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Anne Bonny (March 8, 1702 – possibly April 25, 1782)

Bonny was a red-haired beauty and considered a very good catch. She married a poor sailor and small-time pirate named James Bonny.

It is known that sometime between 1714 and 1718 she and James Bonny moved to Nassau, on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, which was then a pirate hub and base for many pirate operations.

While in the Bahamas, Anne Bonny began mingling with pirates at the local drinking establishments, and met the pirate John "Calico Jack" Rackham, with whom she had an affair. While Rackham and many other pirates were enjoying the King's pardon in the New Providence, James dragged Anne before Gov. Rogers to demand she be flogged for adultery and returned to him. There was even an offer for Rackham to buy her in a divorce-by-purchase, but Anne refused to be "bought and sold like cattle." She was sentenced to the flogging, but later Anne and Rackham escaped to live together as pirates.

Bonny did not disguise herself as a man in order to join Rackham's crew aboard the Revenge as is often claimed. In fact, she and Mary Read helped Rackham steal the sloop at anchor in Nassau harbour and set off to sea, putting together a crew and taking several prizes. She took part in combat alongside the men, and the accounts describing her exploits present her as competent, effective in combat, and someone who gained the respect of her fellow pirates. She and Mary Read's name and gender were, however, known to all from the start, including Gov. Rogers, who named them in a "pirates wanted" circular published in the continent's only newspaper, the Boston News-Letter.

In October 1720, Rackham and his crew were attacked by a sloop captained by Jonathan Barnet, who was working for the governor of Jamaica. Most of Rackham's pirates did not put up much resistance as many of them were too drunk to fight, other sources indicate it was at night and most of them were asleep. However, Read, Bonny, and an unknown man fought fiercely and managed to hold off Barnet's troops for a short time. After their capture, Rackham and his crew were sentenced by the Governor of Jamaica to be hanged. According to Johnson, Bonny's last words to the imprisoned Rackham were that she was "sorry to see him there, but if he had fought like a Man, he need not have been hang'd like a Dog."

After their arrest and trial, Read and Bonny both pleaded their bellies, announcing during the sentencing phase that they were both pregnant. In accordance with English common law, both women received a temporary stay of execution until they gave birth. Read died in prison, most likely from a fever, though it has been alleged that she died during childbirth.

There is no historical record of Bonny's release or of her execution. This has fed speculation that her father ransomed her; that she might have returned to her husband, or even that she resumed a life of piracy under a new identity. However, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography states that "Evidence provided by the descendants of Anne Bonny suggests that her father managed to secure her release from jail and bring her back to Charles Town, South Carolina, where she gave birth to Rackham's second child. On December 21, 1721 she married a local man, Joseph Burleigh, and they had eight children. She died in South Carolina, a respectable woman, at the age of eighty and was buried on April 25, 1782."

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lm8dark

Nice Article. Whered you get this? any links?

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Amidala

Now we will be enlighten with the history of AO.. Atlantica is very historical because all of the places adopted in real places in the world.

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remaru

probably in wikipedia, interesting though
it's nice to see some historical characters in mmos

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MoonSoul

Anne is definitely one of my favorite mercs, her decent multi hit chance along hit her amazing attack/skills make her an extremely fun merc to have.


Fun read.

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Amidala

I like Caterina.. she's beautiful and sexy... nyahahahah

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dhrddm

You want history? Here you go:
Robin Hood is a hero in English folklore, a highly-skilled archer and outlaw. In particular, he is known for "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor," assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Robin and many of his men wore Lincoln green clothes.

There are many songs and stories about him, starting in medieval times, and continuing through more modern literature, films, and television series. In the earliest sources Robin Hood is a commoner, but he was often later portrayed as an aristocrat, wrongfully dispossessed of his lands and made into an outlaw.

Source: Wikipedia

Was Robin Hood a myth? No!
Historians have proof. His name is forever remembered, not for his cause, but for his legendary shooting ability with the longbow. And his name is synonomous with the most difficult of bow shots -- where one arrow splits another.

