Caterina de' Medici was born in 1519 to Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino and Madeleine de la Tour of Auvergne. Both her parents died in 1519, leaving her under the care of her father's uncle, Giovanni de' Medici (Pope Leo X) and Giulio de' Medici (Pope Clement VII). 1/10
She had an illegitimate half brother, Alessandro, who would later become the Duke of Florence. She also inherited Auvergne from her aunt Anne in 1524. In 1533, she married Henri, a younger son of the French King, who became the heir to the throne in 1536. 2/10
Henri became King of France in 1547, but generally avoided Caterina, preferring his mistress Diane de Poitiers. But she was made Regent when her husband was away at wars against the Habsburgs in the 1550s. These wars ended in 1559 with the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis. 3/10
But the end of the long war turned out to be fatal when King Henri died in a jousting accident during the celebrations. This brought Caterina's 15 year old son François to the throne, but he died in 1560. Her next son, Charles aged 9, became King with Caterina as Governor. 4/10
The period following 1520s had seen many parts of Europe embrace Protestant teachings, but in France this was dealt crudely by King Henri and his father King François early on. The House of Guise was one of the noble families who became prominent during this time. 5/10
Caterina's children were the only surviving legitimate members of the ruling House of Valois. Next in the line was Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, who was married to Juana, the Protestant Queen of Navarre. Antoine's brother, Condé, was a prominent Protestant. 6/10
With likelihood of war between Guise led Catholics and Condé powered Protestants increasing, Caterina issued the Edict of Saint-Germain in 1562 allowing for religious toleration. But it led to massacre of Protestants by François, Duke of Guise at Vassy. 7/10
The massacre cascaded into full out war between Catholics and Protestants in France. Both Antoine de Bourbon and Duke François died in battle. Caterina issued an updated Edict with restrictions on Protestants. There was a lull in the war, but it remained in the background. 8/10
Caterina looked to reconcile the opposing sides, by negotiating the marriage of Antoine's son with her daughter, Marguerite. The marriage took place in 1572, but was marred by the the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre which saw Catholics killing many Protestant leaders. 9/10
King Charles died in 1573 and Caterina's next son, Edouard, crowned as King Henri of Poland earlier, abandoned his crown for France. She retained influence with King Henri till her death in 1589, trying to find an end to the war of religion. 10/10
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Murad was born in 1404 to Mehmed. Mehmed was the son of Bayezid, the Ottoman Sultan who was captured by Timur in 1402. This led to a period of anarchy in the Sultanate. By 1413, Mehmed had managed to defeat his brothers and take over as Sultan of the entire Sultanate. 1/10
The Ottoman had Sultanate emerged in late 13th century after the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm was defeated by the Mongols. Many beyliks rose up in the Anatolian peninsula, one among which was ruled by the ancestors of Bayezid, Mehmed and Murad. 2/10
Rastislav was born in early 9th century. His father may have been Wistrach and his uncle Mojmír, the Duke of Moravia. Little is known about Rastislav's youth, until 846 when Franks invaded Moravia and installed Rastislav as the Duke of Moravia. 1/10
Moravia emerged as a semi independent state in Central Europe not long after the Franks had defeated the Avars in late 8th century. Moravia was not the first power in the region though. The Slavic states of Samo and of Nitra had lasted briefly during various times as well. 2/10
Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck was born in 1815 to Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand von Bismarck and Wilhelmine Luise Mencken. Hailing from Schönhausen, the Bismarcks were a prominent noble family of the Kingdom of Prussia, with connections in Pomerania. 1/10
Prussia became a kingdom in 1701, but its major part was Brandenburg in the centuries old Holy Roman Empire. Invasion by the French in early 19th century led to the dissolution of this empire, with many of its regions joining Napoleon backed Confederation of the Rhine. 2/10
Camillo Benso was born in 1810 to Michele Benso, Marquis of Cavour, and Adélaïde Suzanne de Sellon. The Bensos were prominent nobility of Savoy. Camillo also had a distinguishing French connection thanks to his mother and his godmother Pauline, sister of Emperor Napoleon. 1/10
The early 18th century saw the French under Napoleon occupy Savoy. But the Bensos managed to see through it in a favourable manner eventually. Young Camilo's career prospects improved with his appointment as page to Carlo Alberto, Prince of Carignano in 1824. 2/10
Iaroslav Vladimirovich was born around 980 to Vladimir Sviatoslavich, Grand Prince of Kiev, and Rogned of Polotsk. Vladimir was initially supposed to rule only in Novgorod, but he had taken Kiev and Dereva from his brothers by 980. 1/10
Iaroslav was given an early charge of Rostov and, later, of Novgorod by 1010. But he sought Kiev and rebelled against his father, when he saw that one of his many brothers may be given Kiev. However, Vladimir died in 1015 and his domain got divided between his sons. 2/10
Birger Magnusson was born around 1210 to Magnus "Minnesköld" Bengtsson and Ingrid Ilva. Magnus was the grandson of the powerful Scandinavian noble, Folke, while Ingrid may have been a descendant of Sverker, King of Sweden in mid 12th century. 1/10
The kingdom of Sweden claimed land on the western and eastern coasts of the Baltic Sea in the 13th century. However, the crown itself was held between two dynasties since Sverker's death in 1156; by Sverker's family and that of Erik who became king after Sverker. 2/10