Unknown facts from the lives of famous people. Interesting facts from the lives of famous people. If a person is talented, then he is talented in everything
The Russian Federation is a great state, occupying first place on the planet in terms of territory and national wealth. However, its main pride is its outstanding citizens who have left a noticeable mark on history. Our country has raised a huge number of famous scientists, politicians, military leaders, athletes and artists of world renown. Their achievements allowed Russia to occupy one of the leading positions in the list of superpowers on the planet.
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Who are they, outstanding citizens of Russia? The list can be continued endlessly, because every period in the history of our Fatherland has its great people who became famous in different areas activities. Among the most prominent personalities who, to one degree or another, influenced the course of both Russian and world history, it is worth mentioning the following:
- Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky.
- Peter the Great.
- Alexander Suvorov.
- Mikhail Lomonosov.
- Dmitriy Mendeleev.
- Yuri Gagarin.
- Andrey Sakharov.
Minin and Pozharsky
The outstanding citizen of Russia Kuzma Minin and his equally famous contemporary Prince Dmitry Pozharsky went down in history as the liberators of Russian lands from Polish invaders. IN early XVII century, the Time of Troubles began in the Russian state. The crisis, which engulfed many areas of life, was aggravated by the presence of impostors on the capital’s throne. In Moscow, Smolensk and a number of other cities, the Polish gentry ruled in full swing, and the western borders of the country were occupied by Swedish troops.
In order to drive out foreign invaders from Russian lands and liberate the country, the clergy called on the population to create a people's militia and liberate the capital from the Poles. The Novgorod zemstvo elder Kuzma Minin (Sukhoruk), who, although not of noble origin, responded to the call, but was a true patriot of his Motherland. Behind a short time he managed to gather an army from the residents of Nizhny Novgorod. Prince Dmitry Pozharsky from the Rurik family agreed to head it.
Gradually, residents of surrounding cities, dissatisfied with the dominance of the Polish gentry in Moscow, began to join the people's militia of Nizhny Novgorod. By the fall of 1612, the army of Minin and Pozharsky numbered about 10 thousand people. At the beginning of November 1612, the Nizhny Novgorod militia managed to expel the Poles from the capital and force them to sign an act of surrender. The successful operation was made possible thanks to the skillful actions of Minin and Pozharsky. In 1818, the memory of the heroic liberators of Moscow was immortalized by the sculptor I. Martos in a monument erected on Red Square.
Peter the First
The significance of the reign of Peter I, nicknamed the Great State for his services to the state, is difficult to overestimate. An outstanding citizen of Russia, Peter the Great was on the throne for 43 years, coming to power at the age of 17. He turned the country into the greatest empire, founded the city of Petersburg on the Neva and moved the capital to it from Moscow, carried out a number of successful military campaigns, thanks to which he significantly expanded the borders of the state. Peter The great one began trade with Europe, founded the Academy of Sciences, opened many educational institutions, introduced compulsory study foreign languages, forced representatives of the noble classes to wear secular attire.
The significance of the reign of Peter I for Russia
The sovereign's reforms strengthened the economy and science, contributed to the development of the army and navy. His successful domestic and foreign policies became the basis for the further growth and development of the state. Voltaire highly appreciated the internal transformations of Russia in Peter's times. He wrote that the Russian people managed to achieve in half a century what other nations could not achieve in 500 years of their existence.
A. V. Suvorov
The second most outstanding citizen of Russia half of the XVIII centuries - this is certainly great commander, Generalissimo of the Russian Land and naval forces Alexander Suvorov. This talented military leader fought more than 60 major battles and was not defeated in any of them. The army under the command of Suvorov managed to win even in cases where the enemy forces significantly outnumbered it. The commander took part in Russian-Turkish wars 1768-1774 and 1787-1791, brilliantly commanded Russian troops during the storming of Prague in 1794, and in the last years of his life he led the Italian and Swiss campaigns.
In battles, Suvorov used combat tactics that he personally developed, which were significantly ahead of their time. He did not recognize military drill and instilled in his soldiers a love for the Fatherland, considering it the key to victory in any battle. The legendary commander made sure that during military campaigns his army was provided with everything necessary. He heroically shared all the hardships with the soldiers, thanks to which he enjoyed great authority and respect among them. For his victories, Suvorov was awarded all the high military awards existing in his time in the Russian Empire. In addition, he was a holder of seven foreign orders.
M. V. Lomonosov
Outstanding citizens of Russia glorified their country not only in the art of statecraft or military tactics. Mikhail Lomonosov belongs to the cohort of the greatest Russian scientists who made a huge contribution to the development of world science. Born into a poor family and unable to receive a decent education, he early childhood He was highly intelligent and thirsty for knowledge. Lomonosov's desire for science was so strong that at the age of 19 he left his village, walked to Moscow and entered the Slavic-Greco-Roman Academy. This was followed by studies at St. Petersburg University at the Academy of Sciences. To improve his knowledge of the natural sciences, Mikhail was sent to Europe. At 34, the young scientist became an academician.
Without exaggeration, Lomonosov can be considered a universal person. He had brilliant knowledge of chemistry, physics, geography, astronomy, geology, metallurgy, history, and genealogy. In addition, the scientist was an excellent poet, writer and artist. Lomonosov made many discoveries in physics, chemistry and astronomy, and became the founder of the science of glass. He owns the project for the creation of Moscow University, which was later named after him.