Was Robin Hood a myth?
A legend?
Or an historical figure?
New research has wiped away the cobwebs of time!
Now historians have uncovered information to put him in historical prospective.
The Robert Fitzooth of the legend can now be put in the lead, as nearest to the truth.
His name is forever etched in infamy, not for his cause, but for his shooting ability.
His cause was defending the poor against the rich.
Actually robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.
His name is synonymous with one incredible bow shot.
With his English longbow, goose feathered cloth yard shaft, and hammered arrowheads, he shot his arrow into another arrow.
He did not do this by accident, but on purpose!
In front of an audience he accomplished this task.
Some say he did in front of the queen of England!
Others say he did this to save Maid Marion.
In truth he did it!
But, in view of whom, we may never know!
A few basic facts; Robin had 70 score men.
To be a member of Robin's gang you had to fight him, and win!
Robin was a punk; he liked to pick fights.
If he won, he did not want the man.
If the man beat him, then that man could become a member, i.e. Little John!
Robin taught archery.
Each man would shoot at a 'willow Wand". ( Small tree )
If the man hit it he would be congratulated, if he missed he would be punched in the face by the man next in line.
You had to learn to shoot well, quickly!
Robin got his name, not by birth, but by his attire.
The queen, or Maid Marion gave him his prize, and legend tells us when they handed him the silver arrow saying, "Here is your prize Rob - in - the - hood!"
Hence, Rob-in -Hood!
Robin prayed to the Virgin Mary every day, and in keeping with the English knights he honored all women and defended them at any cost.
Many scholars point out that Maid Marion was not in the original stories and she was not included until 200 years after Robert's death.
The exact date of Robert's death is unknown.
It is believed that he was born in 1160, and died in 1245 of bloodletting.
The image of Robin and the original 12th century stories were portrayed, historically accurate in the late 1950s, by Richard Greene, Archie Duncan and Bernadette 'Farrell.
Yes, Robin was real!
His myth expounded.
His legend lives, and longbows are still shot.
Yes, longbows are still in existence!
Shot by who?
Shot by archers of today.
Although archery has changed, it has stayed the same.
Compounds parade the market.
Arrows travelling at 300 feet per second are in vogue.
But, many still shoot stick and string.
Traditional Archery is growing.
Several magazines are focused on that one phase of the sport of archery.
The ancient art of shooting the bow and arrow is still alive today!
More and more people are coming back to archery's roots.
Longbows essentially are a stick and string.
A piece of leather wrapped around the bow arm for an armguard and a finger guard.
The arrows are constructed of wood, aluminum, carbon, or fiberglass.
Equipped with field points for target shooting, or broadheads for hunting.
EVERY arrow should be inspected before firing.
Traditional archery is a form that has no sight pins, no peep sights, or stabilizers.
You do not just wing it.
It is comprised of several consistent steps that need to be accomplished shot after shot.
From anchor point to after the release needs to be the same, time after time.
You need a bow that is right for you.
The length, the draw weight and arrows must be matched.
Where does one go to get started?
To the experts!
There are two dealers that I know in my area who specialize in traditional tackle.

