Charles Edward Stuart was born in 1720 to James Francis Stuart and Maria Casimira Sobieska. His paternal grandfather was the King of England, Scotland & Ireland until he was forced to flee Britain, while his maternal grandfather was a contender for the Polish throne. 1/10
In 1688, King James had fled for France because of his and his heir's leanings towards Catholicism. In 1701, the English Parliament prevented Catholics from becoming monarchs of England. Scotland, however, tried to make their own path in 1704, with the Act of Security. 2/10
However, this changed in 1707 with the Acts of Union, uniting the sovereigns of England and Scotland to form Great Britain, but many parts of Scotland voted against the Union. By then, ex-King James had died and his claim passed onto his son, James Francis Stuart. 3/10
The Stuarts lost the French support after the War of Spanish Succession. They eventually had to take refuge in Rome instead. In the meantime, a section of Scots rebelled to restore the Stuarts in 1715 and 1719. Both failed. 4/10
Young Charles Stuart got his first experience of war in 1734, as an observer at the Siege of Gaeta in Italy. He had accompanied his second cousin, James FitzJames, who was fighting for the Spanish against the Habsburgs in the War of Polish Succession. 5/10
But a far bigger war was in the offing. In 1740, the last male Habsburg, Emperor Karl, died. With imperial title up for grabs, all of Europe came to war; Russia and Britain sided with Emperor's daughter against his elder brother's daughter, backed by France, Spain & Prussia. 6/10
The war was not limited to Europe, since it spread to the colonies as well. With the British army occupied, Charles Stuart had an opportunity to reclaim his father's lost Kingdoms. In 1744, he set sail for England with the French fleet, led by Moritz von Sachsen. 7/10
Unfortunately, bad weather stopped play. With the French busy on the continent, Charles Stuart decided to go his own way, into Scotland in 1745. He received support from the Highlands from both Catholics and Protestants, and soon reached Edinburgh, the Scottish capital. 8/10
After victory at Prestonpans, he moved on from Scotland to England marching towards London. But he found support in England lacking, unlike in Scotland. Alarmed by the advance, England brought in reinforcements, led by Prince William coming in from the Low Countries. 9/10
Unable to make a strong show in England, his army retreated to Scotland, where they maintained ground. But at Culloden in 1746, they were defeated by the English, bringing to an end the last attempt to restore Stuarts. The war for Germany continued on, largely unaffected. 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