September 05

Born around 540 into the Lombard royal family, Authari ascended to the throne in 584 after a period of interregnum. He led military campaigns against Byzantine forces to secure the kingdom's frontiers. Through skilled diplomacy and marriage to Queen Theodelinda in 589, he strengthened alliances with neighboring powers. Under his leadership, the Lombard realm achieved greater unity and political stability. His reign laid the foundations for Lombard governance on the Italian peninsula. He died suddenly in 590, leaving a more cohesive realm for his successors.

Born Li Chongmao, he was placed on the throne in February 710 by Empress Wei following the death of Emperor Zhongzong. His reign lasted only a few weeks before a coup led by Princess Taiping and Li Longji installed Emperor Ruizong. After his deposition, he was demoted to the title of Prince of Ling and lived under house arrest. He died in 714, having never regained imperial power. His brief tenure highlights the intense palace intrigue and factional struggles that characterized the late Tang court.

Born Prince Morihito in 1143, he ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne as Nijō in 1158 following Emperor Go-Shirakawa's abdication. His rule was largely overshadowed by the cloistered government maintained by his father, limiting his direct authority. In 1165, he was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Emperor Rokujō. He died later that year at the age of twenty-two. Emperor Nijō's brief reign illustrates the complexities of Japanese imperial politics during the Heian period, marked by the tension between ceremonial and actual power.

Born into nobility in 1165, Henry succeeded his father as Duke of Lower Lotharingia and was created Duke of Brabant by Emperor Frederick I in 1183. He led his forces in several campaigns, including the Battle of Steppes in 1213, to defend and expand his territories. Under his leadership, Brabant emerged as a significant power in the region, forging alliances through marriage and diplomacy. He married Mathilde of Flanders, strengthening ties with neighboring principalities. Henry's tenure as duke solidified the foundations of the Brabant duchy and influenced the political landscape of the Low Countries. He died in 1235, leaving a legacy of martial prowess and statecraft.

A member of the influential Aba clan, Amadeus rose to prominence as Palatine of Hungary and governed the region around Košice with considerable autonomy. He initially supported King Charles I but later asserted his independence, administering his territories like a sovereign. He built strong defenses, maintained private armies, and collected taxes, effectively acting as a ruler within a ruler. His ambitions led to conflict with the central monarchy, culminating in his death during a rebellion in 1311. His demise marked the decline of oligarchic rule and the restoration of royal authority under Charles I. Amadeus's life exemplifies the tensions between regional lords and the crown in medieval Hungary.

Born in 1305 to Louis, Count of Évreux, and Margaret of Artois, Charles belonged to a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty. In 1327, King Charles IV granted him the county of Étampes, enhancing his status among the French nobility. He participated in the early conflicts of the Hundred Years' War, supporting royal military efforts. Charles married Maria de la Cerda and secured alliances that strengthened his family's influence. He also served as a counsellor at the royal court, navigating the intricate politics of medieval France. Charles died in 1336, and his descendants continued to wield power in the French realm.

Born into the English aristocracy around 1512, Catherine Cromwell became the sixth wife of Henry VIII in 1543. As queen consort, she acted as regent while Henry campaigned in France, effectively overseeing the kingdom and quelling uprisings. A learned patron of the arts, she authored 'Prayers or Meditations,' becoming the first English queen to publish a book under her own name. Catherine championed the advancement of Protestant reforms within the English church. After Henry's death in 1547, she married Thomas Seymour but tragically died in childbirth in 1548. Her influence on religious thought and her role as a literate and active queen have cemented her legacy in Tudor history.

Born into a prominent legal family, Pomponne de Bellièvre rose to become President of the Parliament of Paris before serving twice as ambassador to Elizabethan England. He was appointed Chancellor of France in 1605, overseeing the kingdom's judiciary and royal seals during the early reign of Henry IV. Known for his diplomatic skill and legal acumen, he played a key role in negotiating peace treaties and religious tensions in a divided kingdom. He remained Chancellor until his death in 1607, leaving a legacy of statesmanship and moderation.

Born in Buenos Aires and raised in Chile, Manuel Blanco Encalada joined the patriot navy in the War of Independence and became one of its first commanders. He distinguished himself in naval engagements against royalist forces, helping secure Chile's coastline. In 1826, he was appointed provisional President of the new republic, guiding the young nation through political transition before resigning. After his presidency, he continued to influence Chile's development as a senator and diplomat. His contributions to both the navy and statecraft make him a foundational figure in Chilean history.

Born around 1840 into the Oglala Lakota tribe, Crazy Horse became one of the most revered Native American leaders of the 19th century. He played a key role in the resistance against the westward expansion of the United States. His tactical acumen was instrumental at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. Renowned for his bravery and commitment to his people's way of life, he never sold or ceded tribal lands. Despite his military prowess, he was known for humility and personal integrity. He died in 1877 under controversial circumstances following his surrender to U.S. forces.

Born in 1890 in Munich, Karl Harrer began his career as a sports journalist before becoming politically active after World War I. As a member of the Thule Society, he helped establish the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (German Workers' Party) in 1919, aiming to influence post-war German politics. Harrer served as the party's first chairman, advocating nationalist and anti-Semitic ideas that later shaped the ideology of the Nazi Party. Despite his early leadership, he clashed with other founders over the party's direction and resigned in 1920. After leaving politics, he returned to journalism, writing about sports and cultural affairs. While overshadowed by more prominent figures, Harrer's role in the party's formation marks a significant moment in German history. He died in 1926, leaving behind a controversial legacy.

Richard Walther Darré was a founding figure of the Nazi Party's agrarian ideology, known as 'Blood and Soil'. Born in Argentina and educated as an agronomist, he rose to prominence in German politics during the 1930s. As Reich Minister of Food and Agriculture from 1933 to 1942, he shaped rural policy and propaganda. Darré advocated for peasant values and genetic purity as part of the regime's broader ideology. After World War II, he was tried but received a relatively lenient sentence during denazification. His influence remains a stark example of how ideology can intertwine with agricultural policy.