Bob Holzhauser runs silver Arrow Archery in Derry, NH.
He has been selling traditional gear since 1984, and can set you up right.
According to Bob his business is good, and he is seeing more people entering the sport than ever before.
He sells, instructs and tunes the gear.
His most common requests are for longbows that average around 50 lbs. Draw weight.
According to Bob people that use bows that are hard to shoot develop bad habits and poor marksmanship.
Bob knows his tackle and is willing to help the novice shooter.
Ray and Renee Grenier of Lost Nation Archery concur.
Ray states that longbows and recurves sell best in the 50 lb. range.
Beginners have to develop muscles and around 50 lbs. is best for the new traditional shooter.
Ray boasts of having 150 bows in stock for youths and adults!
He also advertises as being the longest running traditional shop East of the Mississippi.
Located in Allenstown, NH, Ray can also help you get started right.
Ray and his wife teach the basics and get students back to the archery Robin Hood and his men used to shoot.
If you want a custom made bow, let George do it.
George Trefethen of Newmarket, NH makes Ol Timer Bows one at a time.
Recurve bows made to your specifications are his specialality.
He can take you outside to shoot his smooth recurves and see that they fit you and fly right.
Nifty grips, smooth shooting and great looks make this an easy bow to shoot.
Maybe Rob-in-hood lived over 800 years ago, but the arch of an arrow as it drops in the target is a rush that you cannot get with drugs.
The spirit of the medieval yeoman is something that one can only experience in traditional archery.
The gentle thump of the string and the swish of the feathers through the air brings one back to a more romantic time.
A time of knights, a time of Lincoln Green, a time of history that can never be again.
But, yet that spirit lives on.
The spirit of Robin Hood lives in our souls.
Every time I loose an arrow out of my longbow, I go back to merry old England.
The spirit of the woods lives in those who promote, sell, and teach the sport of archery.

Still there is a special place for those like Bob, Ray, George and others who shoot traditional archery.
You can't see it, touch it, or even explain it until you pick up and shoot one of mankind's oldest weapons.
Yes, Robin Hood, in spirit lives on!

Source: ROBIN HOOD!, by Art Champoux.

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Napoleon Bonaparte (French: Napoléon Bonaparte ; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) later known as Napoleon I, and previously Napoleone di Buonaparte, was a military and political leader of France whose actions shaped European politics in the early 19th century.

Born in Corsica and trained as an artillery officer in mainland France, Bonaparte rose to prominence under the First French Republic and led successful campaigns against the First and Second Coalitions arrayed against France. In 1799, he staged a coup d'état and installed himself as First Consul; five years later the French Senate proclaimed him Emperor of the French. In the first decade of the nineteenth century, the French Empire under Napoleon, engaged in a series of conflicts - the Napoleonic Wars - involving every major European power. After a streak of victories, France secured a dominant position in continental Europe and Napoleon maintained the French sphere of influence through the formation of extensive alliances and the appointment of friends and family members to rule other European countries as French client states.

The French invasion of Russia in 1812 marked a turning point in Napoleon's fortunes. His Grande Armée was badly damaged in the campaign and never fully recovered. In 1813, the Sixth Coalition defeated his forces at Leipzig; the following year the Coalition invaded France, forced Napoleon to abdicate and exiled him to the island of Elba. Less than a year later, he escaped Elba and returned to power, but was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. Napoleon spent the last six years of his life under British supervision on the island of Saint Helena. An autopsy concluded he died of stomach cancer, though Sten Forshufvud and other scientists have since conjectured that he was poisoned with arsenic.

The conflict with the rest of Europe led to a period of total war across the continent and his campaigns are studied at military academies the world over. While considered a tyrant by his opponents, he is also remembered for the establishment of the Napoleonic code, which laid the administrative and judicial foundations for much of Western Europe.

Napoleon's noble, moderately affluent background and family connections afforded him greater opportunities to study than were available to a typical Corsican of the time. In January 1779, Napoleon was enrolled at a religious school in Autun, mainland France, to learn French, and in May he was admitted to a military academy at Brienne-le-Château. He spoke with a marked Corsican accent and never learned to spell properly. Napoleon was teased by other students for his accent and applied himself to study. An examiner observed that Napoleon "has always been distinguished for his application in mathematics. He is fairly well acquainted with history and geography... This boy would make an excellent sailor." On completion of his studies at Brienne in 1784, Napoleon was admitted to the elite École Militaire in Paris; this ended his naval ambition, which had led him to consider an application to the British Royal Navy. Instead, he trained to become an artillery officer and, when his father's death reduced his income, was forced to complete the two-year course in one year. He was examined by the famed scientist Pierre-Simon Laplace, whom Napoleon later appointed to the Senate.

