ejaasaari/simplewiki-2025-04-01 huggingface dataset:
Anne of Cleves (22 September 1515 – 16 July 1557) was the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England from January 1540 to July 1540. Biography. She was the daughter of John III, Duke of Cleves and Maria of Julich Berg. She was born in Düsseldorf on 22 September 1515. She was betrothed to Francis, the Duke of Lorraine, but she ended up marrying Henry VIII in January 1540. When the couple met for the first time, they did not like each other. Henry VIII got married six times. Except for Anne of Cleves, Henry knew all of his wives for a long time before marrying them. Henry decided to marry Anne so England and the Protestant League would be allies. It was a political marriage. Henry also knew that having more than one son would be good, in case his and Jane Seymour's son, Edward, died. So he also married Anne so he could have more children. Hans Holbein painted a beautiful picture of Anne of Cleves and showed it to Henry. One of the reasons Henry decided to marry Anne (instead of her sister Amelia) was because she looked so beautiful in her portrait. When Anne's ship landed in England, Henry decided to sneak out to meet her early. He brought a few of his friends and servants with him. Henry dressed in the exact same clothes as the servants, and they all came into the room where Anne was waiting with her women. Henry was acting out a story from the tradition of courtly love in which a man goes to see a woman while he is disguised as a servant, and she recognizes him because of the magic of true love. Almost everyone in the courts of England and France knew this story. But Anne grew up in a strict German court. She did not know that the man dressed as a servant was King Henry, playing a game. She spoke to him like a real servant. Henry was very embarrassed. Henry started complaining that Anne was not pretty. He said that he could not have sexual intercourse with her because she had "bad breath" and smelled. Anne's previous engagement to the Duke of Lorraine was used as an excuse
Mary Tudor (18 March 1496 – 25 June 1533) was an English princess who briefly became Queen of France as the third wife of King Louis XII. Mary was the fifth child of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and she was the youngest of their children to survive infancy. Louis was over 30 years older than her. After Louis’s death, Mary married Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. This marriage took place secretly in France without the consent of Mary’s brother, Henry VIII. The union led to the involvement of Thomas Wolsey, a key advisor to Henry, and the couple was eventually pardoned after paying a significant fine. Mary had four children with Charles Brandon. Through her eldest daughter, Frances, Mary became the maternal grandmother of Lady Jane Grey, who was queen of England for nine days in July 1553. Biography. Mary was the fifth child of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, born at Sheen Palace. Mary was known for her beauty and had a close relationship with her brother, Henry VII. In 1514, she married Louis XII at the age of 18. Louis was much older and died less than three months after their wedding, and they had no children. Mary later married Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, in secret in 1515, without her brother’s permission. This was considered treason, but she and Charles were only fined due to Henry's affection for them. They officially married again later that year. Mary had four children with Charles and was often still referred to as the Queen of France. Her relationship with Henry became strained over his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and later Anne Boleyn.  After suffering failing health for some years, Mary Tudor died on 25 June, 1533 at the age of thirty seven at Westhorpe Hall, Westhorpe, Suffolk, possibly of Tuberculosis, Cancer, or Angina. Her husband then married Catherine Willoughby.
Louis XII of France (June 27, 1462 – January 1, 1515) was the son of Charles, Duke of Orléans and Mary of Cleves. He was born on June 27, 1462 in the Chateau de Blois, France. Louis's first wife was Jeanne of France, who was the daughter of Louis XI of France. At the time, Louis was not expected to become King of France. The King, Charles VIII, was a young man and could still have had children, but Charles had an accident and died suddenly. Charles was Jeanne's brother. Louis was Charles's cousin and next in line to the throne. When he became king, he had to end his marriage to Jeanne, partly because she was disabled and could not have children. Louis's second wife was Anne of Brittany, who was the daughter of Francis II, Duke of Brittany. Anne had been married to King Charles VIII until his death, but all of their children had died. As a result of her marriage to Charles, the dukedom of Brittany had become part of the kingdom of France. Louis wanted to keep Brittany, but in order to do so he had to marry Anne. After her marriage to Louis, Anne had two daughters, who were called Claude and Renee. In France, women were not allowed to rule the country, so Louis still wanted a son to become king after him. After Anne died, Louis married for a third time. His last wife was Mary Tudor, the sister of Henry VIII of England. She was many years younger than he was. Louis only lived for three months after their marriage. Because Louis had no sons, the throne went to Francis, the husband of his daughter Claude.
