Historical Characters
Radu the Black
Radu Negru (1269-c.1383; a.k.a. Radu the Black) was the founder and ruler of Wallachia, reigning as Voivode from about 1290, but is of debatable historicity. Confusing matters, it's a well-established myth that he reigned as Alexandru I; this was a fabrication by Adelina Cerul starting in the 1570s to give her second son, Alexandru cel Convingător, a more prestigious lineage after she installed him as Voivode Alexandru VI. Even after this myth was exposed, the name stuck and subsequent Voivodes Alexandru were numbered based on this.
Radu Negru (1269-c.1383; a.k.a. Radu the Black) was the founder and ruler of Wallachia, reigning as Voivode from about 1290, but is of debatable historicity. Confusing matters, it's a well-established myth that he reigned as Alexandru I; this was a fabrication by Adelina Cerul starting in the 1570s to give her second son, Alexandru cel Convingător, a more prestigious lineage after she installed him as Voivode Alexandru VI. Even after this myth was exposed, the name stuck and subsequent Voivodes Alexandru were numbered based on this.
Edward the Confessor
Edward III of Ængland (c.1003-1066; a.k.a. St. Edward the Confessor) was King of the Ænglisc from 1042-1066 and is considered the patron saint of Britannia, canonized in 1161. He went into exile in his mother's homeland of Normandy in 1016, leaving Ængland to Cnut the Great and his half-brother Harthacnut for decades, he suddenly found himself next-in-line and returned to Ængland to become its king and rule for twenty-four years, a long reign for the time. A a lifelong celibate, Edward had no children and chose his first cousin, once removed, Duke William II of Normandy, as his successor. However, on his deathbed, he declared Harold Godwinson, the Earl of Wessex, as his successor--a possible fabrication by the House of Godwin, though not an unpopular choice among the Ænglisc of the time--he ended up causing the Invasions of 1066 which ultimately resulted in the foundation of the Godwin dynasty.
Edward III of Ængland (c.1003-1066; a.k.a. St. Edward the Confessor) was King of the Ænglisc from 1042-1066 and is considered the patron saint of Britannia, canonized in 1161. He went into exile in his mother's homeland of Normandy in 1016, leaving Ængland to Cnut the Great and his half-brother Harthacnut for decades, he suddenly found himself next-in-line and returned to Ængland to become its king and rule for twenty-four years, a long reign for the time. A a lifelong celibate, Edward had no children and chose his first cousin, once removed, Duke William II of Normandy, as his successor. However, on his deathbed, he declared Harold Godwinson, the Earl of Wessex, as his successor--a possible fabrication by the House of Godwin, though not an unpopular choice among the Ænglisc of the time--he ended up causing the Invasions of 1066 which ultimately resulted in the foundation of the Godwin dynasty.
Eadric Streona
Eadric Streona (died 1017; a.k.a. Eadric the Grabber) was a Mercian ealdorman who served Æthelred of Ængland from 1007 until his death. He's considered an archetypal traitor in modern Britannian culture, similarly to Ephialtēs of Trakhís in the Greek states or James Wilkinson in America. In fact, he's the primary reason why Æthelred of Ængland is better-known as Æthelred the Ill-Advised.
Eadric Streona (died 1017; a.k.a. Eadric the Grabber) was a Mercian ealdorman who served Æthelred of Ængland from 1007 until his death. He's considered an archetypal traitor in modern Britannian culture, similarly to Ephialtēs of Trakhís in the Greek states or James Wilkinson in America. In fact, he's the primary reason why Æthelred of Ængland is better-known as Æthelred the Ill-Advised.
Ötzi the Iceman
Ötzi (c. 3400-3100 BC; real name unknown) was a Copper Age European man, famous as an excellently-preserved natural mummy from the Ötztal Alps. His remains and belongings are now displayed in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.
Ötzi (c. 3400-3100 BC; real name unknown) was a Copper Age European man, famous as an excellently-preserved natural mummy from the Ötztal Alps. His remains and belongings are now displayed in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.
Magnus I of Wessex
Magnus I of Wessex (c. 1045 - March 28, 1110; born Magnus Haroldsson, a.k.a. Magnus Godwinson, Magnus the Pious, Magnus of Selsey) was the last living son of Harold II when he passed away in 1073, making him the clear choice to the Witenaġemōt for the next King of the Anglish. During his reign, Magnus moved the Anglish capital to Selsey, in Sussex, and he ordered the construction of Godwin Caste near Selsey Abbey.
