May 22

Dong Zhuo rose to prominence as a military general during the decline of the Han dynasty. He leveraged his military strength to depose the ruling emperor and place a puppet monarch on the throne. His brutal suppression of rivals and lavish lifestyle provoked widespread resentment among nobles and the populace. In 190 AD, a coalition of warlords formed to oust him from power, leading to his assassination by his adopted son. Although his rule was short-lived, it sparked the fragmentation of central authority that precipitated the Three Kingdoms period. Dong Zhuo's legacy endures in Chinese history and fiction, often depicted as a symbol of tyranny and chaos.

Born Flavius Valerius Constantinus in 272 AD, he became emperor after a series of civil wars. He enacted reforms that stabilized the empire's administration and military structure. In 313 AD, he issued the Edict of Milan, granting religious tolerance for Christians throughout the empire. He convened the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, shaping foundational Christian doctrine. Constantine founded the city of Constantinople, which became the new capital and a center of Eastern Roman power. His support for Christianity transformed its status from a persecuted faith to the dominant religion of the Roman world. Constantine's reign marked a turning point in Western history, blending secular and ecclesiastical authority.

Genshō was born in 683 AD as the daughter of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. She ascended the throne following the abdication of her mother, becoming the first empress regnant to succeed another empress regnant. During her reign, she continued the compilation of the Taihō Code, strengthening the ritsuryō legal system. She supported Buddhist institutions and promoted cultural development, including the establishment of provincial temples. Her rule maintained political stability and laid the groundwork for future imperial governance. After abdicating in favor of her nephew, Genshō lived in retirement until her death in 748 AD. She is remembered for her capable leadership and contributions to Japan's early centralized state.

Born in 1025 AD, Go-Reizei was the son of Emperor Go-Suzaku. His reign occurred during the mid-Heian period, a time noted for courtly culture and literary flourishing. He held limited power as real authority rested with the Fujiwara regents, especially Fujiwara no Yorimichi. Despite this, Go-Reizei sponsored cultural activities and patronized poetry anthologies like the Goshūi Wakashū. His personal interests included calls for peace and maintaining court etiquette. He died in 1068 AD without an heir, leading to a succession by his cousin. Go-Reizei's legacy lies in the artistic and literary achievements of his court rather than military or political conquests.

Born in the late 12th century, Saint Humility entered religious life and took vows as a Benedictine nun. Around 1133, she established a convent at Faenza, which later became the Vallumbrosan order of nuns dedicated to strict austerity and contemplation. She gained a reputation for humility, poverty, and care for the sick and poor. Stories of her visions and miracles spread, attracting many women to join her community. She corresponded with church leaders and obtained papal approval for her order's rule. After her death in 1310, her sanctity was recognized by local devotion and later by formal canonization. Saint Humility's legacy endures in monastic spiritual traditions and the Vallumbrosan sisters who follow her example.

Born in 1392 in Manchester, Blanche was the daughter of King Henry IV and Mary de Bohun. She spent her early years at the English court during a period of dynastic tension and civil unrest. In 1402, she was married to Louis III, Elector Palatine, forging a political alliance with the Holy Roman Empire. Blanche bore several children who continued the ties between England and the Palatinate. Despite her royal birth, relatively few contemporary records survive of her personal life and influence at court. She died in 1409, leaving behind a legacy as a diplomatic bridge between England and Germany. Blanche's brief life reflects the dynastic strategies of medieval European monarchies.

Born around 1406, Edmund Beaufort succeeded his father as Duke of Somerset and became a leading Lancastrian nobleman. He commanded forces in France during the Hundred Years' War, where he faced defeats at Cherbourg and Caen. Upon his return to England, he emerged as a key figure in the political conflicts between the Lancastrian and Yorkist factions. His leadership at the First Battle of St Albans in 1455 ended in his death on the battlefield. Contemporary chroniclers criticized his military failures, but supporters lauded his loyalty to King Henry VI. His death marked a turning point in the Wars of the Roses and intensified the struggle for the English throne. Edmund Beaufort's life illustrates the intertwining of noble ambition and civil strife in 15th-century England.

Born in 1414, Thomas Clifford inherited the barony and estates of the Clifford family in northern England. He staunchly supported the Lancastrian cause against the rival Yorkists. Clifford led troops in several skirmishes during the early stages of the Wars of the Roses. He fought alongside Edmund Beaufort at the First Battle of St Albans, where he was killed in 1455. Clifford's family suffered significant losses of land and influence following the Yorkist victory. He is remembered for his loyalty to King Henry VI and his role in the era's dynastic conflicts. Thomas Clifford's fate exemplifies the perils faced by the English nobility during civil war.

Born in 1393, Henry Percy inherited the earldom and became a key Lancastrian noble. He served as a commander in northern England and held the king's commissions to defend the realm. Percy joined forces with other Lancastrian lords at the First Battle of St Albans in 1455. He died on the battlefield during that engagement, marking one of the first noble casualties of the conflict. His death dealt a blow to the Percy family's power in the north. Contemporary historians note his military acumen and steadfast support for King Henry VI. Henry Percy's life and death highlight the brutal nature of the Wars of the Roses.

Born in 1381 in the town of Roccaporena, Rita entered a convent at a young age despite an arranged marriage. Widowed after her husband and sons died, she begged to join the Augustinian nuns at Cascia. Rita became known for her intense prayer life, charity to the poor, and ability to intercede in family disputes. Numerous miracles were attributed to her during her lifetime, including the healing of the sick and the multiplication of food. She experienced mystical phenomena such as receiving a wound in her forehead, which she carried for the rest of her life. After her death in 1457, devotion to Rita grew rapidly, leading to her canonization in 1900. She is venerated as the patron saint of impossible causes and abused wives.

Born into a noble family, Edmund Grey was elevated to the 1st Earl of Kent by Edward IV. He held key roles as a royal councillor and court official. Grey was noted for his political skill during the turbulent Wars of the Roses, navigating shifting alliances to maintain his status. As a powerful magnate, he managed extensive estates and influenced regional governance in northern England. His leadership and adaptability left a lasting imprint on the English nobility before his death in 1490.

Born in 1471, John Forest joined the Dominican order and became a respected friar. He served as a preacher and teacher, known for his devout scholarship. When Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church of England, Forest refused to accept the break with Rome. He was arrested for treason, tried, and condemned for opposing royal supremacy. On May 22, 1538, he was executed by burning at Smithfield. His unwavering conviction made him a lasting symbol of Catholic martyrdom during the English Reformation.