November 17

Valentinian I was born in 321 in the province of Pannonia (modern Hungary). He became Western Roman Emperor in 364 following the death of his brother Valens. Known for his vigorous military campaigns, he fortified the empire's northern borders against Germanic tribes. He reformed tax systems to better support the army and provincial governance. Valentinian was celebrated for his dedication to justice and intolerance of corruption at court. His sudden death in 375 marked the end of a dynamic reign that strengthened the Western Empire.

Born in 593, his personal name was Tamura. He ascended the throne in 629 following the reign of Empress Suiko. Jomei’s tenure saw the consolidation of the Yamato court and greater influence of Buddhism. He oversaw diplomatic exchanges with Korean kingdoms, strengthening cultural and political ties. Few direct records survive, but his reign is noted in the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki chronicles. His death in 641 paved the way for Empress Kogyoku's accession.

Born in 845 as the daughter of King Louis the German of East Francia. Married King Louis the Younger in 874, becoming Queen consort. She acted as a key advisor in Carolingian politics during her husband’s reign. Liutgard managed royal estates and court ceremonies, showcasing administrative skill. She was known for her piety and patronage of local monasteries. Her death in 885 marked the loss of a powerful dynastic figure in East Francia.

Born in 893 amidst the fragmentation of the late Tang Dynasty. She became Empress as the wife of Wang Yanjun, ruler of the Min Kingdom. Chen wielded influence in the imperial court, navigating factional rivalries and palace intrigue. Her patronage extended to Buddhist temples and local cultural institutions. Political maneuvering and palace conspiracies marked her tenure. In 935 she was killed during a coup that reshaped Min’s leadership.

He rose to power in 928 as the third ruler of Min during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Yanjun declared himself emperor, elevating Min to imperial status. He sponsored cultural projects and Buddhist institutions to legitimize his reign. His rule faced challenges from rival states and internal court factions. Palace conspiracies and family rivalries marked the final years of his reign. He was assassinated in 935, triggering a cycle of instability in Min.

Born in 1266, he first ascended the Cilician throne in 1289. Hethum forged a strategic alliance with the Mongol Empire against the Mamluk threat. He abdicated in 1293 to enter the Franciscan order, highlighting his religious devotion. Returning to power, he faced internal dynastic struggles and external pressures. His reign saw architectural patronage and cultural exchanges in Cilicia. Captured and executed by the Mamluks in 1307, his diplomatic efforts influenced regional politics.

Born in 1289, Leo III ascended the throne of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia as a child after the death of his father, Hethum II. He was a member of the Lusignan dynasty that sought to maintain its sovereignty amid regional threats. During his brief reign, he faced pressure from neighboring Mamluk forces and worked to strengthen his kingdom’s defenses. His administration issued coinage that reflected a blend of Armenian and Frankish influences. Leo III’s rule ended with his premature death at the age of 18, leading to a succession crisis within the kingdom.

Edmund FitzAlan, born in 1285, inherited the Earldom of Arundel in 1302 and quickly became a prominent figure at the court of Edward II. He played a key role in royal campaigns in Scotland and Wales and held important administrative offices in the royal household. FitzAlan’s political fortunes fluctuated during the turbulent reign of Edward II, as he initially supported the king but later opposed the influence of the Despenser family. In 1326, he was accused of treason and executed by orders of Hugh Despenser the Younger. His death marked a dramatic end to one of the kingdom’s most powerful aristocratic careers.

Eleanor of Viseu was born in 1458 as the daughter of Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu. She married her cousin, King João II, in 1470 and became an influential figure at the Portuguese court. Eleanor is best remembered for founding the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in 1498, a charitable institution that provided medical care and assistance to the poor. She championed social welfare projects and supported religious communities during her lifetime. Her legacy endured through the continued work of the Misericórdia network after her death in 1525.

Mary I, born in 1516, was the only surviving child of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She ascended the throne in 1553 after deposing Lady Jane Grey and became the first queen regnant of England. Mary sought to reverse the Protestant Reformation initiated by her father and older half-brother, leading to the persecution of Protestant dissenters. Her rigorous enforcement of Catholic orthodoxy earned her the nickname 'Bloody Mary'. Mary died childless in 1558 and was succeeded by her half-sister, Elizabeth I, marking a dramatic shift in English religious and political life.

Antoine of Navarre was born in 1518 as a member of the Bourbon dynasty and held the titles of Duke of Vendôme and later King of Navarre by marriage. He married Jeanne d’Albret, Queen of Navarre, and played a significant role in the early French Wars of Religion. Initially a supporter of the Protestant cause, he later reconciled with the Catholic crown under Henry II. Antoine’s shifting allegiances reflected the complex religious conflicts of 16th-century France. He died in 1562 from wounds sustained during a political ambush, leaving his son to inherit his titles.

Born in 1537 in Stockholm, John III ascended to the Swedish throne in 1568 after deposing his half-brother Eric XIV. He married Polish princess Catherine Jagiellon, strengthening ties with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and paving the way for his son Sigismund to rule Poland. Throughout his reign, he waged war against Russia to secure strategic territories along the Baltic Sea. John sought religious compromise with his liturgical reforms blending Catholic and Lutheran practices. His policies faced opposition from staunch Protestants and never fully reconciled the confessions. A patron of the arts, he oversaw the construction of Uppsala Castle and supported cultural flourishing. His reign laid the groundwork for a brief personal union between Sweden and Poland under Sigismund III.