Albert von Buxthoeven was born around 1165. He had an elder brother named Hermann and his uncle was Hartwig von Utlede, who became Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen in 1184. Hartwig von Utlede appears to have had close ties with the Saxon Duke, Heinrich der Löwe. 1/10
The period saw merchants from Bremen and Lübeck, another city under the influence of Heinrich der Löwe, develop bases among the Baltic tribes. As their influence increased, Archbishop Hartwig extended his Archbishopric to the Baltic consecrating Meinhard as Bishop of Üxküll. 2/10
Heinrich der Löwe had an on and off tussle with the Holy Roman Emperor, which also had an impact on Archbishop Hartwig's fortunes. By the end of the century, the brothers, Albert and Hermann, appear to have joined the clergy under their uncle. 3/10
In 1199, Albert von Buxthoeven was appointed the new Bishop of Üxküll. He quickly realized the untenable position of his post, and a sought a stronger base. Together with merchants from Gotland, he founded a more defendable base nearer to the sea - Riga. 4/10
He then brought in armed reinforcements from Germany and founded Schwertbrüderorden (Order of the Brothers of the Sword), later known as the Livonian Order. The Livonians were a Finnic tribe prominent in the region and were the first to face the brunt of attack by the Order. 5/10
But pretty soon, the Order gained control of the neighbouring tribes as well. In 1209, they plundered the Latgalian Principality of Jersika, which had close ties with the Rus' Principality of Polotsk. It would be later divided between the Order and the Archbishopric. 6/10
In 1225, Emperor Heinrich confirmed Albert and his brother, Hermann, as Princes of the Empire. Hermann von Buxthoeven had become the Bishop of Dorpat, which ventured further north from Albert's province. The Livonian Order also controlled a large part of the Baltic as well. 7/10
Bishop Albert died in 1229, when the Livonian Order still held a strong sway over the Baltics. But they suffered a severe setback in 1236 when an attack on Samogitians, a Lithuanian tribe, was defeated with the help of Semigallians. Most of the Order's soldiers were killed. 8/10
Soon, the various tribes of Lithuanians united under Mindaugus to fight the Order. The broken Order merged with the Teutonic Order to become an autonomous branch. The Teutonic Order controlled regions further south in the Baltics. 9/10
The Livonian Confederation collapsed in 1561 and was divided by its neighbours. Courland and Livonia survived for a while as independent duchies, while Riga lasted as an imperial city for two decades before falling to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. 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