D. I. Mendeleev
The world-famous chemist Dmitry Mendeleev is the pride of Russia. Having been born in Tobolsk in the family of a gymnasium director, he had no barriers to receiving an education. At the age of 21, young Mendeleev graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the St. Petersburg Pedagogical Institute with a gold medal. A few months later, he defended his dissertation for the right to lecture and began teaching practice. At the age of 23, Mendeleev was awarded a master's degree in chemistry. From this age he began teaching at the Imperial University of St. Petersburg. At 31 he becomes a professor chemical technology, and after 2 years - professor of general chemistry.
Worldwide fame of the great chemist
In 1869, at the age of 35, Dmitry Mendeleev made a discovery that made him famous throughout the world. We are talking about the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. It became the basis for all modern chemistry. Attempts to systematize elements by properties and atomic weight were made before Mendeleev, but he was the first who managed to clearly formulate the pattern existing between them.
The periodic table is not the only achievement of the scientist. He wrote many fundamental works on chemistry and initiated the creation of the Chamber of Weights and Measures in St. Petersburg. D.I. Mendeleev was a holder of eight honorary orders of the Russian Empire and foreign countries. He was awarded a doctorate from the Turin Academy of Sciences, Oxford, Cambridge, Priston, Edinburgh and Göttingen universities. Mendeleev's scientific authority was so high that he was nominated for the Nobel Prize three times. Unfortunately, the winners of this prestigious international award were different scientists each time. However, this fact does not in any way diminish the merits of the famous chemist to the Fatherland.
Yu. A. Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin is a prominent citizen of Soviet-era Russia. April 12, 1961 on spaceship Vostok-1 was the first time in the history of mankind that it flew into space. Having spent 108 minutes in Earth's orbit, the cosmonaut returned to the planet as an international hero. Even world movie stars could envy Gagarin’s popularity. He made official visits to more than 30 foreign countries and traveled throughout the USSR.
Outstanding Russian citizen Yuri Gagarin was awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union and the highest insignia of many countries. He was preparing for a new space flight, but a plane crash that happened in March 1968 in the Vladimir region tragically cut short his life. Having lived only 34 years, Gagarin became one of the greatest people XX century. Streets and squares are named after him in all major cities Russia and the CIS countries, monuments to him have been erected in many foreign countries. In honor of Yuri Gagarin's flight, International Cosmonautics Day is celebrated all over the world on April 12.
A. D. Sakharov
In addition to Gagarin, there were many other outstanding Russian citizens in the Soviet Union. The USSR became famous throughout the world thanks to academician Andrei Sakharov, who made an invaluable contribution to the development of physics. In 1949, together with Yu. Khariton, he developed a project for a hydrogen bomb - the first Soviet thermonuclear weapons. In addition, Sakharov conducted a lot of research on magnetic hydrodynamics, gravity, astrophysics, and plasma physics. In the mid-70s, he predicted the emergence of the Internet. In 1975, the academician was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In addition to science, Sakharov was engaged in active human rights activities, for which he fell out of favor with the Soviet leadership. In 1980, he was stripped of all titles and highest awards, after which he was deported from Moscow to Gorky. After the start of Perestroika, Sakharov was allowed to return to the capital. Last years Throughout his life, he continued to engage in scientific activities, and was also elected as a deputy of the Supreme Council. In 1989, the scientist worked on a new project Soviet constitution, which proclaimed the right of peoples to statehood, but sudden death did not allow him to complete the work he had started.
Outstanding citizens of Russia of the 21st century
Today in our country there live a huge number of people who glorify it in politics, science, art and other fields of activity. The most famous scientists of our time are physicists Mikhail Allenov and Valery Rachkov, urbanist Denis Vizgalov, historian Vyacheslav Vorobyov, economist Nadezhda Kosareva, etc. Outstanding artists of the 21st century include artists Ilya Glazunov and Alena Azernaya, conductors Valery Gergiev and Yuri Bashmet, opera singers Dmitry Hvorostovsky and Anna Netrebko, actors Sergei Bezrukov and Konstantin Khabensky, directors Nikita Mikhalkov and Timur Bekmambetov and others. Well, the most outstanding politician in Russia today is its President, Vladimir Putin.
Interesting stories from life famous of people .
the site believes that each of us can become a famous person, the main thing is to always believe in yourself and move forward. We have collected stories and facts from life famous people all over the world.
The Roman Emperor Julius Caesar always wore a laurel wreath on his head to hide his progressive baldness.
To the Great Khan Mongol Empire Genghis Khan died while having sex.
And the author of the stories about Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, was an ophthalmologist by profession.
The creator of Mickey Mouse, the famous Walt Disney, was afraid of mice all his life.
The famous Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh sold only one of his works during his lifetime - Red Vineyard at Arles.
And the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart began composing music at the age of 3. Over 35 years, Mozart created over 600 works. But after his death, his widow did not even have money for a separate place in the cemetery.
Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein did not speak a word until he was 3 years old, but by the age of 12 he understood Euclidean geometry.
The German poet, statesman, thinker and naturalist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once tasted Franconian wine from Bavaria, and was so impressed that from then on he demanded that 900 Franconian liters be sent to him per year.
Many of Remarque’s characters, like himself, prefer Norman apple brandy to Calvados.
Macedonian king from the Argead dynasty, commander Alexander the Great? knew 30,000 soldiers of his army by sight.
On May 24, 2000, the Clay Mathematics Institute (Cambridge, USA) offers a million dollars for solving each of the seven mathematical “millennium problems”, including the Poincaré conjecture, formulated in 1904. November 1, 2002 Russian mathematician Grigory Perelman publishes on the website of the mathematical archive the first of three articles, based on the results of which he will be recognized as a scientist who has conquered one of the most difficult problems of topology. In March 2010, the Clay Institute awarded Perelman a million-dollar prize. On July 1, 2010, Perelman refused the prize, just as he had previously rejected the “mathematical Nobel” - the Fields Medal. The refusal is explained on ethical grounds: Perelman believes that he owes his success to the mathematician Hamilton, on whose work he relied.
