July 14

Emperor Murakami (926–967) ascended the throne in 946 at a young age and led a period of imperial consolidation. He revived traditional court rituals and supported the compilation of historical records. Under his reign, the influence of the Fujiwara clan grew, marking shifts in political power. Murakami fostered the development of poetry and scholarship within the imperial court. His reign is noted for cultural achievements rather than military expansion. He passed away in 967, leaving a legacy of artistic and administrative reforms.

Arnold of Egmond, born in 1410, inherited the duchy in 1423 upon his father's death. His rule was marked by feuds with his mother, Jacqueline, and external pressures from Philip the Good of Burgundy. He oscillated between alliances with the Burgundians and the Holy Roman Emperor to maintain his sovereignty. Arnold faced several exiles and briefly regained his duchy through diplomatic negotiations. His marriage to Catherine of Cleves strengthened regional ties, but internal dissent persisted. He died in 1473, leaving a legacy of a duchy caught between great powers.

Philip I, born in 1515, succeeded his father as a young duke under a regency. He embraced Protestantism early and implemented Lutheran reforms across Pomerania. In 1547, he joined the Schmalkaldic League to protect his territories’ religious freedoms. He reorganized local government, improved fiscal policies, and strengthened fortifications. Philip fostered trade and cultural exchanges with neighboring German states. He died in 1560, remembered for his contributions to the Reformation and statecraft in northern Europe.

Born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino in 1602, he entered the service of Cardinal Richelieu and rose through diplomatic ranks. Appointed chief minister in 1642, Mazarin managed state affairs during the Fronde uprisings. He negotiated the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and the Peace of the Pyrenees (1659), expanding French influence. Mazarin centralized royal power and laid foundations for the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV. He was a patron of the arts, sponsoring works that enhanced France’s cultural prestige. He died in 1661, leaving a strengthened monarchy and a framework for Louis XIV’s future reign.

Born in 1610, Ferdinando II succeeded his father, Cosimo II, at age 11 under a regency. He took personal control of the duchy in 1628 and focused on economic and naval improvements. Ferdinando II was a patron of the sciences, hosting Galileo and establishing the Accademia del Cimento in 1657. His neutral policies shielded Tuscany from wider European conflicts, preserving its wealth. He supported art and architecture, commissioning works that enhanced Florence’s cultural heritage. Under his rule, Tuscany experienced relative stability and scientific innovation until his death in 1670.

Gavrila Derzhavin was born into nobility in 1743 in Kazan Governorate. He held positions as governor of Olonets and Tambov, and later served as a senator and minister of justice. Derzhavin gained fame as one of Russia’s preeminent poets before Pushkin, renowned for his odes celebrating Empress Catherine II and the Russian state. His most famous works, including “Felitsa” and “God,” blend classical style with personal reflection and folk motifs. As a patron of the arts, he supported cultural institutions and fostered younger writers. Derzhavin died in 1816, leaving a lasting legacy in Russian literature and public affairs.

Mordecai Manuel Noah was born in 1785 into a Sephardic Jewish family in Philadelphia. He became a prominent journalist and editor in New York, founding and running several newspapers. Noah also wrote plays and poetry, contributing to early American literature. He served as a U.S. consul in Tunis and later in the Ottoman Empire, representing American interests abroad. Passionately advocating for Jewish rights, he famously attempted to establish a Jewish settlement called Ararat on Grand Island in the Niagara River. Though the project failed, his vision inspired future Zionist movements. Noah died in 1851, remembered for his pioneering efforts in journalism, diplomacy, and Jewish community leadership.

Born in 1865 in Garnett, Kansas, Arthur Capper began his career as a newspaper publisher after founding the Topeka Daily Capital. He entered politics as a Republican, serving as Governor of Kansas from 1915 to 1919, where he promoted progressive reforms in agriculture and education. In 1919, Capper won election to the United States Senate, a seat he would hold for five terms until 1949. He was known for his advocacy for farmers, veterans' benefits, and infrastructure development. Capper's legislative work included backing the Federal Highway Act and supporting New Deal policies. He retired from public office in 1949 and passed away in 1951.

Born in Cairo in 1874, Abbas II Hilmi Bey ascended to the throne as the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan in 1892 at the age of eighteen. Educated in Europe, he sought greater autonomy for Egypt from British influence, supporting the development of local industries and institutions. His reign saw growing nationalist movements, and he clashed with British authorities over control of the country's finances and military. During World War I, Abbas II was deposed by the British, who declared Egypt a protectorate and installed a Sultan in his place. After his exile, he lived in Switzerland and Istanbul, advocating for his restoration until his death in 1944. Abbas II's rule is remembered for early efforts at modernizing Egypt and asserting national sovereignty.

Born in Adelaide in 1874, Crawford Vaughan began his political career as a member of the South Australian House of Assembly in 1905. He became the leader of the Labor Party and was appointed Premier of South Australia in 1915, overseeing social reforms and responses to World War I. Vaughan faced internal party divisions over conscription, eventually leaving Labor to join the National Party. He later served in various ministerial roles before retiring from politics. Known for his oratory and progressive policies, Vaughan contributed to modernizing the state's education and welfare systems. He passed away in 1947, remembered for his leadership during a turbulent era.

Sisavang Vong was born in 1885 and became king of Luang Prabang in 1904 at the age of 19. He navigated the complexities of French colonial administration and championed gradual modernization. Under his reign, Laos was united as a French protectorate and later gained autonomy after World War II. He played a pivotal role in securing Laos's participation in the French Union. His long rule saw the foundations of the modern Lao nation laid. He remained on the throne until his death in 1959, becoming one of Southeast Asia’s longest-reigning monarchs.

Ante Pavelić was born in 1889 in Bradina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A lawyer by training, he became a leading nationalist figure advocating Croatian independence. In 1929 he founded the Ustaše, a fascist movement committed to radical ethnic nationalism. With Axis support, Pavelić became Poglavnik (leader) of the Independent State of Croatia in 1941. His regime carried out brutal persecution and genocide against Serbs, Jews, Roma, and others. After the war, he fled to Spain and died in exile in 1959. Pavelić’s legacy remains deeply controversial due to the atrocities committed under his rule.