Fall 2024 30 Biographies

I tried something a little different for my 30-day writing exercise in September-October 2024, focusing on worldbuilding again and doing biographies of various leaders and historically notable people in Realmgard.

1. Prince Johanna of Porthaven,
the fifth female Prince of Porthaven

(it’s a gender-neutral title)

A woman dressed as a musketeer in front of a palace stairway. — Adapted from original images by Vika_Glitter and LVER from Pixabay.

2. Duchess Elissa of Tanith,
most beautiful woman in Realmgard

A modified version of Lawrence Alma-Tadema's Mary Magadelene. — Adapted from Lawrence Alma-Tadema‘s “Mary Magadelene“.
Image from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

3. King Aldéric of Gallicantu,
peacemaker and patron of the arts

King Aldéric of Gallicantu, represented by a modified version of Titian's Knight of Malta. — Adapted from Titian‘s portrait of A Knight of Malta and an illustration by Ivan Paldaka.
Original images from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

4. King Alfstan of Middelmere,
writes about politics, jam

Art of King Alfstan, represented by a modified portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh. — Adapted from a portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh.
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

5. Sir Sandford Whitehead,
famous dramatist

Art of Sandford Whitehead, represented by a modified self-portrait of Anthony van Dyck. — Adapted from Anthony van Dyck’s Self-Portrait with a Sunflower. via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain and an image by MustangJoe from Pixabay.

6. King Sigurd of Hrimfax,
patron of intercontinental trade

A modified painting of Albrecht Dürer's Self-Portrait at 28 representing King Sigurd of Hrimfax. — Adapted from paintings by Albrecht Dürer, Abraham Storck,
and Antonello da Messina.
Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

7. Grandmaster Edvard Stern of the Wolf Knights,
old master

Art of Grandmaster Edvard Stern of the Wolf Knights, adapted from a portrait of Charles V. — Adapted from an anonymous portrait of Charles V styled after Titian and Mountain Landscape with Lightning by Francisque Mille.
Images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

8. Brorvonius,
most famous in Realmgard’s history

Art of the wizard Brorvonius. Modified from a painting of Paracelsus by John Augustus Knapp. — Modified from a painting of Paracelsus
by John Augustus Knapp.
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

9. Luca Pertico,
world traveller

Art of Luca Pertico, adapted from an illustration of Marco Polo and a cityscape of Beijing. — Adapted from images by Giovanni Grevembroch
and Zhang Ruocheng.
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

10. Cassandros,
peerless conqueror

Cassandros, as represented by the Alexander Mosaic. — Adapted from the Alexander Mosaic. Image via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

11. Sibylla of Isidorus,
compiled all the world’s knowledge

Art of Sibylla of Isidorus, adapted from a painting by Thomas Lawrence. — Adapted from an image by Thomas Lawrence.
Image via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

12. Shogun Tetsuyama Genji of Yamatai,
great unifier

Art of Shogun Tetsuyama Genji, adapted from an image of Oda Nobunaga. — Adapted from an Edo-period painting of Oda Nobunaga and a folding screen depicting the battle of Nagashino. via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

13. Doge Teseo of Valico,
Realmgard’s finest diplomat

(not to be confused with the funny dog…)

Art of Teseo Riccamente, represented by Titian's self-portrait. — Adapted from Titian’s Self-Portrait (1567).
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

14. King Gaspar of Pelayo,
unlikely architect of Pelayo’s Golden Age

King Gaspar of Pelayo, represented by a portrait of Miguel de Cervantes. — Adapted from a purported portrait of Miguel de Cervantes and the Vatican Gallery of Maps’ depiction of the battle of Lepanto.
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

15. Ursus of Aurora,
lets his cannons do the talking

Art of King Ursus of Aurora, represented by an image of Louis de Buade de Frontenac. — Adapted from original images by Charles William Jefferys, Rudolf Bissen,
and Frederic_Edwin_Church.
Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

16. Zaffira Trecigni,
jewel of Realmgard’s theatre circuit

Art of Zaffira Trecigni, adapted from Titian's "Portrait of a Lady in White." — Adapted from Titian’s Portrait of a Lady in White and a drawing of the stage at the Teatro Olimpico.
Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

17. John Hawthorn,
brilliant mercenary captain

John Hawthorn, represented by a medieval fresco by Andrea del Castagno. — Adapted from a fresco by Andrea del Castagno and a depiction of the Great Siege of Malta by Mattia Perez d’Aleccio. Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

18. Princess Marguerite de Gallicantu,
inspiration to countless writers

Princess Marguerite de Gallicantu, adapted from a painting of Eleanor of Aquitaine. — Adapted from Queen Eleanor by Frederick Sandys.
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

19. King Thibault of Gallicantu,
master of two kingdoms

Art of King Thibault, adapted from a painting of Tancred of Galilee. — Adapted from images by Merry-Joseph Blondel and François Duchatel.
Images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

20. King Caedmon of Westhus,
saviour of Middelmere

Art of King Caedmon, adapted from images by William Plenderleath and Octave Penguilly L'Haridon. — Adapted from images by William Plenderleath and Octave Penguilly L’Haridon.
Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

21. Hallvard the Circle-Farer,
greatest of Realmgard’s mariners

Art of Hallvard the Circle-Fater. Adapted from original images by D. Howard Hitchcock and Christian Krohg. — Adapted from original images by D. Howard Hitchcock and Christian Krohg,
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

22. Eysteinn Iron-Brow,
felled an assassin with only his forehead

Art of the attempted assassination of Jarl Eysteinn, adapted from a painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo. — Adapted from an original image by Peter Nicolai Arbo.
Original image via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

23. Cassius Astrologus,
father of Realmgardian astronomy

Art of Cassius Astrologus, represented by Raphael's Plato. — Adapted from original images by Raphael and Jean-François Millet.
Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

24. Catherine Fryte,

defeated the most famous pirate in Realmgard

A woman with a fencing foil in front of Venice's Bridge of Sighs. — Adapted from original images by Michelle Raponi and Victoria from Pixabay.

25. Auriwandalo,
lord of the Midlands

Art of Auriwandalo, represented by a painting of Theodoric I. — Adapted from an original image by Felix Castello. via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

26. Arnau the Traveller,

carved out a domain for himself in foreign lands

Art of Arnau the Traveller, adapted from a painting of Peter III of Aragon. — Adapted from original images by Mariano Barbasán and an anonymous image of the Golden Horn.
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

27. Orlando Aristotele,
Natalis’ finest poet

Art Orlando Aristotele of represented by Titian's "Man with a Quilted Sleeve." — Adapted from original images by Titian, Giuseppe Maria Crespi, Margaretta Angelica Peale, and Antonio Tempesta.
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

28. Gregor von Plündern,
land pirate

Art of Gregor von Plündern, adapted from a portrait of Konrad von Bemelberg. — Adapted from a portrait of Konrad von Bemelberg by Petrus Dorisy
and a depiction of the 1683 battle of Vienna by Frans Geffels.
Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

29. Tarquinius Constantius Dispositor,

founder of the Guild Authority of Porthaven

Art of Tarquinius Constantius Dispositor, represented by a painting of Cincinnatus. — Adapted from original images by Juan Antonio de Ribera, John Inigo Richards, and Cesare Maccari. Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

30. Gladia,
hydra-slayer

Art of Gladia, represented by images of a Valkyrie and the Hydra. — Adapted from original images by Alois Kirnig, Peter Nicolai Arbo, and Gustave Moreau. Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.