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.

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.

Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex (1541–1576), was an English courtier and soldier during the reign of Elizabeth I. He led forces in Munster during the Desmond Rebellions, capturing strategic castles and establishing early plantation policies. Essex's tactics and governance efforts laid groundwork for later English colonization in Ireland. His campaigns faced logistical challenges and stiff resistance from Irish lords. In 1576, he was mortally wounded near Stradbally and died shortly after. Devereux's military ventures foreshadowed the larger Tudor conquest of Ireland. His career highlights the complexities of English expansion.

Nathan Hale was born in 1755 in Coventry, Connecticut, and graduated from Yale University. Volunteering as a patriot soldier, he served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. In 1776, Hale volunteered for an intelligence mission gathering British troop movements on Long Island. Captured behind enemy lines, he was hanged as a spy on September 22, 1776. Legend holds he declared, 'I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.' He is remembered as an enduring symbol of American bravery and sacrifice.

Born around 1787 in what is now KwaZulu-Natal, Shaka emerged as chief of the Zulu in 1816. He introduced military innovations, such as the iklwa short spear and regimented battle tactics. Under his leadership, the Zulu Kingdom expanded rapidly through conquest and alliances. Shaka centralized authority, reorganized society, and established a strong royal military system. His reign reshaped the political landscape of southern Africa, triggering migrations and conflicts known as the Mfecane. He was assassinated by his half-brothers in 1828, but his legacy endured in Zulu culture and history.

Frederick Townsend Ward (1831–1862) began his career in the United States Navy before turning to mercenary work in China. He arrived in Shanghai in 1860 and offered his services to the Qing dynasty in its struggle against the Taiping Rebellion. Ward recruited and trained local troops, forming the Ever Victorious Army under his command. His leadership combined Western military techniques with Chinese manpower, achieving significant victories. He was celebrated for his discipline and innovative tactics, gaining respect from both Chinese and foreign observers. Ward was mortally wounded during the Battle of Cixi and died in 1862. His efforts paved the way for subsequent foreign-led forces in China.

Alain-Fournier, born Henri Alban Fournier (1886–1914), was a French writer whose single novel, 'Le Grand Meaulnes,' achieved lasting literary acclaim. Published in 1913, the book captures themes of adolescence, longing, and the ephemeral nature of youth. Though his literary output was limited, his poetic prose and evocative storytelling influenced French literature. In 1909 he served briefly in the French army, and with the outbreak of World War I he returned to service as a lieutenant. Fournier was killed by German artillery fire near Vaux-lès-Palameix on September 22, 1914. His death at 27 cut short a promising career, and posthumous publications of his letters and unfinished works added to his mystique. He is remembered as a symbol of a generation of writers lost in the Great War.

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1885, Soemu Toyoda graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy. He rose through the ranks, serving on battleships and as a staff officer before becoming fleet commander. In 1944, Toyoda was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, directing naval operations in the Pacific. He oversaw strategic retreats and evacuation efforts following major battles such as Leyte Gulf. After the war, he was interrogated by Allied forces but never tried, later living a quiet life until his death in 1957. Toyoda's leadership during difficult phases of the war remains a subject of historical study.

Born in 1916, Sakai joined the Imperial Japanese Navy and became one of its most successful fighter pilots during World War II. He flew Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters in the Pacific theater, claiming over 60 enemy aircraft before being severely wounded. After losing vision in one eye, he survived numerous dangerous missions and earned widespread respect for his skill and bravery. At war's end, Sakai returned to civilian life and gained acclaim for his 1957 memoir, Samurai!, co-authored with Fred Saito and Martin Caidin. His account provided rare insight into aerial combat and earned international recognition, including a French Légion d'honneur in 1989. Sakai continued to paint portraits and speak about his experiences until his death in 2000.