May 02

Born Zhu Di, he seized the throne in 1402 after a palace coup. He relocated the Ming capital to Beijing and initiated construction of the Forbidden City. He commissioned the Yongle Encyclopedia, a vast compendium of Chinese knowledge. He sponsored Zheng He's maritime expeditions across the Indian Ocean. His military campaigns secured China's northern borders against the Mongols. He died in 1424 after a 22-year reign that shaped Ming China's golden age.

Born into the Aragonese royal family in 1402. She married King Edward of Portugal in 1428, becoming queen consort. She was known for her diplomatic skill and support of the arts and monasteries. After her husband's death, she played a role in the regency for her son, King Afonso V. She was celebrated for her charitable works and religious devotion. She died in 1445, leaving a legacy of cultural and ecclesiastical patronage.

Born in 1451 as the son of John II of Lorraine. He became duke in 1473 and faced the threat of Burgundian expansion. He achieved a decisive victory over Charles the Bold at the Battle of Nancy in 1477. He navigated complex alliances between France and the Holy Roman Empire. His reign stabilized Lorraine and enhanced its political standing. He died in 1508 after more than three decades of rule.

Born in 1458 as a member of the Portuguese royal House of Aviz. She married King John II of Portugal and became queen consort. She is credited with founding the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Lisbon. Her patronage of hospitals and charity influenced the development of social welfare. She maintained strong ties to the churches and supported religious reforms. She died in 1525, leaving a lasting legacy of philanthropy.

Born in 1476 into the influential Poděbrady family of Bohemia. He inherited the duchy of Münsterberg-Oels and the county of Kladsko. He was appointed governor of Bohemia and Silesia under Emperor Ferdinand I. His administration focused on consolidating Habsburg authority in Central Europe. He navigated political and religious tensions during the early Reformation. He died in 1536, after a long career in imperial service.

Born in 1533 as a member of the House of Welf. He succeeded his brother as Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen in 1551. He governed his small duchy amid the political upheavals of the Reformation. He worked to maintain peace and stability among Protestant and Catholic neighbors. His long reign saw the consolidation of territorial administration. He died in 1596 after 45 years of rule.

Born in 1551 and educated at Oxford and Cambridge. He served as headmaster of Westminster School and then as Clarenceux King of Arms. In 1586 he published 'Britannia', a detailed survey of Britain's geography and history. He followed with 'Annales', a comprehensive chronology of British history. He influenced both antiquarian research and the emerging field of historical scholarship. He died in 1623, revered as one of England's first modern historians.

Born in 1567, Sebald de Weert joined the Dutch East India Company. He was appointed vice-admiral and led voyages to the Moluccas in 1598. He charted parts of the southern Atlantic in search of new trade routes. His expedition encountered challenging seas and made early contacts in Asia. He was shipwrecked on the African coast and died in 1603. He is remembered for his contributions to early Dutch naval exploration.

Born in 1579 as the son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He succeeded his father as shōgun in 1605 and ruled until 1623. He enforced the bakuhan system, balancing power between shogunate and domains. He completed Edo Castle and established administrative structures across Japan. He managed diplomatic missions and maintained stability after years of war. He retired in 1623 and died in 1632, leaving a lasting legacy of order.

Born in 1601 in Geisa, Kircher entered the Jesuit order and studied across Europe. He taught at the Collegio Romano and published over 40 works on natural history, languages, and mathematics. He investigated volcanic activity, magnetism, and the decoding of Egyptian hieroglyphs. He founded one of Rome's first public museums, the Kircherianum. His inventive machines and proposals for technology earned him fame as the 'Master of a Hundred Arts.' He died in 1680, remembered as a bridge between Renaissance and modern science.

Born on May 2, 1660 in Palermo, Sicily. He was a pioneering Baroque composer and teacher who helped shape the Neapolitan school. Scarlatti composed over 600 cantatas, 40 operas, and numerous oratorios and sacred works. He served at the courts of Naples and Florence and influenced many pupils, including his sons. His style is known for its dramatic expressiveness and richly ornamented arias. Scarlatti's works had a lasting impact on the development of Italian opera into the classical era.

Born on May 2, 1695 in Florence, Italy. He became famous for stage sets and festival architecture in Paris. His works combined painting, architecture, and dramatic lighting. He designed the grand façade of the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris. Servandoni contributed to the development of scenography in 18th-century theater. His integrated approach influenced both urban design and theatrical productions.