Literary success came to I. Goncharov only at the age of 40.
And the English physicist, mathematician, mechanic and astronomer Isaac Newton wrote the preface to his works when he was 72 years old.
The Ser-Russian empress from 1762 to 1796, Catherine the Great (Catherine II), loved beer. It was for her that the British brewed especially strong beer - so that it would not spoil on the road. This type of beer is called “Russian stout”. It is not pasteurized, but matures in barrels for 2 months, after which it is aged in bottles for a whole year.
The German historian Theodor Mommsen once rummaged through all his pockets to find glasses. The little girl sitting next to him handed them to him. “Thank you, baby,” Mommsen said, “What’s your name?” “Anna Mommsen, dad,” the girl answered.
T pack Shakur is an American rapper, film actor and public figure.
He entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful hip-hop artist, having sold a total of more than 75 million copies of his albums.
The late Tupac Shakur is the first member of the hip-hop world to be honored with a monument. The seven-foot bronze statue of the hero of black America was unveiled on September 13, 2005 at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
One day, young Thomas Edison returned home from school and gave his mother a letter from his teacher.
The mother read the letter out loud to her son, with tears in her eyes: “Your son is a genius. This and the school is too small, and there are no teachers here who can teach him anything. Please teach it yourself.”
Many years after the death of his mother (Edison by that time was already one of the greatest inventors of the century), he once reviewed old family archives and came across this letter.
He opened it and read:
“Your son is mentally retarded. We can no longer teach him at school with everyone else. Therefore, we recommend that you teach it yourself at home.”
Edison cried for several hours. Then he wrote in his diary: “Thomas Alva Edison was a mentally retarded child.
Thanks to his heroic mother, he became one of the greatest geniuses of his age.”
The sculptor Lina Po, completely deprived of sight, created more than a hundred wonderful works by touch.
The influential 16th-century statesman and philosopher Francis Bacon died because he stuffed a gutted chicken with snow (it occurred to him that snow could be used instead of salt to preserve meat, and he tried to test his theory). As a result of the experiment, the chicken did not freeze, but Bacon himself froze.
King Solomon had about 700 wives in Israel, as well as hundreds of mistresses.
Justin Timberlake is afraid of spiders.
In 1972, a young Indian wrote to John Lennon that he had a dream to accomplish trip around the world, but there is no money, and asked to send the necessary amount. Lennon replied: “Meditate and you can see the whole world in your mind.” In 1995, an Indian man, having sold Lennon's letter at auction, set off on a trip around the world.
Einstein adored Charlie Chaplin's films and had great sympathy for both him and his touching characters. One day he sent Chaplin a telegram:
“Your film “Gold Rush” is understood by everyone in the world, and I am sure that you will become a great person. Einstein.”
Chaplin replied:
“I admire you even more. Nobody in the world understands your theory of relativity, but you still became a great man.
Chaplin."
Charles Dickens always slept with his head to the north. He thought it would improve his writing skills.
The house where Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence now sells hamburgers.
Marilyn Monroe's used bra sold at auction for $14,000.
During the reign of Elizabeth I, there was a tax on men's beards.
The national flag of Italy was designed by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Tesla had neither his own house nor apartment - only a laboratory and land. The great inventor usually spent the night right in the laboratory or in hotels in New York. Tesla never married. According to him, a solitary lifestyle helped the development of his scientific abilities.
The myth that Marilyn Monroe had six toes on her left foot arose from one photograph. Photographer Joseph Jagura photographed young Norma Jeane in 1946 at Zuma Beach. In one photo, due to the accumulation of sand that stuck to her foot, it appears that the actress has six toes.
The father of Russian aviation, Zhukovsky, once, after talking the whole evening with friends in his own living room, suddenly got up, looking for his hat, and began to hastily say goodbye, muttering: However, I stayed too long with you, it’s time to go home!
Briefly about famous people (part 1) updated: February 26, 2017 by: website
Once, Henry Ford, while traveling in his company's compact car, saw on the road exactly the same car with a bad engine.
He immediately provided the unknown motorist with the necessary assistance: he supplied him with spare parts and adjusted the engine. When the grateful owner of the stuck car handed over five dollars, Ford smiled: “No, no, no money needed. Things are going well for me as it is.” “I don’t really believe it, sir! - he answered. “If you succeeded in business, you wouldn’t be shaking in a pathetic Ford car...”
Galileo Galilei spent his wedding night reading a book. Noticing that it was already dawn, he went to the bedroom, but immediately came out and asked the servant: “Who is lying in my bed?” “Your wife, sir,” answered the servant. Galileo completely forgot that he got married.
The German mathematician Peter Gustav Dirichlet was very taciturn. When his son was born, he sent his father-in-law a telegram, perhaps the shortest in the history of the telegraph: “2 + 1 = 3.”
The outstanding American scientist Thomas Edison, author of many inventions in the fields of electrical engineering and communications, film technology and telephony, chemistry and mining, military equipment, never worked without an assistant. For a long time Edison was assisted in conducting laboratory experiments and demonstrating new technology by one of his assistants, a former simple sailor. When he was asked a question about how Edison made his inventions, he was sincerely surprised every time: “I can’t imagine it myself. After all, I do everything for him, and Edison only frowns and makes comments about me. And in general: I work, and he rests!”