Louis XIII (27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643) was King of France from 1610 to 1643. He was the son of Henry IV and Marie de' Medici. He lived during the time of the Thirty Years War and had to deal with many rebellions. He was proud of his country, and tried to encourage French artists to stay in France instead of going off to Italy. He did this by giving them work in the Louvre. Although he was married, many people thought that he would never produce an heir. Then, after 23 years of marriage, his wife Anne gave birth to a baby boy. He was to become King Louis XIV of France. He died of Crohn's disease in 1643 and was later buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis, France. His oldest son would succeed him on the throne.
Claude of France (13 October 1499 – 26 July 1524) was Duchess of Brittany from 1514. She was Queen of France from 1515 as the wife of King Francis I. She was the eldest daughter of Louis XII and Anne of Brittany. Claude became Duchess of Brittany after her mother’s death in 1514. Months later, at the age of 14, she married her cousin Francis, securing Brittany's union with the French crown.  After the death of Louis XII in 1515, Francis and Claude became King and Queen of France. Claude's reign as queen was largely overshadowed by her mother-in-law, Louise of Savoy, and her sister-in-law, Margaret of Angoulême. Claude did not actively engage in political matters, leaving the administration of Brittany and her other lands to her husband, though she resisted his efforts to fully annex Brittany into France. Claude was mostly known for her religious devotion and her frequent pregnancies. She had seven children in just nine years. Her son Henry later became Henry II of France. Claude's health suffered from her many pregnancies, and she died at the age of 24 at the Château de Blois. The cause of her death is uncertain, with theories ranging from exhaustion due to childbirth to bone tuberculosis or syphilis, possibly contracted from her husband. Her eldest son, Francis, briefly succeeded her as Duke of Brittany. After his death in 1536, her second son, Henry, took the title and later became King of France. Claude's legacy lives on through her children and her role in maintaining the union between Brittany and France. She was buried at St. Denis Basilica.
Lady Eleanor Brandon (1519 - 27 September 1547) was the daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France and Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. Her maternal grandparents were King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York. She was the sister of Lady Frances Brandon therefore she was the aunt of Lady Jane Grey. Biography. Eleanor was married to Henry Clifford in 1537. She then became the Countess of Cumberland. Henry and Eleanor had three children:
Lady Frances Brandon (16 July 1517 – 20 November 1559) was the daughter of Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. She was married to Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk and had three daughters: Jane, Mary and Katherine. Her daughter Jane became the Queen of England for nine days. Life. Frances Brandon was a cruel, abusive mother to her children and a bold wife to her husband, Henry Grey. She had spent her childhood with her mother and was very close to Catherine of Aragon, so she was against Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn. In 1533, she married Henry Grey and soon she had two children who died young before having Lady Jane Grey in 1537, Katherine in 1540, and Mary in 1545. In 1554, just weeks after her daughter Lady Jane Grey's and her husband Henry Grey's execution, Frances married again. This time it was to Adrian Stokes. Many people were shocked about this marriage, because Adrian was far below Frances's status. Historians believe that Frances was pregnant at the time of their marriage because she gave birth to a child about six months later. This child did not survive and Frances had two others. None of these last three children lived past a year. Death. Frances became increasingly large similar to her uncle Henry VIII. Because of this, she died in 1559 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Henry II (31 March 1519 – 10 July 1559) was King of France from 1547 until his death in 1559. He was the second son of Francis I and Claude of Brittany, and became Dauphin of France after his older brother, Francis, died in 1536. As a child, Henry and his brother were taken hostage by Spain for over four years as part of a treaty exchange for their father. During his reign, Henry continued many of his father’s policies, including promoting the arts and engaging in the Italian Wars against the Habsburgs. He also sought to suppress the Protestant Reformation in France, although the number of Huguenots (French Protestants) grew significantly during his rule. In 1559, Henry signed the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis, which ended the long-running Italian Wars. Although France gave up its claims to Italian territories, it gained control of important areas like the Pale of Calais and the Three Bishoprics, which strengthened its borders. That same year, Henry was fatally injured in a jousting tournament, celebrating the peace treaty. His surgeon, Ambroise Paré, could not save him after a lance pierced his eye, and Henry died ten days later. Henry's death marked a period of instability for France. He left behind four sons, three of whom became kings, and his widow, Catherine de' Medici, who served as regent. However, the weak reigns of his sons and Catherine’s unpopular regency contributed to the outbreak of the French Wars of Religion between Catholics and Protestants. This period ultimately led to the decline of the Valois dynasty.