On graduation in September 1785, Bonaparte was commissioned a second lieutenant in La Fère artillery regiment. He served on garrison duty in Valence, Drôme and Auxonne until after the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, though he took nearly two years of leave in Corsica and Paris during this period. A fervent Corsican nationalist, Bonaparte wrote to the Corsican leader Pasquale Paoli in May 1789: "As the nation was perishing I was born. Thirty thousand Frenchmen were vomited on to our shores, drowning the throne of liberty in waves of blood. Such was the odious sight which was the first to strike me."

He spent the early years of the Revolution in Corsica, fighting in a complex three-way struggle between royalists, revolutionaries, and Corsican nationalists. He supported the revolutionary Jacobin faction, gained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and command over a battalion of volunteers. After he had exceeded his leave of absence and led a riot against a French army in Corsica, he was somehow able to convince military authorities in Paris to promote him to Captain in July 1792.
He returned to Corsica once again, and came into conflict with Paoli, who had decided to split with France and sabotage a French assault on the Sardinian island of La Maddalena, where Bonaparte was one of the expedition leaders. Bonaparte and his family had to flee to the French mainland in June 1793 because of the split with Paoli.

In the field of military organisation, Napoleon borrowed from previous theorists such as Jacques Antoine Hippolyte, Comte de Guibert, the reforms of preceding French governments and developed much of what was already in place. He continued the policy, which emerged from the Revolution, of promotion based primarily on merit. Corps replaced divisions as the largest army units, mobile artillery was integrated into reserve batteries, the staff system became more fluid and cavalry returned as an important formation in French military doctrine—these methods are now referred to as essential features of Napoleonic warfare. Though he consolidated the practice of modern conscription introduced by the Directory, one of the restored monarchy's first acts was to end it.

Weapons and other kinds of military technology remained largely static through the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, but 18th century operational mobility underwent significant change. Napoleon's biggest influence was in the conduct of warfare. Napoleon was regarded by the influential military theorist Carl von Clausewitz as a genius in the operational art of war and historians rank him as a great military commander. Wellington, when asked who was the greatest general of the day, answered: "In this age, in past ages, in any age, Napoleon."

A new emphasis towards the destruction, not just outmanoeuvring, of enemy armies emerged. Invasions of enemy territory occurred over broader fronts which made wars costlier and more decisive. The political impact of war increased significantly; defeat for a European power now meant more than the loss of isolated enclaves. Near-Carthaginian peaces intertwined whole national efforts, intensifying the Revolutionary phenomenon of total war.

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Lady Zhurong, sometimes known as Madam Zhurong, was a fictional character in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a semi-fictional account of the Three Kingdoms era of China. She was the wife of Meng Huo, the king of the Nanman tribes of southern China. She claimed to be descended from the fire god Zhu Rong, from whom she acquired her name. Lady Zhurong was the only woman in the novel who took part in any of the fighting, battling against the Kingdom of Shu alongside her husband.

After her husband was defeated by the Shu Han Commander, Ma Dai, Lady Zhurong took to battle herself and led a large army against a Shu unit. She wielded flying swords and managed to capture two Shu Han generals; Zhang Yi and Ma Zhong.

The following day she engaged in battle with Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, but both opponents quickly fled. Suspecting a trap, Lady Zhurong did not give chase. The following day the same events happened; with both Shu officers retreating quickly. Again Lady Zhurong did not chase them, however Wei Yan returned and hurled abuse at her. Enraged, she chased him, only to be led down a narrow valley where a trap lay waiting; entrapped in nets with her horse tripped by rope, Lady Zhurong was ensnared.

Lady Zhurong was brought to the Shu camp, and was treated well by Zhuge Liang, who offered her wine and severed her bonds. He then offered a proposal to Meng Huo; he would safely return Zhurong to the Nanman, if the two Shu generals Zhurong had recently captured would be released. Meng Huo agreed and Zhurong was returned to her husband.