Once Voltaire was invited to a dinner party. When everyone was seated, it turned out that the maestro found himself between two grumpy gentlemen. Having drunk well, Voltaire’s neighbors began to argue about how to properly address the servants: “Bring me some water!” or “Give me some water!” Voltaire unwittingly found himself right in the middle of this controversy. Finally, tired of this disgrace, the maestro could not stand it and said: “Gentlemen, both of these expressions are inapplicable to you!” You should both say, “Take me to water!”
While traveling around France, Mark Twain traveled by train to the city of Dijon. The train was passing, and he asked to wake him up on time. At the same time, the writer said to the conductor: “I sleep very soundly.” When you wake me up, maybe I will scream. So ignore it and be sure to drop me off in Dijon. When Mark Twain woke up, it was already morning, and the train was approaching Paris. The writer realized that he had passed through Dijon and became very angry. He ran to the conductor and began to reprimand him. - I have never been as angry as I am now! - he shouted. “You are not as angry as the American whom I dropped off in Dijon at night,” answered the guide.
After the first telegram from Europe to America was successfully transmitted, Alexander Stepanovich Popov made another report in one of the capital's clubs about his invention of a wireless telegraph system. Representatives of the royal court were present in the audience in the hall, some of them were very skeptical about Popov’s message. Thus, one of the high society ladies, not understanding a word from the report, turned to Popov with what she thought was a tricky question: “However, how do you still explain that this is a telegram as it passes through the ocean, from continent to continent?” , didn’t drown and didn’t even get wet?” Alexander Stepanovich just shrugged his shoulders, and the lady, looking around, smiled smugly.
At the closing ceremony of the 1896 automobile exhibition in Paris French physicist and electrical engineer Marcel Despres proposed a toast to the future car, which will reach a speed of 60 kilometers per hour. In response, one then famous car designer responded dissatisfiedly: “Why is there always someone who will ruin the whole celebration with his stupid predictions!”
One day, an acquaintance of Alexander Pushkin, officer Kondyba, asked the poet if he could come up with a rhyme for the words “cancer” and “fish”. Pushkin replied: “Fool Kondyba!” The officer was embarrassed and suggested making a rhyme for the combination “fish and cancer.” Pushkin was not at a loss here either: “Kondyba is a fool.”
“There is no great man for a servant.” An interesting confirmation of this old rule was the opinion of an old gardener who served Charles Darwin for several decades. He treated the famous naturalist with love, but had a “minimal opinion” about his abilities: “Good old gentleman, it’s just a pity that he can’t find a worthwhile occupation for himself. Judge for yourself: he stands for several minutes, staring at some flower. Well, would a person who has some serious occupation do this?
Once, speaking at a debate on proletarian internationalism at the Polytechnic Institute, Vladimir Mayakovsky said: “Among Russians, I feel like a Russian, among Georgians, a Georgian...” “And among fools?” - suddenly someone shouted from the hall. “And this is my first time among fools,” Mayakovsky answered instantly.
The English theoretical physicist Paul Dirac married Wigner's sister. Soon an acquaintance came to visit him, who still knew nothing about the event. In the midst of their conversation, a young woman entered the room, calling Dirac by name, pouring tea and generally acting like the mistress of the house. After some time, Dirac noticed the guest’s embarrassment and, slapping himself on the forehead, exclaimed: “Sorry, please, I forgot to introduce you - this is... Wigner’s sister!”
Bernard Shaw, already a famous writer, once collided with a cyclist on the road. Fortunately, both escaped with only fright. The cyclist began to apologize, but Shaw objected: “You're out of luck, sir!” A little more energy - and you would deserve immortality as my killer.
One day a very fat man said to the skinny Bernard Shaw: “You look as if your family were starving.” - And to look at you, one might think that you are the cause of this disaster.
The Prussian King Frederick II, considering himself an erudite man, loved to talk with members of his Academy of Sciences, sometimes asking the most ridiculous questions during these conversations. He once asked academics: “Why does a glass filled with champagne produce a clearer sound than a glass filled with Burgundy?” Professor Sulzer, on behalf of all the academicians present, replied: “Members of the Academy of Sciences, with the low content assigned to them by Your Majesty, are unfortunately deprived of the opportunity to carry out such experiments.”
Once Ilf and Petrov were asked if they had to write under a pseudonym. To which they replied: “Of course, Ilf sometimes signed himself Petrov, and Petrov Ilf.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as a joke, chose the addresses of 12 of the largest London bankers, who enjoy the reputation of exceptionally honest and respectable people, and sent each of them a telegram with the following content: “Everything has come out. Hide." The next day, all 12 bankers disappeared from London. By the fact of their flight, they all recognized the criminal and antisocial nature of their activities.
Alexandre Dumas once dined with famous doctor Gistal, who asked the writer to write something in his guest book. Dumas wrote: “Since Dr. Gistal is treating entire families, the hospital needs to be closed.” The doctor exclaimed: “You flatter me!” Then Dumas added: “And build two cemeteries...”
Guy de Maupassant worked for some time as an official in the ministry. A few years later, in the archives of the ministry they found a description of Maupassant: “A diligent official, but he writes poorly.”
In 1972, a young Indian wrote to John Lennon that he had a dream to travel around the world, but had no money, and asked him to send the necessary amount. Lennon replied: “Meditate and you can see the whole world in your mind.” In 1995, the Indian nevertheless went on a trip around the world. He received the required amount by auctioning Lennon's letter.
Once, a customs officer, inspecting the luggage of the British playwright, poet and writer Oscar Wilde, who was widely known for his wit, arrived in New York, asked the distinguished guest if he had jewelry and art objects with him that needed to be included in the declaration. “Nothing but my genius,” answered Oscar Wilde.
