March 22

Born in 841, Bernard Plantapilosa was the son of Bernard of Septimania, the influential Count of Toulouse. He inherited his father's lands, serving as Count of Auvergne and Margrave of Septimania. As a leading Frankish noble, he played a pivotal role in the power struggles of the Carolingian Empire under Louis the Pious and Charles the Bald. He secured the southern borders of the realm and managed strategic territories during a time of dynastic conflict. Bernard's political acumen ensured the survival and prosperity of his domains. He died in 885, leaving a legacy as one of the prominent magnates of his era.

Born in 875, William I ascended to the dukedom of Aquitaine in his youth. He fortified the duchy's autonomy amid Carolingian decline and forged key regional alliances. William supported the foundation of monasteries, fostering religious and cultural development. He defended Aquitaine against Viking incursions and laid the groundwork for its future prosperity. His reign was characterized by diplomatic skill and ecclesiastical patronage. He died in 918, leaving Aquitaine as a strong and semi-independent principality within Western Europe.

Born in 1212, he ascended the throne as Emperor Go-Horikawa at age nine following the Jōkyū War. During his reign, real political power was held by the Kamakura shogunate under the Hōjō regents. He oversaw the restructuring of court rituals and imperial succession protocols. His era names included Jōō, Gennin, and Karoku, reflecting the turbulent early 13th century. Despite limited political power, he maintained imperial dignity and cultural patronage. He abdicated in 1232 and died in 1235, remembered for grace under shogunal dominance.

Born in 1367, Thomas de Mowbray was elevated to Duke of Norfolk in 1397. He served as Earl Marshal of England and led forces in Gascony during the Hundred Years' War. Mowbray became a central figure in court politics, notably clashing with Henry Bolingbroke, later King Henry IV. Accused of treason, he was banished for life by King Richard II. He died in exile in Venice in 1399, amidst rumors of poisoning. His dramatic conflict and tragic end inspired later literary portrayals in Shakespeare's works.

Born in 1459, Maximilian I became Archduke of Austria and later Holy Roman Emperor in 1508. He strengthened the Habsburg dynasty through strategic marriages, notably his own to Mary of Burgundy. Maximilian reformed imperial administration, creating the Imperial Chamber Court and the Imperial Circle system. He was a patron of the arts and humanist scholars, commissioning works that blended chivalric romance with Renaissance ideals. His military campaigns against France and the Ottomans secured Habsburg influence in Europe. Maximilian's reign laid the foundation for Habsburg supremacy in the 16th century. He died in 1519 and was succeeded by his grandson Charles V.

Born in 1519, Catherine Brandon was the daughter of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and Mary Tudor, Queen of France. She married Richard Grey, 3rd Earl of Kent, and later Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, earning her duchess title. Catherine was a prominent court figure under Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I, navigating Tudor politics. She was known for her charitable works, including support for scholars and religious institutions. Despite the tumult of her husband's execution in 1554, she retained royal favor and lands. Catherine died in 1580, remembered as a resilient and influential noblewoman of the Tudor court.

John II Casimir Vasa was born in 1609 into the Polish–Lithuanian royal family. Elected king in 1648, he faced internal revolts and the devastating Swedish invasion known as the Deluge. He worked to defend his realm and attempted administrative reforms amid shifting alliances. After abdicating in 1668, he retired to France and lived under the patronage of Louis XIV. He died in 1672, leaving a legacy marked by turbulent wars and efforts toward modernization.

William Pulteney was born in 1684 and rose through the ranks of the Whig party. He served as Secretary at War and later became the 1st Earl of Bath. Known for his oratory and political acumen, he led opposition factions in the House of Commons. His leadership shaped key debates on national finance and foreign policy. He remained a dominant figure in British politics until his death in 1764.

Charles Carroll was born in 1723 into a prominent Maryland family. He trained as a lawyer and was elected to the Maryland Assembly, where he advocated for colonial interests. He played a role in legal reforms and governance in pre-Revolutionary America. His leadership in the assembly helped shape policies on land, trade, and local administration. He continued his public service until his death in 1783.

William I was the King of Prussia from 1861 and became the first German Emperor in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War. His reign marked the culmination of German unification, achieved through the leadership of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. William navigated complex diplomatic and military challenges to bring together the various German states under a single empire. He maintained a conservative constitutional monarchy while fostering rapid industrial and military growth. His leadership style was characterized by duty, reserve, and collaboration with Bismarck. William I's legacy is central to the formation of modern Germany and its emergence as a great European power.

Ahmed Cevdet Pasha was a leading intellectual and government official during the Ottoman Empire's Tanzimat era. As a jurist, he oversaw the codification of civil and criminal laws, contributing to the seminal Mecelle, the Ottoman civil code. Cevdet was also a prolific historian, producing comprehensive works on Ottoman history and social organization. He served in senior roles including minister of education and minister of justice, driving educational and legal reforms. His interdisciplinary scholarship spanned sociology, law, and history, making him a central figure in modernizing the empire. Cevdet's legacy endures in the lasting impact of his reforms and writings on Turkish legal and academic institutions.

Born in Aurillac, Paul Doumer began his career teaching mathematics before entering journalism, editing parliamentary debates. Elected deputy in 1888, he championed fiscal reform and colonial expansion. As Governor-General of French Indochina from 1897 to 1902, he modernized infrastructure and education. Doumer later served as Finance Minister, balancing budgets with progressive taxation. In 1931, he became President of France, focusing on economic recovery during the Great Depression. His presidency was cut short by assassination in 1932. Doumer's multilingual scholarship and political leadership left a complex legacy in French and colonial history.