November 21

Born in 950 as the third son of Emperor Murakami. He ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 967 at age 17. Reizei's reign was dominated by Fujiwara clan regents and his ill health limited his political role. He abdicated in 969 in favor of his brother, Emperor En'yu, becoming a cloistered emperor. In retirement, he continued to reside in the Kyoto palace and pursued religious studies. He died in 1011, remembered for a brief reign that reflected the power dynamics of the Heian court.

Born in 1112 into the Jiménez dynasty, he was initially lord of Monzón. He ascended the throne in 1134, working to free Navarre from Aragonese suzerainty. Through alliances and military campaigns, he secured Navarre's autonomy and strengthened royal authority. He promoted the settlement of towns and the codification of laws to modernize the kingdom. His marriage alliances extended Navarre's influence across the Pyrenees. García Ramírez died in 1150, remembered as 'the Restorer' for reviving Navarre's sovereignty.

Born into the Rurikid dynasty, he became Prince of Moscow in 1303. He maneuvered through Mongol politics to secure the Khan's favor and was granted the title of Grand Prince of Vladimir in 1318. Yury consolidated territories and established Moscow's precedence among Russian principalities. He fortified Moscow's defenses and promoted economic development through trade privileges. His rivalry with the princes of Tver shaped the early Muscovite ascendancy. Yury of Moscow died in 1325, setting the stage for Moscow's later dominance in northeastern Rus'.

Born in 1346 to the Capetian line, he inherited the duchy as a child. He became Duke of Burgundy at age one after his mother's death. His reign saw the loss of territorial influence due to his minority and the challenges of regency. Philip also held the titles Count of Auvergne and Boulogne, expanding ducal domains. He died unexpectedly in 1361 at just 15, ending the Capetian male line in Burgundy. His death led to the duchy passing to the Valois-Burgundy branch under King John II of France.

Born in 1583 into a prominent aristocratic family, Henry Grey assumed the earldom early in the 17th century. He inherited estates and titles that placed him among the kingdom's leading peers. Appointed as Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, he managed the county's militia and acted as the crown's principal representative. His role required balancing the interests of local gentry with the expectations of Charles I's court. Grey was also a patron of charitable projects and educational endeavors within his domain. He died on November 21, 1639, and his legacy continued through his successors and their contributions to regional governance.

Yoshida Shōin (1830–1859) was a Japanese educator and political activist of the late Edo period. He studied Confucian classics at the Shōka Sonjuku academy and advocated learning Western military tactics. Shōin mentored future Meiji leaders, inspiring figures like Itō Hirobumi and Yamagata Aritomo. He vehemently opposed the Tokugawa shogunate's isolationist policies and favored national reform. Attempts to overthrow shogunate rule led to his arrest and execution on November 21, 1859. His radical ideas and school profoundly influenced the Meiji Restoration and modern Japan.

Born in Long Branch, New Jersey in 1844, Hobart built a successful legal career before entering politics. He was elected Vice President alongside President William McKinley in 1896. Hobart redefined the role by acting as a close advisor and policy influencer. His energy and organizational skills strengthened the executive branch. He died in office in 1899, and his tenure shaped the modern vice presidency.

Born in Vienna in 1830, Franz Joseph ascended to the throne in 1848 at the age of 18. He managed the complexities of the Habsburg Empire and enacted the 1867 Austro-Hungarian Compromise. Under his reign, the empire experienced modernization and industrial growth. He navigated rising nationalist movements and maintained stability in Central Europe. Franz Joseph's long rule left a profound impact on European politics until his death in 1916.

Born in Oaxaca in 1874, Flores Magón co-founded the Mexican Liberal Party to challenge dictatorship. He used his newspaper to advocate for labor rights, land reform, and social justice. Arrested and exiled multiple times, he continued his activism from the United States. His anarchist writings influenced revolutionaries and progressive movements in Mexico. Flores Magón died in prison in 1922, but his legacy endures in Mexican political history.

Heinrich XXVII (1858–1928) was the sovereign Prince of Reuss Younger Line. He ascended to the throne in 1902 and ruled a small principality in what is now Thuringia. During his reign, he navigated the challenges of German unification and the shifting politics of the German Empire. Following Germany's defeat in World War I, he abdicated in 1918 amid widespread revolutionary movements. In retirement, he oversaw family affairs and estates until his death on November 21, 1928.

John Scaddan (1876–1934) was an influential figure in Western Australian politics. At age 35, he became the youngest Premier of Western Australia, leading the Labor government from 1911 to 1916. His administration focused on public works, including rail expansion and hydroelectric projects. Scaddan's bold reform agenda faced opposition and financial constraints, leading to his government's defeat. He continued to serve in the Legislative Assembly until his retirement and remained a respected elder statesman until his death on November 21, 1934.

Count Leopold Berchtold (1863–1942) was Imperial Foreign Minister of Austria-Hungary from 1912 to 1915. He played a central role in the diplomatic crisis following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914. Berchtold advocated a hardline response against Serbia, influencing the outbreak of World War I. Facing internal and external pressures, he resigned in late 1915 amid military setbacks. He lived in retirement after the empire's collapse, reflecting on his controversial tenure until his death on November 21, 1942.