Lost stories

François I is regarded as the quintessential king of the French Renaissance. His reign, marked by wars and significant diplomatic events, also saw a remarkable development of the arts and literature in France.

The Lebor Gabála synchronises Conn's reign with that of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180). The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 116–136, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 122–157.

His reign, however, ended on a negative note with events such as the defeat at Saint-Quentin (1557) and the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559), which brought the Italian dream to an end.

She served as regent of the empire on three occasions and was a central figure in Brazilian history during the final decades of the monarchy.

His short-lived reign lasted only one year and five months, but it was a major prelude to the outbreak of the Wars of Religion.

While Ivan was 16 years old at this time, his co-ruler Peter I was only 10. Ivan was considered the "senior tsar", but actual power was wielded by Sophia Alekseyevna, Ivan's full sister and Peter's half-sister, for the next seven years.

During his reign, the Kingdom was torn apart by the Wars of Religion, despite all the efforts made by his mother, Catherine, to prevent them. After several attempts at reconciliation, his reign culminated in the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.

He died before his father and his son Richard II therefore succeeded to the throne instead.

At the age of 21, he was nominated as a candidate for the throne of the new Republic of the Two Nations and was elected. His reign was short-lived, for upon hearing of his brother’s death (who had left no male heir), he abdicated his kingdom to succeed him on the throne of France.

Ferdinand of Aragon, Duke of Calabria (1488-1550)

He was also a suitor of Queen Elizabeth I of England from 1572 until his death, but the marriage never took place.

Maria Manuela of Portugal (1527-1545) was an Infanta of Portugal by birth and Princess Consort of Asturias through her marriage to the then Prince Philip of Austria (later Philip II of Spain).

Initially in the service of the King of France, he was Constable of France from 1515 to 1523. But, following a trial before the Parliament of Paris in order for him to cede his territories to Louise of Savoy, he defected during the Sixth Italian War and joined the camp of Charles V, becoming Lieutenant General of the Emperor's army, which won a crushing victory on February 24, 1525 at Pavia.

He was canonized by the Georgian Orthodox Church.

A poet himself, he left behind a considerable number of works, some of which are found in the manuscripts of Charles d'Orléans. The earliest pieces were composed before he became Duke of Bourbon and are signed "Clermondois." He was surrounded by musicians and played the lute himself.

Mircea III Dracul was the grandson of Vlad Dracula. He ruled as prince of Wallachia between 12 October 1509 and 26 January 1510.

On September 21, 1559, Francis II was crowned King of France in Reims by his uncle Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine. The crown was so heavy that nobles had to hold it in place for him.