{"id":6593,"date":"2021-11-08T18:34:32","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T17:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/?p=191680"},"modified":"2021-11-08T18:50:20","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T17:50:20","slug":"historical-figures-100-of-the-most-famous-people-through-history-in-chronological-order","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/rss_feed\/historical-figures-100-of-the-most-famous-people-through-history-in-chronological-order\/","title":{"rendered":"Historical figures: 100 of the most famous people through history \u2013 in chronological order"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Rachel Dinning\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 08 November 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Who are some of the most significant figures in history? We introduce one hundred notable historical figures \u2013 from medieval monarchs to 20th-century despots\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please note:<\/strong> This list is not considered comprehensive and instead combines the results of BBC History Magazine\u2019s 2016\/2017 Hot 100 polls, in which we asked readers and historians to nominate the historical figures that most interested them. As part of the polls, readers and historians each nominated up to three people, who could have lived in any historical period (but who died more than 30 years ago prior)<\/em><\/p>\n

1<\/span>

Hatshepsut (c1507 BC\u2013c1458 BC)<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Ancient Egyptian pharaoh<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of only a few known ancient Egyptian female pharaohs<\/a>, Hatshepsut reigned in her own right from c1473\u201358 BC. However, Hatshepsut\u2019s royal reign really began in c1479 BC when she acted as regent for her infant stepson, Thutmose III. By the end of his seventh regnal year, Hatshepsut had been crowned king and had adopted all pharaonic titles and regalia, co-ruling with her stepson. In images, she was depicted with a male body wearing the traditional pharaonic kilt, crown and false beard.<\/p>

2<\/span>

William the Conqueror<\/strong> (<\/strong>c1028\u201387)<\/h3>\n<\/div>

First Norman king of England<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first Norman king of England, William the Conqueror<\/a> (previously William, Duke of Normandy) defeated the Anglo-Saxon king Harold II at the battle of Hastings<\/a> on 14 October 1066 \u2013 a triumph famously recorded in the Bayeux Tapestry<\/a>. William the Conqueror transformed the face of Anglo-Saxon England: he secured his hold on the lands he had invaded, replacing the English ruling class with Norman counterparts and building defensive fortresses at strategic points throughout the kingdom. Under William the feudal system [a hierarchical system in which people held lands in return for providing loyalty or services to a lord] was introduced; the church was reorganised and England\u2019s links to Europe were strengthened. But no one at the time called William \u2018the Conqueror\u2019 \u2013 the earliest recorded use of that nickname occurred in the 1120s, and the name didn\u2019t become commonplace until the 13th century.<\/p>

3<\/span>

Alexander the Great <\/strong>(356 BC\u2013323 BC)<\/h3>\n<\/div>

King of Macedonia<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the son of Philip II of Macedon inherited the throne in 336 BC, he set about reasserting Macedonian authority in Greece, aiming to conquer the Persian empire. By the time of his death\u00a0in Babylon at the age of 32, Alexander had created an empire that spanned three continents and covered around 2 million square miles. Commenting on what makes Alexander the Great<\/a> such a \u2018great\u2019 leader, historian Professor Paul Cartledge said: \u201cHe combined immense personal charisma and bravery (he often led his troops from the front). Plus he had a priceless ability to identify the key moment in a battle and act decisively to ensure he won that moment.\u201d<\/p>

4<\/span>

Julius Caesar <\/strong>(100 BC\u201344 BC)<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Roman ruler, general and statesman<\/strong><\/p>\n

A successful politician and general who greatly expanded the extent of the Roman republic, Julius Caesar<\/a> seized power in 44 BC, naming himself consul and dictator. He implemented a number of wide-ranging reforms \u2013 including the introduction of the Julian calendar \u2013 and is considered to have been a great military leader who conquered Gaul and invaded Britain twice. Caesar\u2019s assassination, carried out by a group of republican senators on the Ides of March<\/a>, was to become the focal point of one of William Shakespeare<\/a>\u2019s most famous history plays.<\/p>

5<\/span>

Cleopatra<\/strong> (69 BC\u201330 BC)<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Last active pharaoh of ancient Egypt<\/strong><\/p>\n

The last active pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra<\/a> helped bring prosperity to a divided country but is more often remembered for relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, her alleged beauty<\/a> and her suicide \u2013 possibly by snake bite<\/a> \u2013 after defeat by Octavian. She assumed control of Egypt in 51 BC following the death of her father and initially co-ruled with her brother, Ptolemy XII.<\/p>

6<\/span>

Caesar Augustus<\/strong> (63 BC\u2013AD 14)<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Considered the first Roman emperor<\/strong><\/p>\n

The man born Gaius Octavius and known as Octavian was adopted by Julius Caesar as his heir. After defeating Antony and Cleopatra at the battle of Actium in 31 BC, he took the name Augustus and became Rome\u2019s first emperor in 27 BC. \u00a0Read more about Augustus\u2019s bloody rise to power<\/a> by Adrian Goldsworthy, author of a biography of the emperor.<\/p>

7<\/span>

Jesus Christ\u00a0<\/strong>(c6-4 BC\u201330 AD)<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Religious leader central to Christianity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Much of the information we have about the life of Jesus comes from the four Gospels, written between c60 and 90 AD \u2013 decades after his death. They tell us that Jesus was the son of God, born to the wife of a carpenter in Nazareth, crucified in Jerusalem. Christianity, based on the teachings of Jesus, is the world\u2019s biggest religion with more than 2 billion followers. It originated in the Middle East, and spread across Europe, Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor and Egypt, becoming the Roman empire\u2019s official religion in AD 380.<\/p>\n