September 22

He Jin (135–189) was a key military leader of the Eastern Han dynasty who rose to the position of General-in-Chief. As the half-brother of Empress He, he wielded immense influence at court and sought to eliminate the power of the eunuchs. His efforts culminated in a plot to summon regional warlords, which inadvertently led to a violent conflict. He briefly acted as regent for the young emperor before his assassination by the very eunuchs he opposed. His death triggered widespread unrest and paved the way for the turmoil that ended the Han dynasty.

Felix IV was elected pope in 526 following the death of John I. He continued to navigate the relationship between the Roman church and the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great. He dedicated several churches in Rome, including remodeling Santa Maria in Trastevere, and supported the celebration of the Epiphany. Felix also took measures against Monophysite theology and approved synods to address doctrinal disputes. His papacy is remembered for its architectural endeavors and attempts to maintain church unity in a politically complex period.

Born Li Jie in 867, he ascended the throne in 888 at a time when the Tang dynasty was weakened by eunuch factions and regional warlords. Throughout his reign, he was repeatedly dominated by powerful military governors and was forced to flee Chang’an multiple times, seeing central authority erode. In 900, the warlord Zhu Quanzhong seized control of the court, reducing the emperor to a puppet. Despite attempts to reclaim imperial power, Zhaozong remained under duress until his forced abdication in 904 in favor of his son. He was shortly thereafter assassinated on the orders of Zhu Quanzhong, effectively ending the Tang imperial line.

A member of the influential Billung family, Wichmann the Younger was the son of Wichmann the Elder and held significant lands in Saxony. He twice rebelled against King Otto I, first in 953 and again after Otto’s Italian campaign, allying with Slavic tribes. Although he negotiated reconciliations with the king, his defiance exemplified the tensions between regional magnates and royal authority. Wichmann’s actions destabilized Otto’s rule but also highlighted the complexities of early medieval German politics. He died in 967, leaving a legacy as one of the era’s most formidable noble challengers to royal power.

Born in 1007, Ouyang Xiu rose through the civil service examinations to serve as a high-ranking official under multiple Song emperors. A leading figure of the Qingli Reforms, he championed administrative changes and criticized corruption. Ouyang was also a masterful writer and poet, producing lyrical essays and poems that influenced later literati. He compiled the influential New Book of Tang and contributed to historiography with his erudite style. Even after periods of exile, his intellectual legacy endured, shaping both political thought and literary aesthetics in imperial China.

Born into the noble Hohenstaufen dynasty, Otto became Bishop of Freising in 1138. He authored the Chronica sive Historia de duabus civitatibus, reflecting on the spiritual and temporal realms, and the Gesta Friderici Imperatoris, detailing the deeds of his nephew Frederick Barbarossa. His works combined theological reflection with historical narrative, providing valuable insight into 12th-century Europe. Otto’s scholarly approach blended classical learning with contemporary events, earning him recognition as one of the earliest historiographers of the Holy Roman Empire. He died in 1158, leaving a lasting legacy in the fields of church history and medieval studies.

The eldest son of Fergus of Galloway, Uchtred assumed leadership of the semi-independent region of Galloway after his father’s death. He skillfully navigated loyalties between the Scottish crown and the English monarchy, at times supporting King Henry II of England against Scottish rivals. Uchtred granted lands to religious foundations, including the abbey at Whithorn, demonstrating his piety. His rule contributed to the relative stability of Galloway during a turbulent period of Scottish feudal politics. Uchtred was assassinated in 1174, his death marking the end of his line’s undisputed control over the region.

Born Kigen Dōgen in 1200, he traveled to China to study Chán Buddhism before returning to Japan in 1227. Dōgen established the Kōshōhōrin-ji monastery and later founded Eihei-ji, the head temple of the Sōtō school. His magnum opus, the Shōbōgenzō, is a profound collection of essays on Zen practice, metaphysics, and ethics. Emphasizing zazen (seated meditation), Dōgen taught that practice and enlightenment are inseparable. His philosophical insights reshaped Japanese Buddhism, and his works continue to be studied by practitioners worldwide.

The younger brother of Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, Henry inherited the earldom in 1322 and became one of the most influential nobles in Edward III’s court. He served as Lord High Steward, overseeing royal ceremonies and the administration of justice. Henry participated in military campaigns in Scotland and France, supporting England’s early Hundred Years’ War efforts. He married Maud Chaworth but left no legitimate heirs, leading his titles to pass to his nephew. His tenure exemplified the responsibilities and challenges of high nobility during a period of dynastic and military expansion.

Born in 1366, Thomas de Mowbray inherited the earldom of Norfolk as a child and was created the first Duke of Norfolk by King Richard II in 1397. He held the prestigious office of Earl Marshal, responsible for ceremonial and military duties at court. Mowbray became embroiled in a bitter dispute with Henry Bolingbroke, leading to both men’s exile in 1398. He died in exile in Venice in 1399, never returning to England. His life reflects the volatile politics of Richard II’s court and the personal rivalries that precipitated the rise of the House of Lancaster.

John VII Palaiologos (1370–1408) was a Byzantine prince who seized the throne in August 1390. His reign lasted only five months before his forces were defeated by his grandfather Manuel II. After his defeat, he was granted control of Thessalonica and recognized as heir. He later served as regent of Constantinople during Manuel's absence in the West. John maintained his dynastic status until his death in 1408. His actions reflect the tumultuous power struggles of late Byzantium.

Peter II (1418–1457) became Duke of Brittany in 1450 after the death of his uncle John V. He strengthened ties with Charles VII of France and pursued alliances through his marriage to Margaret of Burgundy. His rule focused on internal reforms and defending Breton autonomy against external pressures. Despite fathering two sons, both died in childhood, leaving no male heir. Peter’s early death at 39 led to his sister Anne's succession. His diplomacy and governance shaped Brittany's position in late medieval France.