policy after World War I, including negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference. Renowned for his aristocratic bearing and scholarly interests, he was also a noted historian and benefactor of academic institutions.

Hermann Müller (1876-1931) was a prominent figure in the Social Democratic Party of Germany, rising from journalist to government leader. He first served as Chancellor in 1918-1919, guiding the nation through the turbulent post-war period. As Foreign Minister in 1919, Müller signed the Treaty of Versailles, a decision that shaped interwar German politics. He returned as Chancellor in 1928, overseeing social reforms and navigating economic crisis. Despite his efforts to stabilize democracy, his government fell amid rising extremist pressures. Müller's commitment to parliamentary governance remains a notable chapter in Weimar history.