When the current heir to the British crown, Prince Charles, studied at Cambridge, a bodyguard went with him to all classes. The Cambridge education system allowed the bodyguard to participate in discussion and debate. And at the end of the training, the teachers asked him to take exams. As a result, the bodyguard scored more points than the prince himself and also received a diploma.
Once at a reception, Charlie Chaplin performed a very complex opera aria for the assembled guests. When he finished, one of the guests exclaimed: “Amazing!” I had no idea that you sing so wonderfully. “Not at all,” Chaplin smiled, “I never knew how to sing.” I was simply imitating now the famous tenor whom I heard at the opera.
While Vladimir Vysotsky was vacationing in Sochi, thieves looked into his hotel room. Along with their belongings and clothes, they took all the documents and even the key to the Moscow apartment. Having discovered the loss, Vysotsky went to the nearest police station, wrote a statement, and they promised to help him. But no help was needed. When he returned to the room, the stolen things and a note were already lying there: “Sorry, Vladimir Semenovich, we didn’t know whose things these were. Unfortunately, we have already sold the jeans, but we are returning the jacket and documents safe and sound.”
I found the photo on the Internet
Facts fill our lives, they are everywhere! How more facts are revealed to us, the more educated and erudite we become. And this is also a fact! This article contains several interesting and surprising moments in the lives of famous people that not many people know about.
Actor Woody Harrelson's father was a hitman
U famous people there are often famous parents, but not all of them became famous thanks to good deeds. Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson's father was notorious criminal Charles W. Harrelson, who was sentenced to two life sentences for the murder of federal judge Jonathan Wood.
Subsequently, his son often visited Charles in prison, and, according to him, he was a well-read and educated man. Woody even tried to challenge the court's decision, but he failed.
Interesting fact: Charles Harrelson for some reason claimed that he was involved in the assassination of Kennedy, but later retracted his words. Conspiracy theorists still believe Charles Harrelson was one of the suspicious tramps found near the murder scene, but this is nothing more than speculation.
Duchess Margaret of Maultasch was not “the ugliest woman in the world”
According to popular belief, the 14th-century Countess of Tyrol and Duchess of Bavaria, Margarete Maultasch, is considered “the ugliest woman in history.” The “proof” of this statement is often the portrait that you now see in front of you, and Margarita’s very nickname. It is only one letter different from the German word Maultasche - “dumpling”, or literally “mouth-wallet”.
However, some researchers believe that the word “maultash” did not denote the duchess’s ugly appearance, but came from the name of her castle in South Tyrol. As for the portrait, it was painted by the Flemish painter Quentin Masseys in the 16th century and is a caricature.
If we look at other images of Margarita, including the lifetime one on her personal seal, then we will see, although not a written beauty, but quite attractive woman with a good figure.
So where did the myth of the “ugliest woman in history” come from? The fact is that Margarita dared to take an impudence unheard of at that time: she kicked out her disgusted husband, whom she was married to at the age of 11, and became the wife of her loved one.
Margarita Maultash simply did not let her first husband Johann Heinrich (he is on the left) go home to the castle when he returned from hunting. Apparently, the husband did not use great love not only from his wife, but also from the citizens of Tyrol, since they all refused him shelter.
The disgruntled Johann found support from the Patriarch of Aquileia, as a result of which Margarita and her new husband Ludwig of Bavaria (he is on the right in the picture) were excommunicated from the church for a long time, and ridiculous rumors began to circulate about the duchess.
Marie Antoinette ordered a village to be built for herself, in which she could lead the life of a “commoner”
The brilliant atmosphere of Versailles and the need to observe court etiquette had a depressing effect on the queen, so as an outlet she ordered a tiny village to be built for herself not far from the Petit Trianon palace with a mill, a farm, a dovecote, a pond and a cottage, which was much more comfortable than the palace chambers. All this reminded Marie Antoinette of her childhood, which passed in the gardens of the Vienna palace, where she played with her relatives, governesses and dogs.
In her personal village, the queen dressed up as an ordinary shepherdess or milkmaid and walked with her children and closest friends, and it seems that it was there that she was truly happy. After the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette's village was abandoned, but has now been restored and is open to the public.
Abraham Lincoln gave a speech so impressive that no journalist could record it.
On May 29, 1856, in Bloomington, Illinois, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that is traditionally considered lost, since all the reporters present at this event were literally hypnotized by the words of the future president (Lincoln became him in 1861) and simply forgot to write it down at least one word. We have no doubt at all about the oratorical talent of “Uncle Abe,” but, you must admit, it still sounds implausible.
There is another version, according to which the text was deliberately lost, since Lincoln’s speech was filled with a passionate condemnation of slavery, the abolition of which, alas, not everyone was in favor of at that time. Nevertheless, the “lost speech” made a huge impression on the audience, and in honor of this event a memorial plaque was subsequently erected, which still exists today.
Queen Victoria's best friend was groom John Brown
Britain's Queen Victoria is a rare exception among monarchs (at least in earlier times) for the reason that she married for love and continued to adore her husband, Prince Albert, throughout her life. Do I need to explain that his early death was a severe blow for her?
And who knows how she would have survived this event if not for the support of the queen’s best friend. He was the Scottish groom John Brown, who, like his relatives, faithfully served the queen at Balmoral Castle. Walks and conversations with John helped Victoria recover from the loss, although she never lifted her mourning for Albert until the end of her life.
Of course, evil tongues immediately ridiculed the relationship, which, according to Queen Victoria herself, was a warm and loving friendship. Sargent caricatures like the one you see now appeared, and the Queen began to be called “Mrs. Brown” behind her back.