Lady Zhurong was captured another two times by the Shu army. The last time she was captured, she had marched alongside her husband and their army to finish off the Shu army as they had been falsely informed that their ally King Wutugu's army had nearly obliterated the Shu forces. However much to their dismay, Shu had actually routed King Wutugu's army, and then they proceeded to capture Lady Zhurong.

After finally submitting to Shu Han and pledging their allegiance, Meng Huo and Lady Zhurong were released to continue their rule over the southern jungles. They never rebelled again.




Lady Zhurong, alternatively named as "Zhu Rong", appears as a playable character in the Koei video game series Dynasty Warriors up to Dynasty Warriors 5, she was then removed from Dynasty Warriors 6.

In DW4 Xtreme Legends, she helps to rescue Meng Huo from Shu. In DW5 Xtreme Legends, she works with the Nanman and her husband in repelling Sima Yi.

The same Zhu Rong also appears in Koei's Warriors Orochi where she and the Nanman people come under attack by Orochi. In the first Warriors Orochi, the Nanman receive help from Zhao Yun and Jiang Wei. In the sequel, they help Zhou Yu repel Cao Pi's forces and join Wu. During the battle, a cutscene show Zhu Rong and Lady Tachinbana as equal Warriors in honor and strength. In Dream Mode, she worked with Nenehime and Yuan Shao in protecting a castle against enemy forces.

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Ishikawa Goemon (1558-1594) was a legendary bandit hero who stole gold and valuables and gave them to the poor. He is notable for being boiled alive after a failed assassination attempt on Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A large iron kettle-shaped bathtub is now called a Goemon-buro ("Goemon bath").

There is little historical information on Goemon's life, and thus he has become a folk hero, whose background and origins have been widely speculated upon.

In one version of the story, Goemon tried to assassinate Hideyoshi to avenge the death of his wife and capture of his son, Gobei. He entered Hideyoshi's room but knocked a bell off a table. The noise awoke the samurai guards and Goemon was captured. He was sentenced to death by being boiled alive in an iron cauldron along with his young son, but was able to save his son by holding him above the oil.

In another version, Goemon wanted to kill Hideyoshi because he was a despot. When he entered Hideyoshi's room, he was detected by a mystical incense burner. He was executed on August 24 along with his whole family by being boiled in oil.

In yet a third version, Goemon stole a prized songbird of Hideyoshi's, but the bird sang. His whole family was executed, but Gobei was saved by Goemon.

[...]

He is the main character of the film Goemon (his role played by Yosuke Eguchi) and of the long running Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Ganbare Goemon) series of video games, and was the subject of Tomoyoshi Murayama's Shinobi no Mono novels, which in the 1960s became a film series starring Ichikawa Raizo VIII as Ishikawa (in the series, Goemon escapes his execution).

Goemon appears as a playable character available in the Samurai Warriors and Ninja Master's video game series. The character Goemon Ishikawa XIII of the manga and anime series Lupin III is purported to be Ishikawa Goemon's descendant (the opening sequence in Burn, Zantetsuken! shows Goemon Ishikawa XIII weeping while watching the famed kabuki performance based on his ancestor's life).

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Michael or Saint Michael is an archangel, one of the principal 50 angels in Christian and Islamic tradition. He is viewed as the field commander of the Army of God. He is mentioned by name in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation. In the book of Daniel, Michael appears as "one of the chief princes" who in Daniel's vision comes to the angel Gabriel's aid in his contest with the angel of Persia (Dobiel), and is also described there as the advocate of Israel and great prince who stands up for the children of your [Daniel's] people.

The Talmudic tradition rendered Michael's name as meaning "who is like El?". In recent years, a popular mistake has become to translate the name as "One who is like God." It is, however, meant as a question: "Who is like the Lord?" The name was said to have been the battle cry of the angels in the war in heaven against Satan and his followers.

