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João de Bragança was born to Teodosio de Bragança, Duke of Bragança and Ana de Velasco y Girón in 1604. The Duchy of Bragança was created in 1442 for Afonso, Count of Barcelos and an illegitimate son of Portuguese King João, by his nephew, Afonso, the then King of Portugal. 1/10
The House of Bragança retained their influence in Portugal, even after the Portuguese Royal family died out. João's grandmother, Catarina, was among the contenders, but was overtaken by the Spanish King, Felipe, who also defeated his illegitimate cousin, António, in battle. 2/10
As pioneers of oceanic exploration from Europe, Portugal had carved out an Empire across continents, from Macao to Brazil. But as part of the Iberian Union of King Felipe, Portugal was only one of the Kingdoms the King ruled, along with Spain, Sicily, Naples and Sardinia. 3/10
But King Felipe ran into trouble running a multi ethnic Kingdom. By the time he had acquired the Portuguese crown, he also had to deal with the Dutch Revolt. The Dutch, in turn, saw the vast multi continental Kingdom of the Portuguese as one of many opportunities. 4/10
Not long after the Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie (VOC) was founded in 1602, the Dutch sought to take away the control of the oceans from the Portuguese. Though the Portuguese started out on top, the Dutch slowly etched away their mighty opponents. 5/10
As the Portuguese lost to the Dutch, the Spanish King was embroiled neck deep in the Thirty Years War in support of their Austrian cousins. With their concerns falling on deaf ears, the Portuguese decided to take their own path. 6/10
In 1640, Antão Vaz de Almada, Miguel de Almeida and 38 others conspired to remove the Spanish rulers of Portugal. They killed the Spanish Minister Miguel de Vasconcelos and captured their Viceroy, Duchess of Mantua, who was also the King's cousin. 7/10
João, who had become Duke of Bragança in 1830, was acclaimed King, thanks to his grandmother's ancestry. The Spanish could do little but watch as they were stretched thin because of the Thirty Year's War and a rebellion in Catalonia. 8/10
But the Spanish did not give up easily. They battled the Portuguese at Montijo in 1644. The Portuguese made advances globally, retaking Angola from the Dutch in 1648 and expelling them from Brazil in 1654, though they lost Ceylon in 1658. 9/10
The end of the Thirty Year's War in 1648 did not bring a reprieve to the Spanish, since the French continued to pin them down. Portuguese independence was finally recognized only in 1668, while João's son, Afonso, was King. 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