Louise-Élisabeth Vigée, known as Madame Vigée-Lebrun (1755 – 1842) is a great French painter, a talented portraitist. A precocious artist Louise-Élisabeth Vigée was born on April 16, 1755 in Paris, to a mother of peasant origins and a pastel father. She is entrusted to peasants and, six years la
Anne-Josèphe Terwagne, known as Théroigne de Méricourt (1762 – 1817) was a French politician and a personality of the Revolution. The womens march Daughter of Elisabeth Lahaye and Pierre Terwagne, laborer, Anne-Josèphe was born on August 13, 1762 in Marcourt in Belgium. At the age of five, followi
Louise Augusta Wilhelmine Amélie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1776 – 1810) was a sovereign of the former Kingdom of Prussia, known in particular for her opposition to Napoleon. The princess and the prince Born March 10, 1776, Louise was the daughter of Frédérique Caroline Louise, Princess of Hesse-Da
Ana de Sousa Nzinga Mbende, known as Queen Nzinga Mbende, is a queen of kingdoms Ndongo and Matamba, of the Ovimbundu people, in Angola. An emissary for peace Nzinga Mbende, born in 1583, is the daughter of King Ngola Kiluanji and Kangela. According to tradition, her name comes from the fact that
French woman of letters of the modern era, Marie de Gournay (1565 – 1645) frequented the scholars of his time and worked in particular on the corrections of Montaignes Essays while continuing his own writings. Self-taught Born in Paris on October 6, 1565 into a wealthy family, Marie Le Jars was th
Marie de Rabutin-Chantal , known as the Marquise de Sévigné (1626 – 1696), is a French woman of letters known for her epistolary writings. A young widow Daughter of Marie de Coulanges and Celse-Bénigne de Rabutin, Baron de Chantal, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal was born February 5, 1626 in Paris. She l
Anne Bonny, who sailed in mens clothing at the beginning of the 18th century, is with Mary Read one of the most famous female pirates in history. Pirates in the Bahamas Born in Ireland around 1700, Anne Bonny was the illegitimate daughter of procurator William Cormac and his servant Mary. Leaving
Murderer of Jean-Paul Marat, Marie-Anne-Charlotte de Corday dArmont was guillotined in 1793 in Paris. She is a great figure of the French Revolution. A strong character Daughter of Charlotte-Marie-Jacqueline de Gautier des Authieux de Mesnival and Jacques-François de Corday dArmont , Charlotte was
Marie Gouze , said Marie-Olympe de Gouges (1748 – 1793), is a feminist, French woman of letters, who became a politician and a polemicist. In particular, she wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizens and many texts in favor of the abolition of slavery. His independence and his ideas
Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, left her mark on her time as patron of the arts and letters. A victim of her time, the myths making her depraved and a poisoner still persist today. Wedding negotiations Born April 18, 1480 near Rome, Lucrezia Borgia is the daughter of Vannozz
A favorite of King Henri II of France, Diane de Poitiers (1499 or 1500 – 1566) exerted a great influence on him for 20 years. Meeting the dolphin Henri Only daughter of Jean de Poitiers, viscount of Estoile, lord of Saint-Vallier, and Jeanne de Batarnay , who died in 1506, Diane grew up with Anne
Catherine de Medici (1519 – 1589) was Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 and ruled the country, as Queen Mother and Regent, from 1560 to 1563. Founder in France of freedom of conscience for Protestants, she was a emblematic figure of the modern era. Education and marriage Born in Florence on April
Marguerite of France or Marguerite de Valois (1553-1615) was a French princess who became Queen of Navarre and Queen of France. Intelligent and cultured, she played an important role in the cultural life of the court. Marriage negotiations Born May 14, 1553, Marguerite de France was the seventh ch
Louise Florence Pétronille Tardieu d’Esclavelles (1726 – 1783) , who became Louise dEpinay through marriage, is a French woman of letters and pedagogue. Educational choices that go against convention Only daughter of Florence Angélique Prouveur de Preux and Louis-Gabriel Tardieu, Marquis dEsclavel
Queen of the Kingdom of Umaill in Ireland, Grace O’Malley (c.1530 – c.1603) was a female pirate and Irish historical figure. Blood navigation Her Irish name Gráinne Ni Mháille, Grace OMalley was born around 1530 in an Ireland ruled by the King of England Henry VIII but left under the control of Ir
Caroline Lucretia Herschel (1750 – 1848) was an English astronomer of German origin. In particular, she discovered new comets, including one that bears her name. In charge of household chores Caroline Herschel was born on March 16, 1750 in Hanover, Germany, into a family of musicians; she was the
Master midwife, Angélique du Coudray trained women giving birth in the countryside and invented the first obstetrical mannequin. The first obstetrical mannequin Angélique Marguerite Le Boursier Du Coudray was born in Clermont-Ferrand in 1714, into a family of eminent doctors. For 16 years, she wor
Emilie du Châtelet is a mathematician and physicist whose French translation of Newtons Principia Mathematica is still authoritative today. She is also known for her Discourse on Happiness. Early Intelligence Daughter of Louis Nicolas Le Tonnelier, Baron de Breteuil, born December 17, 1706, Gabrie
Marie Antoinette of Austria is Archduchess of Austria, Princess Imperial, Princess Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, Dauphine of France, Queen of France and Navarre. Died guillotined in 1793, she was very badly perceived during her lifetime and remains a controversial personality. Bride by proxy Bor
Marie-Madeleine Pioche of La Vergne , Comtesse de La Fayette (1634 – 1693), was a French woman of letters. She is notably the author of The Princess of Cleves. Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne was born into a family of the lower nobility, close to Cardinal Richelieu. When she was 15, her father
Yolande of Aragon, also known as Jolantha de Aragon (circa 1382 – 1442), Duchess of Anjou, Countess of Maine and Provence, Queen of Naples and Jerusalem, played an important political role in the West in the 15th century. Queen consort of Naples Daughter of Yolande de Bar, herself granddaughter o
Francisco Franco (1892-1975) was a Spanish general and statesman. At the head of a military junta, in 1936 he engaged in a war against the Republican government, the Spanish Civil War , which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. After the Nationalists victory in 1939, Franco assumed the title of
Aide-de-camp to the Duke of Broglie, he served Pichegru then Hoche. He distinguished himself in 1796 on the Rhine where his qualities as a tactician worked wonders, particularly at Kaiserslautern. His soldiers affectionately call him “the warrior without fear and without reproach”. He became friends
Commodus Ancient Roman Emperor from 180 AD. He was born on August 31, 161, the son of Mark Aurelius and Faustina. Already in the years 176-177 his father made him a tribune of the people, co-ruler, consul and high priest. Marcus Aurelius died during the war expedition on March 17, 180, in a mili