Much of the late Midrashic detail about Michael was transmitted to Christianity through the Book of Enoch, whence it was taken up and further elaborated. In late medieval Christianity, Michael, together with Saint George, became the patron saint of chivalry, and of the first chivalric order of France, the Order of Saint Michael of 1469. In the British honours system, a chivalric order founded in 1818 is also named for these two saints, the Order of St Michael and St George. St Michael is also considered in many Christian circles as the patron saint of the warrior. Police officers and soldiers, particularly paratroopers, regard him as their patron. He is also a patron of Germany and of the city of Brussels.

Roman Catholics refer to him as "Saint Michael the Archangel" and also simply as "Saint Michael". Orthodox Christians refer to him as the "Taxiarch Archangel Michael" or simply "Archangel Michael". The Urantia Book often refers to Michael as "Michael of Nebadon", or Christ Michael.

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Oichi or Oichi-no-kata (1547–1583) moderately well-placed figure in the late Sengoku period, known primarily as the mother of three daughters who married well -- Yodo-dono, Ohashi and Oeyo.

Oichi was the younger sister of Oda Nobunaga; and she was the sister-in-law of Nohime, the daughter of Saito Dosan. Oichi was equally renowned for her beauty and her resolve. She was descended from the Taira and Fujiwara clans.

[...]

Following Nobunaga's conquest of Mino in 1567, in an effort to cement an alliance between Nobunaga and rival warlord Azai Nagamasa, Nobunaga arranged for Oichi, then twenty years old, to marry Nagamasa.

Their marriage was through political means, ensuring an alliance between the Oda and the Azai clans. She bore Nagamasa one son (Manjumaru) and three daughters -- Yodo-dono, Ohatsu and Oeyo.

In the summer of 1570, Nagamasa betrayed his alliance with Nobunaga and went to war with him on behalf of the Asakura family. A story relates that Oichi sent her brother a sack of beans tied at both ends, ostensibly as a good-luck charm but in reality a warning that he was about to be attacked from both front and rear by the Asakura and Azai clans. According to the story, Nobunaga understood the message and retreated from his brother-in-law's assault in time.

The fighting continued for three years until the Asakura and other anti-Oda forces were destroyed or weakened. Oichi remained with her husband at Odani Castle throughout the conflict, even after Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a trusted vassal of Nobunaga at the time, began laying siege to the castle. When Odani was surrounded, Nobunaga requested that his sister be returned to him before the final attack. Nagamasa agreed, sending out Oichi and her three daughters. Nagamasa and his son, Manjumaru, committed suicide soon afterwards.

Oichi and her daughters remained in the Oda family's care for the next decade. After Nobunaga was assassinated in 1582, his sons and vassals broke into two major factions, led by two of Nobunaga's favored generals, Katsuie and Hideyoshi. Nobunaga's third son, Nobutaka, belonged to the former group, and arranged for his aunt Oichi to marry Katsuie in order to ensure his loyalty to the Oda clan. But in 1583, Katsuie was defeated by Hideyoshi in the Battle of Shizugatake, forcing him to retreat to his home at Kitanosho Castle. As Hideyoshi's army lay siege to the castle, Katsuie implored Oichi to flee with her daughters and seek Hideyoshi's protection. Oichi refused, insisting on dying with her husband after their daughters were sent away. The couple reportedly died in the castle's flames.
Oichi was named Oyu in Onimusha 2, in which she works together with Saika Magoichi, Yagyu Jubei, Ekei Ankokuji, and Fuma Kotaro in defeating her evil demonic brother, Oda Nobunaga. Oyu is also in Onimusha: Blade Warriors.

She is a playable character in Sengoku Basara 2, in which she become crazy and evil after the death of her love, Azai Nagamasa. She wipes out the Oda clan.

She is a playable character in the Samurai Warriors series. In Samurai Warriors 1, she is a tomboy but yet a girly girl. In her true ending, she finds a way to keep both her husband, Azai Nagamasa, and her brother, Oda Nobunaga, alive. In her other ending, she is forced to wipe out her brother's clan and live with Azai Nagamasa. In SW2, she is forced to kill her husband, and she is heart broken, but in Azai Nagamasa's ending, she is allowed to live peacefully with both her brother and her husband alive.