Magnus I of Wessex (c. 1045 - March 28, 1110; born Magnus Haroldsson, a.k.a. Magnus Godwinson, Magnus the Pious, Magnus of Selsey) was the last living son of Harold II when he passed away in 1073, making him the clear choice to the Witenaġemōt for the next King of the Anglish. During his reign, Magnus moved the Anglish capital to Selsey, in Sussex, and he ordered the construction of Godwin Caste near Selsey Abbey.
Vlad III the Great
Vlad III Drăculea (November/December 1431 - May 26, 1499; a.k.a. Vlad Dracula, Vlad the Great, Vlad the Impaler) was Voivode of Wallachia from 1448 until his death, and has been a polarizing figure for much of history. While most of the world holds a neutral opinion towards him, in his homeland of Wallachia he is considered a harsh but fair national hero for defending Europe against the encroaching Islamic Caliphates, but in the Islamic world is reviled as a murderer and sadist who would enjoy his lunch while watching hundreds of enemy soldiers die after being impaled on pikes.
Vlad III Drăculea (November/December 1431 - May 26, 1499; a.k.a. Vlad Dracula, Vlad the Great, Vlad the Impaler) was Voivode of Wallachia from 1448 until his death, and has been a polarizing figure for much of history. While most of the world holds a neutral opinion towards him, in his homeland of Wallachia he is considered a harsh but fair national hero for defending Europe against the encroaching Islamic Caliphates, but in the Islamic world is reviled as a murderer and sadist who would enjoy his lunch while watching hundreds of enemy soldiers die after being impaled on pikes.
Gonzalo Guerrero
Gonzalo Guerrero (15th century, dates unknown) was a Spanish sailor who became shipwrecked on the Yokatlān Peninsula in 1511 while sailing to Santo Domingo. He was initially enslaved by the local Maya, but over time he earned his freedom and became a respected war leader among the Maya; it was supposedly on his suggestion that the Maya attacked Hernández de Córdoba when he landed in the region.
Gonzalo Guerrero (15th century, dates unknown) was a Spanish sailor who became shipwrecked on the Yokatlān Peninsula in 1511 while sailing to Santo Domingo. He was initially enslaved by the local Maya, but over time he earned his freedom and became a respected war leader among the Maya; it was supposedly on his suggestion that the Maya attacked Hernández de Córdoba when he landed in the region.
Alessandro Valignano
Alessandro Valignano (February 1539 - January 20, 1606; Fàn Lǐ'ān in Chinese) was an Italian Jesuit missionary from Chieti, Naples, who helped supervise Christianization efforts in eastern Asia and especially in Japan.
Alessandro Valignano (February 1539 - January 20, 1606; Fàn Lǐ'ān in Chinese) was an Italian Jesuit missionary from Chieti, Naples, who helped supervise Christianization efforts in eastern Asia and especially in Japan.
Yasuke
Yasuke (c. 1555 - June 22, 1582) was a black African slave, possibly from Mozambique, who became a retainer to Oda Nobunaga after being brought to Japan in 1579 by Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. He was brought to Nobunaga as a curiosity--black Africans being unknown to the Japanese at the time--and it is said that Nobunaga ordered him stripped and scrubbed on the assumption that he had been covered with black ink. The man entered Nobunaga's service and was named Yasuke by him, though it is unknown when this took place. When Nobunaga was betrayed and attacked by Akechi Mitsuhide, his forces--including Yasuke--retreated to Honnō-ji and helped defend the temple even as it was burned to the ground until Nobunaga could complete seppuku to avoid capture by Mitsuhide's forces. By morning, Yasuke was the only one left in the rubble. Defiantly, he cursed Mitsuhide's name and swore that he wouldn't rule for long before committing seppuku as well, preferring to die as Nobunaga's last retainer than be captured and returned to slavery.
Yasuke (c. 1555 - June 22, 1582) was a black African slave, possibly from Mozambique, who became a retainer to Oda Nobunaga after being brought to Japan in 1579 by Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. He was brought to Nobunaga as a curiosity--black Africans being unknown to the Japanese at the time--and it is said that Nobunaga ordered him stripped and scrubbed on the assumption that he had been covered with black ink. The man entered Nobunaga's service and was named Yasuke by him, though it is unknown when this took place. When Nobunaga was betrayed and attacked by Akechi Mitsuhide, his forces--including Yasuke--retreated to Honnō-ji and helped defend the temple even as it was burned to the ground until Nobunaga could complete seppuku to avoid capture by Mitsuhide's forces. By morning, Yasuke was the only one left in the rubble. Defiantly, he cursed Mitsuhide's name and swore that he wouldn't rule for long before committing seppuku as well, preferring to die as Nobunaga's last retainer than be captured and returned to slavery.