Henry Percy was born in 1341 to Henry Percy and Mary of Lancaster. The senior Henry Percy would become Baron in 1351, after his father's death, while Mary of Lancaster was the granddaughter of Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster & brother of King Edward I of England. 1/10
The House of Percy were a prominent noble family in the north of England. Though their origins lie with the Norman conquest of England, Henry Percy's family were descended from Agnes de Percy and Joscelin de Louvain, an illegitimate half brother of Queen Adelisa of England. 2/10
In 1362, Henry Percy was made the Warden of the Marches, a crucial office that managed the security of England's northern borders. The same year, English Prince John of Gaunt was created Duke of Lancaster, having married Henry's cousin and Lancaster heiress, Blanche. 3/10
Having inherited the Barony in 1368 after his father's death, Henry Percy was made Earl of Northumberland, by King Richard II in 1377. Northumberland was a successor region of the Anglo Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria and was at times held by Scottish royals as well. 4/10
King Richard's reign was not an easy one, but Henry Percy continued to rise in prominence in England. However, a perceived slight in 1397 made him change support, and instead he backed his cousin's son, Henry Bolingbroke, who was rebelling against the King. 5/10
The support turned out to be profitable for Percy, since Henry became King and Percy received Isle of Man for his support. The island was a Kingdom close to Northern England and was ruled by a Richard loyalist, William le Scrope, Earl of Wiltshire. 6/10
But the instability at top had an impact on the King's domain. Wales, which had been annexed by England in 1284, rose up against King Henry under Prince Owain ap Gruffydd (Glyndŵr) of Glyndyfrdwy. Meanwhile, Percy had to deal with Scottish incursions from the north. 7/10
In 1402, Percy prevailed against the Scots at Homildon Hill and captured many leading nobles. When Percy attempted to ransom them out, he was denied by the King. In 1388, Percy's son, Henry "Hotspur" Percy had to be ransomed after the Scots had captured him in battle. 8/10
In 1403, Hotspur Percy joined Prince Owain Glyndŵr in rebellion. Along with his uncle, Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, Hotspur's forces were met by King Henry's forces at Shrewsbury. The two sides battled it out. Hotspur got killed and Worcester captured and later executed. 9/10
Soon, Henry Percy got into the act. He made a pact with Owain Glyndŵr and Edmund Mortimer, his son's brother-in-law, to divide England amongst themselves. Mortimer had a better claim to the throne. But by 1408, Percy was defeated; killed in the Battle of Bramham Moor 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