September 24

Born the son of Charles Martel, Pepin served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings. In 751, he deposed the last Merovingian monarch with the backing of Pope Zachary and was anointed king. His alliance with the papacy strengthened the bond between Frankish rulers and the Church. He led military campaigns against the Lombards in Italy, expanding Frankish influence. Pepin implemented administrative reforms to consolidate royal authority. His reign laid the foundations for the Carolingian Renaissance under his son, Charlemagne.

Born in 1072 to Welf I, Welf II inherited the duchy of Bavaria and ruled with significant autonomy. He joined Lothair of Supplinburg in rebellion against Emperor Henry V in 1105. After reconciliation, he gained favor and participated in imperial campaigns in Italy. Welf II’s marriage alliances solidified the Welf family’s power within the Holy Roman Empire. His ducal administration promoted monastic reform and economic development in Bavaria. His lineage continued to shape European politics for generations.

Born in 1072, Agnes was the daughter of Emperor Henry IV and Bertha of Savoy. She married Duke Frederick I of Swabia and later Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, becoming consort and influential court figure. After Frederick I’s death, she acted as a regent for her son, Emperor Henry VI, overseeing imperial affairs. Agnes played a key role in diplomatic relations across Europe and in the papal alliances of her era. She founded monasteries and supported religious reform movements. Her political acumen helped stabilize the empire during a period of dynastic transition.

Born in 1118, Manuel I succeeded his uncle John II Komnenos and ruled during a period of Byzantine resurgence. He sought to restore imperial dominance in the Mediterranean through alliances and military expeditions against Normans, Seljuk Turks, and Crusader states. Manuel participated in the Second Crusade and maintained close ties with Western Europe, marrying his daughter to the future King of Jerusalem. His court became a center of art, learning, and diplomacy, blending Greek and Western influences. He reformed the administration and legal codes to strengthen central authority. Manuel’s reign left a legacy of cultural flourishing despite military setbacks in Anatolia.

Born around 1165 to Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja, Stefan Nemanjić consolidated Serbian territories and secured recognition from the Pope and Byzantine Emperor. Crowned king in 1217, he founded the Serbian kingdom and forged alliances through marriage and diplomacy. Stefan established the autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church in 1219, appointing Saint Sava as its first archbishop. He oversaw the construction of monasteries and promoted cultural and religious identity. His reign marked the beginning of Serbia’s medieval golden age. Stefan’s leadership laid the foundations for the Nemanjić dynasty’s dominance in the Balkans.

Philip of Montfort was a prominent French nobleman during the 13th century. He inherited and ruled the lordship of Castres and forged powerful alliances through marriage and military service. He served King Louis IX and contributed to the Seventh Crusade in the Holy Land. His strategic leadership and martial skill made him a key figure in Occitan politics. Philip's tenure reinforced the influence of the Montfort family in southern France. He died in 1270, leaving a legacy as a formidable medieval lord.

Humphrey de Bohun was born around 1208 into one of England's most powerful families. He inherited the earldoms of Hereford and Essex and held the hereditary office of Lord High Constable. As a confidant of King Henry III, he played a key role in military campaigns against the Welsh and the Barons' Wars. Bohun was known for his martial skill and his influence at the royal court. He managed vast estates and was a patron of religious foundations. He died in 1275, remembered for his leadership and feudal authority.

Isabeau of Bavaria was born around 1370 into the Wittelsbach dynasty. She married King Charles VI of France and served as queen consort during a turbulent period of the Hundred Years' War. As queen, she acted as regent during the king's periods of madness and navigated complex court politics. Her tenure saw internal conflicts among the Armagnacs and Burgundians and challenges to royal authority. Despite criticisms from contemporaries and rumors about her conduct, she remained a central figure at the French court. She died in 1435, leaving a contested legacy in medieval French history.

Eric of Pomerania was born in 1382 and was adopted by his grand-aunt Queen Margaret I of Denmark. He became the first king to rule the united kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under the Kalmar Union in 1396. His reign was marked by efforts to strengthen royal authority and maintain the fragile union among the three kingdoms. Eric faced internal dissent, conflicts with the Hanseatic League, and financial challenges. After being deposed in Sweden and Norway in the late 1430s and in Denmark in 1448, he retired to Pomerania. He died in 1459, remembered for his ambitious vision of Scandinavian unity.

Michael Glinski emerged as a prominent Lithuanian prince and courtier in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He rose to power through marriage alliances and gained influence under Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellon. Glinski led military campaigns against the Crimean Khanate and later shifted his allegiance to Moscow during the Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars. His actions contributed to shifting alliances and regional turmoil in Eastern Europe. Following his rebellion against Lithuanian authorities, he sought refuge and service with Ivan the Terrible. He died in 1534, remembered for his bold military exploits and ambitious political maneuvering.

Henry Grey was born in 1495 into the prominent Grey family of England. He inherited the earldom of Kent and served as a member of the king's council under Henry VIII. Grey managed extensive estates in northern England and oversaw regional administration. He played a role in diplomatic and military activities, including border negotiations with Scotland. As a Tudor-era noble, he navigated the religious and political upheavals of the Reformation. He died in 1562, remembered for his steadfast service to the crown.

Túpac Amaru was the final Sapa Inca of the Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba, resisting Spanish colonization. He assumed leadership in the 1570s after the capture of his predecessor and continued guerrilla campaigns against Spanish forces. Captured in 1572, Túpac Amaru was publicly executed in Cuzco, symbolizing the collapse of the Inca political structure. His death ended the Inca's last organized resistance and became a powerful symbol for indigenous rights. Over centuries, he has been commemorated as a martyr and inspiration for Latin American independence movements. His legacy endures in cultural and political movements bearing his name.