She is a character in Nobunaga's Ambition, a series similar to Romance of the Three Kingdoms video game series.

She is a character in Kessen III, where she looks more like the traditional pictures of her. She becomes the wife of Azai Nagamasa, but Toyotomi Hideyoshi takes her away from her husband, who kills himself in a burning Odani Castle. Hideyoshi brings her back to her brother, Oda Nobunaga, but she is heart broken that she couldn't die with Nagamasa.

She is a playable character in Warriors Orochi. She, Azai Nagamasa, and Gan Ning are captured by Cao Pi's forces at Chen Cang Castle, and they are allowed to live. Oichi, Azai Nagamasa, and Gan Ning later help Honda Tadakatsu repel Lu Bu and Orochi's forces. In WO2, she, Azai Nagamasa, and the Asakkura clan arrive as reinforcements to rescue Maeda Toshiie and Jiang Wei. In Dream Mode, she works with Shang Xiang, the Nanman, and Da Qiao in rescuing their husbands from Da Ji at Kyushu. In another Dream Mode, she is protected by Sun Jian, Cao Ren, Sun Ce, Shibata Katsuiie, and Maeda Toshiie against Yuan Shao & Liu Biao.

Oichi's daughters Yodo-Dono and Ohatsu are characters in Onimusha 4. Ohatsu must betray everything she worked for in defeating her sister, Yodo-Dono, and her husband, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who have become pure evil. She is in love with an old friend named Soki, the main hero in Onimusha 4, but at the end of the game, she doesn't know what happened to Soki after Hideyoshi's defeat.

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The Hwarang were an elite group of male youth in Silla, an ancient Korean kingdom that lasted until the 10th century. They were educational institutions as well as social clubs where members gathered for all aspects of study, originally for arts and culture steeped in Buddhism and Taoism. These groups developed into a more military organization as the Silla court centralized political power and battled to unite the Three Kingdoms.

"Hwarang" is most often translated as "Flower Knights" or "Flower Youths." Hwa is the Sino-Korean (hanja) character for flower or the act of blooming. Rang means man, sometimes used as a suffix in Silla official titles. The term Hwarang does not literally indicate "youth" or "boys". The Samguk Yusa differentiates between the male and female Hwarang through a change in the second character.

Hwarang leaders were also sometimes referred to in the Samguk Yusa as gukseon ("state immortals", or "state sylph").

[...]

Information on the Hwarang are mainly found in the histories Samguk Sagi (1145) and Samguk Yusa (ca. 1285), and the partially extant Haedong Goseungjeon (1215), a compilation of biographies of famous monks of the Three Kingdoms.

All three of these works cite primary sources no longer extant, including:

a memorial stele to Nallang (presumably a Hwarang based upon the suffix nang) by the 9th–10th century Silla scholar Choe Chiwon;

an early Tang account of Silla titled the Xinluo guoji by the Tang official Ling Hucheng; and

Hwarang Segi (Chronicle of the Hwarang) by Kim Daemun, compiled in the early 8th century. In the late 1980s, an alleged Hwarang Segi manuscript was discovered in Gimhae, South Korea, which some scholars regard as a forgery.


[...]

Two youths, Gwisan and Chwihang, approached the Silla monk Won Gwang seeking spiritual guidance and teaching, saying “We are ignorant and without knowledge. Please give us a maxim which will serve to instruct us for the rest of our lives.”