Francis I of France (September 12, 1494 – March 31, 1547) was a King of France and a member of the House of Valois. Birth. Francis was born in Cognac, France on September 12, 1494. His parents were Charles, Duke of Angoulême and Louise of Savoy. Marriage. Francis I married Claude of France on May 18, 1514. They had seven children, two died before turning eight, two died at the ages of eighteen to twenty-three. Those who lived to adulthood were: Art. Francis was very interested in art and liked the artist Leonardo da Vinci. Death. Francis died on March 31, 1547. He is buried in the Saint Denis Basilica.
Madeleine of Valois (10 August 1520 – 7 July 1537) was a French princess who briefly became Queen of Scotland as the first wife of King James V. Their marriage was part of the Treaty of Rouen, which aimed to strengthen the alliance between France and Scotland. Despite concerns about her poor health, Madeleine and James were married in January 1537 at Notre-Dame de Paris. After the wedding, Madeleine traveled to Scotland, but her health quickly worsened. Sadly, she passed away in July 1537, just six months after their marriage and less than two months after arriving in Scotland. Because of her short reign, she became known as the "Summer Queen.
The Muppets are puppet characters created by Jim Henson. The characters include Kermit the Frog and the Muppet cast of "Sesame Street". Jim Henson started work with the Muppets in the 1950s and continued until his death in 1990. The Muppets are known for an absurd burlesque and humorous style of variety-sketch comedy. The Muppets are now owned by The Muppets Studio and The Walt Disney Company. The term "muppet" is trademarked and owned by The Walt Disney Company. Muppets used in Sesame Street are still called muppets at times, and have special permission to use that name from The Walt Disney Company. Jim Henson said the name "muppet" came from combining the words "puppet" and "marionette," but he also said that he just liked the way the word sounded. Many of Jim Henson's muppets have large eyes, round noses, and large mouths that go from one end of the face to the other (almost ear to ear). Muppets are often made out of foam with felt on top. Puppeteers usually control the muppet with one hand in the head and the other hand controls the muppets arms. Sometimes the arms have a stick that is used to move the hand and arm - this is called the "arm rod." Puppeteers hold the arm rod at one end and the other end touches the muppet hand. Some muppets have hands that are gloves. Puppeteers put their hands in the gloves of these muppets so the muppet can move its fingers. For this reason, most muppets appear to favor their left hands. Media. Cast and characters in adaptations. Bill Barretta
Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 18594 June 1941) was the last reigning German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 until his abdication in 1918. Following the German Revolution, his reign ended the German Empire and the Hohenzollern dynasty's 300-year rule of Prussia. Biography. Early life and family. Wilhelm was born on 27 January 1859 and was the oldest child in his family. His father was Prince Frederick of Prussia. His mother was Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. He was born with a disabled left arm. He married in 1881 Augusta Victoria. He and his wife had seven children. He studied at the Kassel Gymnasium and then at the University of Bonn. Reign. He became leader of Germany in 1888, when his father died. He disagreed with his father's longtime chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, and dismissed him in 1890. Wilhelm believed in strengthening Germany’s armed forces, especially the navy. He led Germany during World War I. In November 9th, 1918, Wilhelm II stepped down from the throne, ending the German Empire.
Catherine de'Medici(13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was an Italian noblewoman from the powerful Medici family. She became Queen of France as the wife of King Henry II and was the mother of three French kings: Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. They were sometimes called "the age of Catherine de' Medici." Born in Florence, Italy, Catherine married Henry in 1533, arranged by her relative, Pope Clement VII. When Henry became king in 1547, Catherine was pushed aside by his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. But after Henry's death in 1559, Catherine took control as the mother of young King Francis II. After Francis died a year later, she became regent for her second son, Charles IX, and later helped her third son, Henry III, rule as king. During her time as queen and regent, France was troubled by wars between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots). At first, Catherine tried to make peace with the Protestants, but later turned to harsher measures. She is often blamed for the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572, when thousands of Protestants were killed, though it is unclear how much she was involved. Despite many difficulties, Catherine kept the French monarchy from collapsing. She was also a supporter of the arts and tried to improve the image of the monarchy through culture and building projects. Many historians consider her one of the most important women in Europe during the 16th century. Without her, the Valois family might not have stayed in power. Children. Catherine de' Medici married Henry, Duke of Orléans, who later became Henry II of France, on 28 October 1533 in Marseille. Together, they had ten children, of which four sons and three daughters survived to marry. Three of her sons became kings of France, while two daughters married kings and one married a duke. Catherine outlived all her children except Henry III, who died just seven months after her, and Margaret, who inherited her strong health. Among her children, Victoire and Jeanne were twin daughters born in 1556. Unfortunately, Jeanne was stillborn, and Victoire died shortly after birth. The birth nearly killed Catherine, and after this, doctors advised her and Henry to have no more children.