Be that as it may, Victoria was strongly attached to John Brown and valued him highly, because after his death she ordered the erection of a statue in his honor, which was done. It is believed that before her death, the queen bequeathed to bury her with a portrait of her beloved husband Albert in one hand and a portrait of her best friend John in the other.
The story of Victoria and John Brown was filmed in 1997, and 10 years later another film called “Victoria and Abdul” was released. It tells about the queen’s relationship with another “favorite,” whose name was Abdul Karim.
As would be expected, this friendship was also condemned, although it is known for certain that the queen signed her letters to the handsome young man as “your loving mother.”
Composer Arnold Schoenberg was so afraid of the number 13 that he called it “12a.” He died on July 13 at 13 minutes before midnight
The founder of the new Viennese school of composer Arnold Schoenberg (pictured with his wife Gertrude and daughter Nuria) had a rare phobia - fear of the number 13, or triskaidekaphobia. Schoenberg was born on the 13th and all his life he considered this number a bad omen.
As we have already mentioned, the composer renamed 13 to 12a, and the same fate befell his last opera, which Schoenberg called "Moses und Aron" instead of "Moses and Aaron" (only for so that the number of letters in the name does not amount to 13.
And yet, the last day of Arnold Schoenberg’s life was precisely the fatal date. On July 13, 1951, he lay in bed all day, feeling his death approaching. The wife tried to persuade the composer to “stop this nonsense” and get up, but he refused, and at 11:47 pm he actually died, having previously uttered the word “harmony.”
Winston Churchill loved animals, and one of his pets was a lion
The British Prime Minister was a great animal lover. At various times, Churchill had cats Nelson and Jock, a poodle Rufus, a bulldog Dodo, as well as cows, pigs, fish, butterflies, swans and other pets.
But perhaps the most unusual of the pets was a lion named Rota, who was presented to the prime minister as a gift as a kitten, and after some time he wisely identified the growing king of animals as London Zoo. Rota grew up and became the father of 4 lion cubs, and Churchill visited him at the zoo and fed him meat with his own hands.
Pablo Escobar was photographed in front of the White House in the USA
Drug lord Escobar was not always on the run. In 1981, he visited the United States quite legally and even took pictures with his son Juan Pablo in front of the White House in Washington. This photograph was taken by Pablo's wife Maria Victoria, and was first shown in the film "Sins of My Father", based on the book by Juan Pablo Escobar, who officially changed his name to Sebastian Marroquín and now lives in Argentina.
Steve Jobs rarely showered because he believed his diet suppressed body odors. He was wrong
Every person has their own quirks, and great people are no exception. According to the recollections of colleagues who worked with Steve Jobs at Atari, he believed that his plant-based diet prevented the appearance of sweat odor, and, accordingly, it was no longer necessary to take a shower every day. But Jobs was wrong. And so much so that the company quickly transferred him to the night shift, where there was no one especially to complain about the unpleasant smell.
Princess Diana stopped wearing Chanel after her divorce from Prince Charles for a very personal reason
As designer Jayson Brunsdon said, after her divorce from Charles, Lady Di refused to wear shoes and possibly other things from Chanel, because the logo of this brand reminded Diana of her unfaithful husband and rival Camilla Parker-Bowles (you see her in the photo next to Diana).
The letters on the CC logo - the initials of Coco Chanel - turned into "Camilla & Charles" for Diana. It is unknown whether she subsequently changed her mind, but Brunsdon assures that Lady Di had nothing against the brand itself, she simply could not see those unfortunate letters CC.
Who do you consider the most worthy example and inspiration for yourself personally? Martin Luther King Jr., Yuri Gagarin or maybe your grandfather? Our world took several millennia to form, and many historical figures took part in this difficult process, who made their invaluable contribution to science, culture and many other spheres of life, both in their countries and in all of humanity. It is very difficult and almost impossible to select those whose influence was most significant. However, the authors of this list still decided to try and collect in one publication the most inspiring personalities in the history of world civilizations. Some of them are known to everyone, others are not known to everyone, but they all have one thing in common - these people changed our world for the better. From the Dalai Lama to Charles Darwin, here are 25 of the most outstanding figures in history!
25. Charles Darwin
A famous British traveler, naturalist, geologist and biologist, Charles Darwin is most famous for his theory, which changed the understanding of human nature and the development of the world in all its diversity. Theory of evolution and natural selection Darwin's theory suggests that all species, including humans, are descended from common ancestors, a concept that shocked the scientific community in its time. Darwin published The Theory of Evolution with some examples and evidence in his revolutionary book On the Origin of Species in 1859, and since then our world and the way we understand it have changed greatly.
24. Tim Berners-Lee
Photo: Paul Clarke
Tim Berners-Lee is a British engineer, inventor and computer scientist best known as the creator of the World Wide Web. Sometimes called the "Father of the Internet", Berners-Lee developed the first hypertext web browser, web server and web editor. The technologies of this outstanding scientist spread worldwide and forever changed the way information is generated and processed.
23. Nicholas Winton
Photo: cs:User:Li-sung
Nicholas Winton was a British philanthropist, and since the late 1980s he has become best known for smuggling 669 Jewish children out of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia just before World War II. Winton transported all these children to British orphanages, and some of them even managed to be placed in families, which definitely saved them all from inevitable death in concentration camps or during the bombings. The philanthropist organized as many as 8 trains from Prague and also took children out of Vienna, but using other modes of transport. The Englishman never sought fame, and for 49 years he kept his heroic deed a secret. In 1988, Winton’s wife discovered a notebook with notes from 1939 and the addresses of the families who took in young Salvationists. Since then, recognition, orders and awards have fallen upon him. Nicholas Winton died at the age of 106 in 2015.
