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.

Flodoard served as a canon at the cathedral of Reims and became one of the most important chroniclers of early medieval France. His Annals of Reims provide a year-by-year account of events from 919 to 966, offering valuable insight into political and ecclesiastical affairs. He meticulously recorded coronations, church councils, and regional conflicts. His work remains a key source for scholars studying the Carolingian and post-Carolingian era. Flodoard’s balanced perspective and careful use of sources set a high standard for medieval historiography.

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.

Originally a monk at Molesme Abbey, Stephen Harding joined forces with Robert of Molesme and Alberic to establish the Cistercian order in 1098. He drew up the Charter of Charity, which became the order’s guiding rule and emphasized austerity, manual labor, and liturgical simplicity. Under his leadership, the order rapidly expanded across Europe, founding numerous abbeys. Harding served as abbot of Cîteaux and promoted the ideals of monastic reform. His writings and organizational skills laid the foundation for one of the most influential religious movements of the Middle Ages. He was revered for his humility and devotion to monastic ideals.

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.

Originally Simon de Brion, he was elected pope in 1281 and took the name Martin IV. His papacy was marked by political entanglements in Italy and France, including support for Charles of Anjou’s ambitions in Sicily. Martin IV excommunicated the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos and attempted to launch crusades in the eastern Mediterranean. He had a fraught relationship with the powerful city-states of Italy and navigated complex alliances. His decisions influenced the balance of power between the papacy and secular rulers in late 13th-century Europe.

Born in 1304, Venturino joined the Dominican Order and became renowned for his eloquent and passionate sermons across Italy and France. He led missionary expeditions and advocated for Church reform during a time of political and spiritual turmoil. Venturino was appointed papal legate by Pope Clement VI to preach a crusade in the Holy Land. His campaign raised funds and recruits, though the initiative ultimately failed. He authored theological treatises emphasizing pastoral care and the importance of preaching. Venturino’s dynamic style left a lasting imprint on mendicant spirituality.

Born in 1488 in Adelboden, Glarean studied at the universities of Cologne and Pavia. He served as a scholar and educator before publishing his groundbreaking treatise Dodecachordon in 1547, which expanded the system of musical modes from eight to twelve. Glarean was also a poet, writing Latin verses and contributing to humanist scholarship. His work influenced composers and theorists by incorporating Greek and medieval modal theory into contemporary practice. He held academic positions in Basel and engaged with leading intellectuals of the Reformation era. Glarean’s dual talents in poetry and music theory marked him as a key figure of the northern Renaissance.

Born in 1486 into an Austrian noble family. He served as a diplomat for Emperors Maximilian I and Ferdinand I, making multiple embassies to Muscovy. During his travels, he documented Russian politics, culture, and geography in Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii. This work became one of the first comprehensive Western accounts of 16th-century Russia. His vivid descriptions influenced European views of Eastern Europe for centuries. He is remembered as a founder of modern Russian historiography.

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.