European Middle Ages — Characters

British Middle Ages — 500 to 1650

Rise of the Franks to Thirty Year's War


CharacterDate Short Biography

Christian Conversion of Europe

Clovis466–511 Founder of the Frankish Kingdom. Converted to Christianity by his wife Clotilda.
Charlemagne742–814 First Holy Roman Emperor. Unified most of Western Europe into a Frankish Empire.
Wittekind the Saxon~ 780 Leader of Saxon resistance to Charlemagne. After years of struggle, converted to Christianity.
Saint Stephen975–1038 Christian King of Hungary who defeated pagans and united Magyar clans.
Henry I876–936 United Rival German duchies in a confederation to resist the Magyars.

Vikings and Norsemen

Rollo the Vikingd. 931 Viking Leader who was granted the Dukedom of Normandy if he became Christian.
Rurik the Norseman830–879 Norseman who was invited by a Slavic tribe to rule over the region of Ukraine.

Moslem Threat and the Crusades

Charles Martel686–741 Frankish King who defeated the Moors at the Battle of Tours.
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Frederick Barbarossa1122–1190 Well-known warrior. Campaigned in Italy many years, but to no avail. Died on Third Crusade.
Saint Louis IX1214–1270 Crusading king. Canonized as a saint for his concern and compassion for the poor.
Don John of Austria1545–1578 Illegitimate son of Charles V. Hero of the naval Battle of Lepanto. Briefly governed Spanish Netherlands.
Mohammed II1432–1481 Sultan of the early Ottoman Empire who conquered Constantinople and much of the Balkans.
Solyman the Magnificent1494–1566 Most famous of the Ottoman Emperors. Extended the empire to the Balkans and North Africa.
Eugene of Savoy1663–1736 One of the Greatest generals of the Hapsburg Empire. Led Austria during the War of Spanish Succession.

Church State Conflicts

Saint Benedict480–547 Established the Benedictine order of monks. Founded the monastic movement in Europe.
Pope Gregory VII1020–1085 Tested wills with Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV over 'investiture' issues.
Saint Catherine of Siena1347–1380 Saint who helped resolve the Papal schism of the 14th century.
Joan of Arc1412–1431 Led the French Army to Victory at the Siege of New Orleans. Burned at the stake by English.

Renaissance

John Gutenberg1400–1468 Invented printing press. Made improvements over many years on types, inks and methods.
Lorenzo de Medici1449–1492 Great power broker Renaissance Florence. Great Patron of the Arts.

Reformation

Martin Luther1483–1546 Leader of the Protestant Reformation. Excommunicated by Catholic Church.
Charles V1500–1558 16th century Hapsburg Emperor who ruled Austria, the Netherlands, Spain and parts of Italy.
Cardinal Richelieu1585–1682 Very influential Minister of Louis XIII. Consolidated royal power and crushed dissenters.
William the Silent1533–1584 Hero of the Dutch Revolt. Led resistance to the Inquisition and Spanish tyranny.
Henry IV1553–1610 Popular Huguenot King who converted to Catholicism, but decreed religious toleration.
Gustavus Adolphus1594–1632 Renowned Protestant General during the thirty Years War. King of Sweden.

World Exploration

Marco Polo1254–1324 Traveller from Venice who spent 30 years at the court of Kublai Khan in China.
Christopher Columbus1451–1506 Genoan sailor, sponsored by Isabela of Spain, who crossed the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the Americas.
Vasco da Gama1460–1524 Portuguese explorer who voyaged to Calicut, India by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.
Ferdinand Magellan1480–1521 Portuguese explorer who commanded the first fleet to circumnavigate the globe. Died in Philippines.