22. Buddha Shakyamuni (Gautama Buddha)
Photo: Max Pixel
Also known as Siddhartha Gautama (from birth), Tathagata (the comer) or Bhagavan (the blessed one), Shakyamuni Buddha (the awakened sage of the Shakya lineage) was the spiritual leader and founder of Buddhism, one of the world's three leading religions. Buddha was born in the 6th century BC in royal family and lived in absolute isolation and luxury. As the prince grew older, he left his family and all his property to plunge into self-discovery and seek to rid humanity of suffering. After several years of meditation and contemplation, Gautama achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha. Through his teachings, Shakyamuni Buddha influenced the lives of millions of people around the world.
21. Rosa Parks
Photo: wikimedia commons
Also known as the "First Lady of Civil Rights" and the "Mother of the Freedom Movement," Rosa Parks was a true pioneer and founder of the black civil rights movement in 1950s Alabama, which was still heavily segregated by race. In 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a courageous African-American woman and passionate civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, disobeying the driver's orders. Her rebellious act provoked other blacks into what was later called the legendary "Montgomery Bus Boycott." This boycott lasted 381 days and became one of the key events in the history of the black civil rights movement in the United States.
20. Henry Dunant
Photo: ICRC
A successful Swiss entrepreneur and active public figure, Henri Dunant became the first person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. During a business trip in 1859, Dunant encountered the terrible consequences of the Battle of Solferino (Italy), where the troops of Napoleon, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Austrian Empire under the leadership of Franz Joseph I clashed, and the troops were left to die on the battlefield almost 9 thousand wounded. In 1863, in response to the horrors of war and the brutality of the battle he saw, the entrepreneur founded the well-known International Committee of the Red Cross. The Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, adopted in 1864, was also based on ideas expressed by Henri Dunant.
19. Simon Bolivar
Photo: wikimedia commons
Also known as the Libertador (El Libertador), Simon Bolivar was a prominent Venezuelan military and political leader who played key role in the liberation from Spanish domination of as many as 6 countries of South and Central America - Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama. Bolivar was born into a wealthy aristocratic family, but he devoted most of his life to military campaigns and the fight for the independence of the Spanish colonies in America. The country of Bolivia, by the way, was named in honor of this hero and liberator.
18. Albert Einstein
Photo: wikimedia commons
Albert Einstein is one of the most respected and influential scientists of all time. This outstanding theoretical physicist, Nobel laureate and public figure-humanist gave the world over 300 scientific works on physics and about 150 books and articles on history, philosophy and others humanitarian areas. His whole life was full of interesting research, revolutionary ideas and theories, which later became fundamental for modern science. Einstein was most glorified by the Theory of Relativity, and thanks to this work he became one of greatest personalities in the history of mankind. Even after almost a century, this Theory continues to influence the thinking of the modern scientific community working to create a Theory of Everything (or Unified Field Theory).
17. Leonardo da Vinci
Photo: wikimedia commons
It is difficult to describe and list all the areas in which Leonardo da Vinci, the man who changed the whole world by its very existence. Over the course of his entire life, this Italian genius of the Renaissance managed to achieve unprecedented heights in painting, architecture, music, mathematics, anatomy, engineering, and many other areas. Da Vinci is recognized as one of the most versatile and talented people to ever live on our planet, and he is the author of such revolutionary inventions as the parachute, helicopter, tank and scissors.
16. Christopher Columbus
Photo: wikimedia commons
The famous Italian explorer, traveler and colonizer, Christopher Columbus was not the first European to sail to America (after all, the Vikings had been here before him). However, his voyages gave rise to an entire era of the most outstanding discoveries, conquests and colonizations, which continued for several centuries after his death. Columbus's travels to the New World greatly influenced the development of geography of those times, because at the beginning of the 15th century people still believed that the Earth was flat and that there were no more lands beyond the Atlantic.
15. Martin Luther King Jr.
Photo: wikimedia commons
This is one of the most influential personalities of the 20th century. Martin Luther King Jr. is best known for his peaceful movement against discrimination, racial segregation and for the civil rights of black Americans, for which he even received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Martin Luther King was a Baptist preacher and powerful speaker who inspired millions of people around the world to fight for democratic freedoms and their rights. He played a key role in promoting civil rights through peaceful protests based on the Christian faith and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.
14. Bill Gates
Photo: DFID – UK Department for International Development
The founder of the legendary multinational company Microsoft, Bill Gates was considered the richest person in the world for almost 20 years. Recently, however, Gates has become known primarily as a generous philanthropist rather than for his success in business and the market. information technologies. At one time, Bill Gates stimulated the development of the personal computer market, making computers accessible to the simplest users, which is exactly what he wanted. Now he is passionate about the idea of providing Internet access to the whole world. Gates is also working on projects dedicated to combating global warming and combating gender discrimination.
William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers and playwrights in the English language, and he has had a profound influence on a galaxy of literary figures, as well as millions of readers around the world. In addition, Shakespeare introduced about 2,000 new words, most of which are still in use in modern English. With his works, the national poet of England has inspired a great many composers, artists and film directors from all over the world.
12. Sigmund Freud
Photo: wikimedia commons
Austrian neurologist and founder of the science of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud is famous precisely for his unique research into the mysterious world of the human subconscious. With them, he forever changed the way we evaluate ourselves and the people around us. Freud's work influenced 20th-century psychology, sociology, medicine, art, and anthropology, and his therapeutic techniques and theories in psychoanalysis are still studied and practiced today.
