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The Medieval Era
Caliphs, monks, poets, and conquerors who carried learning and power through the middle centuries.
Medieval era
Shah Jalal
1271 – March 15, 1346
Sufi scholar of Sylhet
Medieval era
Khan Jahan Ali
1380 – October 25, 1459
Bangladeshi saint
Medieval era
Shah Makhdum Ruposh
1216 – 1313
Historical figure
Medieval era
Makhdoom Ali Mahimi
June 21, 1374 – February 7, 1432
Indian Muslim scholar
Medieval era
Shahul Hamid
1490 – 1579
Mystic saint and Islamic preacher
Medieval era
Sharfuddin Ahmed Yahya Maneri
1263 – January 3, 1381
Historical figure
Medieval era
Abdul Qadir Gilani
March 17, 1078 – February 14, 1166
Sunni Muslim preacher, mystic and jurist (1078–1166)
Medieval era
Mirabai
1498 – 1546
16th-century Hindu mystic poet, saint and devotee of the god Krishna
Medieval era
Ravidas
c. 1450 – c. 1520
Buddhism
Medieval era
Dnyaneshwar
1275 – 1296
13th-century Hindu Marathi saint and philosopher
Medieval era
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
1486 – 1534
15th century Indian Vaishnavite saint
Medieval era
Mir Chakar Rind
1468 – 1565
Legendary Baloch folk hero and chieftain of Rind Tribe
Medieval era
Raja Dahir
663 CE – 712 CE
Ruler of Sindh (663–712)
Medieval era
Rabia Balkhi
b. c. 1000
Persian poet, first woman poet of Islamic period
Medieval era
Yue Fei
March 24, 1103 – January 27, 1142
Song dynasty general, killed by royal decree from the Emperor Gaozong of Song (1103–1142)
Medieval era
Wen Tianxiang
June 6, 1236 – January 9, 1283
Chinese politician of the Song Dynasty
Medieval era
Zhu Xi
October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200
Chinese historian, neo-Confucian philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty (1130–1200)
Medieval era
Wang Yangming
October 31, 1472 – January 9, 1529
Chinese philosopher and general (1472–1529)
Medieval era
Su Shi
January 8, 1037 – August 24, 1101
Chinese writer and politician (1037–1101)
Medieval era
Li Qingzhao
March 19, 1084 – May 19, 1155
Chinese Song Dynasty poet, known as "the most talented woman in all ages"
Medieval era
Prince Shotoku
February 7, 574 CE – April 8, 622 CE
Semi-legendary Japanese prince (574–622)
Medieval era
Sei Shonagon
966 CE – 1025
Japanese author and court lady
Medieval era
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
1159 – June 15, 1189
Samurai of the late Heian and early Kamakura period
Medieval era
Tomoe Gozen
1157 – 1247
A female samurai warrior who fought during the Genpei War from 1180 to 1185 CE
Medieval era
Taejo of Joseon
October 11, 1335 – May 24, 1408
The first king of Joseon Dynasty in Korean history
Medieval era
Jang Yeong-sil
b. c. 1400
Korean mechanical engineer, scientist and inventor
Medieval era
Ogedei Khan
November 7, 1186 – December 11, 1241
Khan of the Mongol Empire (c.1186-1241) (r. 1229-1241)
Medieval era
Sorghaghtani Beki
February 2, 1190 – March 1, 1252
Mongol empress (1190-1252)
Medieval era
Ly Thai To
March 8, 974 CE – 1028
Vietnamese emperor
Medieval era
Tran Hung Dao
1228 – October 3, 1300
Vietnamese prince, military general of Trần dynasty
Medieval era
Le Loi
September 10, 1384 – 1433
Founding Emperor of the Later Lê dynasty
Medieval era
Nguyen Trai
1380 – September 28, 1442
Vietnamese scholar and poet (1380–1442)
Medieval era
Anawrahta
May 11, 1014 – April 11, 1077
Founder of the Pagan Empire
Medieval era
Jayavarman VII
1122 – 1218
Cambodian king, considered by historians to be the most powerful Khmer monarch of all time
Medieval era
Suryavarman II
1094 – 1150
Cambodian king (1094-1150)
Medieval era
Fa Ngum
1316 – 1393
First king of Lānsāng
Medieval era
Gajah Mada
1290 – 1364
Prime minister of the Majapahit Empire (1290-1364)
Medieval era
Lapu-Lapu
1492 – 1542
Ruler of Mactan, Philippines (1491–1542)
Medieval era
Parameswara
1344 – 1414
The first king who established the state of Malacca
Medieval era
Hang Tuah
b. 1444
Malay descent warrior from Bintan island
Medieval era
Alisher Navoi
February 9, 1441 – January 3, 1501
Turkic poet and politician (1441–1501)
Medieval era
Rudaki
859 CE – 941 CE
Persian poet, the father of Persian poetry
Medieval era
Ismail Samani
849 CE – November 24, 907 CE
Amir of the Samanid Empire from 892 to 907
Medieval era
Shota Rustaveli
1172 – 1216
Georgian poet
Medieval era
David the Builder
1073 – January 24, 1125
King of Georgia (1073-1125)
Medieval era
Nizami Ganjavi
1141 – 1209
Persian poet
Medieval era
Attar of Nishapur
1145 – April 26, 1221
Persian Sufi poet (c. 1145 – c. 1221)
Medieval era
Piri Reis
1470 – 1554
Turkish admiral and cartographer
Medieval era
Al-Mutanabbi
920 CE – 965 CE
Arab poet (c. 915 – 965)
Medieval era
Al-Jahiz
775 CE – 868 CE
Arabic writer (776–869)
Medieval era
Ahmad ibn Majid
1432 – 1500
Arab navigator and cartographer
Medieval era
Arwa al-Sulayhi
1048 – 1138
Yemeni queen and ruler (c. 1048–1138)
Medieval era
Fatima al-Fihri
800 CE – 880 CE
Legendary founder of the al-Qarawiyyin mosque
Medieval era
Sunni Ali
1464 – 1492
King of the Songhai Empire
Medieval era
Askia Mohammad I
1443 – 1538
Emperor of the Songhai empire
Medieval era
Andrei Rublev
c. 1360 – October 17, 1428
Medieval Russian artist (1360s-1428)
Medieval era
Sergius of Radonezh
May 3, 1314 – September 25, 1392
Russian saint (1314-1392)
Medieval era
Hatuey
1479 – February 2, 1512
Hispaniolan Cacique (died 1512)
Medieval era
Æthelstan
895 CE – October 27, 939 CE
King of Wessex and first king of England (r. 924-939)
Medieval era
Æthelflæd
870 CE – June 12, 918 CE
Mercian monarch