Konstantin Roger Friedrich von Staufen was born in 1194 to Henrich von Staufen, Holy Roman Emperor (King of Germany) and Constance, Queen of Sicily. Heinrich's death in 1197 led to the disarray of his realms. Opposing factions elected two new Kings to succeed Heinrich. 1/10
Otto of Brunswick and Heinrich's younger brother, Philipp von Staufen, were both elected. In 1198, Constance died, and young Konstantin became King of Sicily taking the name Federigo (Friedrich). Federigo remained in Sicily with Pope as Regent, away from the German rivalry. 2/10
But the Pope struggled to maintain control. In 1209, Friedrich married Constanza de Aragon. The marriage, arranged by the Pope, got him military support with which he regained control of Sicily. Just in time too, since Otto was marching towards Sicily. 3/10
In 1208, Philipp von Staufen had been assassinated in Bamberg, leaving Otto with no rivals, except Friedrich. Friedrich marched into Germany to counter Otto, and was elected King by Otto's rivals. He also allied with France against Otto. 4/10
In 1214, Otto was defeated by the French, and Friedrich consolidated his new title. His son, Heinrich, was made in charge of Germany ruling through a Council of Regency. But the Pope was worried about Staufen dominance. To pacify Pope, Friedrich committed to lead a Crusade. 5/10
But he was more interested in his rule in Sicily, fortifying it and enlarging its harbours. He also founded a state university in Naples and worked towards the reorganization of the bureaucracy. In 1225, Friedrich married Queen Isabelle of Jerusalem. 6/10
Though Jerusalem had fallen to Salah al-Din ibn Ayyub (Saladin) in 1187, the Kingdom continued in Acre. But civil strife persisted after Saladin's death in his Empire. Friedrich managed to make peace with the Sultan of Egypt and gain shared control of Jerusalem for a decade. 7/10
Friedrich's stay in Jerusalem was short and the city was lost again in 1239. In Germany, Heinrich had come of age and ruled independently, allying with cities in northern Italy. This led to conflict between father and son, which ended in 1235 with Heinrich's imprisonment. 8/10
In 1237, Friedrich got his son, Konrad, elected as King, in place of Heinrich. But Friedrich's conflict with the Pope and northern Italy continued. Friedrich marched through northern Italy capturing cities. But as he marched on, the Pope died & Friedrich withdrew to Sicily. 9/10
In 1245, Pope Innocent IV excommunicated Friedrich from the Church. This led to German nobles electing a King against Friedrich. Friedrich retained most of his rule, but his unexpected death in 1250, followed soon by Konrad's in 1254 led to a long interregnum in the Empire. 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