11. Oskar Schindler
Photo: wikimedia commons
Oskar Schindler was a German entrepreneur, Nazi Party member, spy, womanizer and drinker. None of this sounds very appealing and certainly doesn't sound like the characteristics of a real hero. However, despite all of the above, Schindler deservedly made it onto this list, because during the Holocaust and World War II, this man saved about 1,200 Jews, rescuing them from death camps to work in his factories. The heroic story of Oskar Schindler has been told in many books and films, but the most famous adaptation was Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Schindler's List.
10. Mother Teresa
Photo: wikimedia commons
A Catholic nun and missionary, Mother Teresa devoted almost her entire life to serving the poor, sick, disabled and orphans. She founded the charitable movement and women's monastic congregation “Missionary Sisters of Love” (Congregatio Sororum Missionarium Caritatis), which exists in almost all countries of the world (in 133 countries as of 2012). In 1979, Mother Teresa became a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and 19 years after her death (in 2016) she was canonized by Pope Francis himself.
9. Abraham Lincoln
Photo: wikimedia commons
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and one of the most influential figures in American history. Coming from a poor farming family, Lincoln fought to reunify the country during the Civil War between North and South, strengthened the federal government, modernized the American economy, but had a reputation for outstanding historical figure he deserved it primarily for his contribution to the development of a democratic society and the fight against slavery and oppression of the black population in the United States. Abraham Lincoln's legacy continues to shape the American people today.
8. Stephen Hawking
Photo: Lwp Kommunikáció / flickr
Stephen Hawking is one of the most famous and respected scientists in the world, and he has made invaluable contributions to the development of science (especially cosmology and theoretical physics). The work of this British researcher and ardent popularizer of science is also impressive because Hawking made almost all of his discoveries in spite of a rare and slowly progressing degenerative disease. The first signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis appeared in his student years, and now the great scientist is completely paralyzed. However, severe illness and paralysis did not prevent Hawking from marrying twice, becoming the father of two sons, flying in zero gravity, writing many books, becoming one of the founders of quantum cosmology and the winner of a whole collection of prestigious awards, medals and orders.
7. Unknown rebel
Photo: HiMY SYeD / flickr
This is the conventional name given to an unknown man who independently held back a column of tanks for half an hour during the protests in Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen, China) in 1989. In those days, hundreds of protesters, most of whom were ordinary students, died in clashes with the military. The identity and fate of the unknown rebel remains unknown, but the photograph has become an international symbol of courage and peaceful resistance.
6. Muhammad
Photo: wikimedia commons
Muhammad was born in 570 AD in the city of Mecca (Mecca, modern Saudi Arabia). He is considered a Muslim prophet and the founder of the Islamic religion. Being not only a preacher, but also politician, Muhammad united all the Arab peoples of those times into a single Muslim empire, which conquered most of the Arabian Peninsula. The author of the Qur'an started out with a few followers, but eventually his teachings and practices formed the basis of the Islamic religion, which is now the second most popular religion in the world, with some 1.8 billion believers.
5. The 14th Dalai Lama
Photo: wikimedia commons
The 14th Dalai Lama, or by birth Lhamo Thondup, is a 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a renowned preacher of Buddhist philosophy of peace, professing respect for all life on Earth and calling for the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. The former spiritual and political leader of Tibet in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama always tried to find a compromise and sought reconciliation with the Chinese authorities who invaded Tibet with territorial claims. In addition, Lhamo Dhondrub is a passionate supporter of the women's rights movement, interfaith dialogues and advocates for solving global environmental problems.
4. Princess Diana
Photo: Auguel
Also known as “Lady Di” and “the people’s princess,” Princess Diana captured the hearts of millions around the world with her philanthropy, hard work and sincerity. She devoted most of her short life to helping those in need in third world countries. The Queen of Hearts, as she was also known, founded the movement to end the production and use of anti-personnel mines, and was actively involved in several dozen humanitarian campaigns and non-profit organizations, including the Red Cross, London's Great Ormond Street Hospital and AIDS research. Lady Di died at the age of 36 from injuries received in a car accident.
3. Nelson Mandela
Photo: Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science
Nelson Mandela was a South African politician, philanthropist, revolutionary, reformer, passionate advocate for human rights during apartheid (policy of racial segregation) and President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He had a profound influence on history South Africa and the whole world. Mandela spent almost 27 years in prison for his beliefs, but he did not lose faith in the liberation of his people from the oppression of the authorities, and after leaving prison he achieved democratic elections, as a result of which he became the first black president of South Africa. His tireless work to peacefully end the apartheid regime and establish democracy inspired millions of people around the world. In 1993, Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize.
2. Jeanne d'Arc
Photo: wikimedia commons
Also known as the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc is the greatest heroine in French history and one of the most famous women in world history. She was born into a poor farming family in 1412 and believed that she was chosen by God to lead France to victory in the Hundred Years' War with England. The girl died before the end of the war, but her courage, passion and devotion to her goal (especially during the siege of Orleans) caused a long-awaited moral upsurge and inspired the whole French army for the final victory in the protracted and seemingly hopeless confrontation with the British. Unfortunately, in battle, the Maid of Orleans was captured by her enemies, condemned by the Inquisition and burned at the stake at the age of 19.
1. Jesus Christ
Photo: wikimedia commons
Jesus Christ - central figure Christian religion, and He had such a strong influence on our world that He is often called the most influential and inspiring person in the history of mankind. Compassion, love for others, sacrifice, humility, repentance and forgiveness, which Jesus called for in His sermons and personal example, were concepts completely opposite to the values of ancient civilizations during His life on Earth. Yet today there are approximately 2.4 billion followers of His teachings and Christian faith in the world.