Francis II of France (January 19, 1544 – December 5, 1560) was a King of France and a member of the House of Valois. Birth. Francis was born in Fontainebleau, France, on January 19, 1544. His parents were Henry II of France and Catherine of Medici. Marriage. Francis was married to Mary, Queen of Scots, on April 24, 1558. They had no children. Death. Francis died in Orleans, France, on December 5, 1560 because of an ear infection. He is buried in the Saint Denis Basilica, next to King Charles IX of France.
Adela of Normandy (c. 1067 – c. 8 March 1137) was the daughter of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders. She was married to Stephen, Count of Blois between 1080 and 1084 and became the mother of: She lived long enough to see her son, Stephen, become King of England, but died soon afterwards.
Stephen I (6 June 1092 – 25 October 1154) was the King of England from 1135 until his death in 1154. He became the King after the death of his uncle Henry I. Stephen was the King until his own death in Dover. Stephen was crowned at Westminster Abbey on the 26 December 1135. Stephen is buried at the Clunaic Monastery in Faversham, Kent. Stephen was born in Blois, France, on 6 June 1092. He was the son of Stephen II, Count of Blois and Adela of Normandy. His mother, Adela, was the daughter of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders. Stephen married Matilda of Boulogne in about 1125. They had five children. He fought a civil war with Henry I's only daughter, Matilda, from 1139 to 1153. This ended with the Treaty of Wallingford in 1153 after the death of Stephen's son and heir, Eustace IV.  The treaty said that Stephen would be King for the rest of his lifetime. After his death, the throne passed to Henry, son of Matilda, and not Stephen's other son William. Stephen died in Dover, Kent on 25 October 1154, at the age of 62. Captured. King Stephen was captured after the Battle of Lincoln in April 1141, he was released later and returned to the throne.
Eleanor of Aquitaine (c. 1122 – March 31, 1204) was the daughter of William X of Aquitaine. She had a younger sister called Petronilla of Aquitaine. She brought the province of Aquitaine to England when she married Henry II of England. It stayed under English control for 300 years. Life. Eleanor inherited land in France at the age of 15. She married Louis VII of France on July 22, 1137, and had two daughters: The marriage was later annulled, as there were no male children. Eleanor then married Henry II of England on May 18, 1152, and had eight children, including: Eleanor was greatly known for her work in the Second Crusade, for she inspired many people to join. Eleanor supported a revolt by her children against their father's rule in 1173. This revolt was unsuccessful, and King Henry II was so angry that he locked her away in a prison. In 1189, after King Henry II died and her son, Richard, came to be the king, Eleanor was freed. Ten years later, in 1199, Richard died so she supported her youngest son John to take the English throne against the claim of her grandson Arthur of Brittany. In 1202 during the campaign at Mairebeau, she continued to oppose Arthur. Upon John’s ascension, Eleanor retired to Aquitaine, spending most of her remaining life at a monastery. She died there on April 1, 1204.
John also called John Lackland (24 December 1166 — 19 October 1216) was the King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. He was also the Lord of Ireland from 1177 to 1216 and the Duke of Aquitaine from 1204 to 1216. He was the youngest son and child of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.  As the youngest son, John was never expected to inherit the throne. However, when John's older brother King Richard I died childless in 1199, John took the throne.  John's reign was marked by disputes between the king and his barons and bishops. Because of this the nobles forced him to agree to Magna Carta, which limited his power. Magna Carta was a significant legal document in English history, as well as one of the first English “bills of rights”. It introduced the idea that monarchs had limited powers and had to follow certain laws. It gave the nobles more say in the government. It affected English government and inspired those of other countries. Some think John was not a good ruler. His father's empire, the Angevin Empire collapsed under his reign. It should be remembered that no-one had held both England and France since the Romans. When John lost his lands in France to King Philip II of France, some argued this was John's fault. It could be just a return to a more natural arrangement. The two countries have the Channel between them. Before he was king, John attempted to seize the throne for himself while his brother Richard was in captivity. Family history. As a young man, John already had a reputation for treachery. He conspired sometimes with and sometimes against his elder brothers, Henry, Richard and Geoffrey. In 1184, John and Richard both claimed that they were the rightful heir to Aquitaine, one of many unfriendly encounters between the two. Richard's absence. King Richard I was absent on the Third Crusade from 1190 to 1194. John attempted to overthrow William de Longchamp, the Bishop of Ely who was the Regent of England while