Won Gwang, who had gained fame for his period of study in Sui China, replied by composing the Five Commandments for Secular Life (Sae Sok O-Gye). These have since been attributed as a guiding ethos for the Hwarang:



Loyalty to one's lord (sagun ichung)

Love and respect your parents and teachers(sachin ihyo)

Trust among friends (gyo-u isin)

Never retreat in battle (imjeon mutwae)

Never take a life without a just cause (salsaeng yutaek)



The Samguk Yusa also records that Hwarang members learned the Five Cardinal Confucian Virtues, the Six Arts, the Three Scholarly Occupations, and the Six Ways of Government Service

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Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian polymath, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer. Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance man, a man whose unquenchable curiosity was equaled only by his powers of invention. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived. According to art historian Helen Gardner, the scope and depth of his interests were without precedent and "his mind and personality seem to us superhuman, the man himself mysterious and remote".

Born the illegitimate son of a notary, Piero da Vinci, and a peasant woman, Caterina, at Vinci in the region of Florence, Leonardo was educated in the studio of the renowned Florentine painter, Verrocchio. Much of his earlier working life was spent in the service of Ludovico il Moro in Milan. He later worked in Rome, Bologna and Venice and spent his last years in France, at the home awarded him by Francis I.

Leonardo was and is renowned primarily as a painter. Two of his works, the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, are the most famous, most reproduced and most parodied portrait and religious painting of all time, respectively, their fame approached only by Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. Leonardo's drawing of the Vitruvian Man is also regarded as a cultural icon, being reproduced on everything from the Euro to text books to t-shirts. Perhaps fifteen of his paintings survive, the small number due to his constant, and frequently disastrous, experimentation with new techniques, and his chronic procrastination. Nevertheless, these few works, together with his notebooks, which contain drawings, scientific diagrams, and his thoughts on the nature of painting, comprise a contribution to later generations of artists only rivalled by that of his contemporary, Michelangelo.

Leonardo is revered for his technological ingenuity. He conceptualised a helicopter, a tank, concentrated solar power, a calculator, the double hull and outlined a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics. Relatively few of his designs were constructed or were even feasible during his lifetime, but some of his smaller inventions, such as an automated bobbin winder and a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire, entered the world of manufacturing unheralded. As a scientist, he greatly advanced the state of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, civil engineering, optics, and hydrodynamics.

[...]

During his lifetime Leonardo was valued as an engineer. In a letter to Ludovico il Moro he claimed to be able to create all sorts of machines both for the protection of a city and for siege. When he fled to Venice in 1499 he found employment as an engineer and devised a system of moveable barricades to protect the city from attack. He also had a scheme for diverting the flow of the Arno River in order to flood Pisa. His journals include a vast number of inventions, both practical and impractical. They include musical instruments, hydraulic pumps, reversible crank mechanisms, finned mortar shells, and a steam cannon.

In 1502, Leonardo produced a drawing of a single span 720-foot (240 m) bridge as part of a civil engineering project for Ottoman Sultan Beyazid II of Istanbul. The bridge was intended to span an inlet at the mouth of the Bosporus known as the Golden Horn. Beyazid did not pursue the project, because he believed that such a construction was impossible. Leonardo's vision was resurrected in 2001 when a smaller bridge based on his design was constructed in Norway. On May 17, 2006, the Turkish government decided to construct Leonardo's bridge to span the Golden Horn.

For much of his life, Leonardo was fascinated by the phenomenon of flight, producing many studies of the flight of birds, including his c. 1505 Codex on the Flight of Birds, as well as plans for several flying machines, including a helicopter and a light hang glider. Most were impractical, like his aerial screw helicopter design that could not provide lift. However, the hang glider has been successfully constructed and demonstrated.

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Hasan Corso (born Pietro Paolo Tavera) was born in the island of Corsica.

He was only 5 years old, when he was taken away and sent to Istambul. He joined the Janissaries. There, he was educated in Muslim religion, Turkish language and military education. At the end of these years, the Turkish gave him the name Hassan Corso, and sent him to Algiers. He rose rapidly through the ranks and earned the title of Agha. In 1549, he became mayor of Algiers and caliph of Salah Rais. He died in August of 1556 at age 38.

Source: Wikipedia

[...]

The Janissaries (from Ottoman Turkish ينيچرى Yeniçeri meaning "new soldier") comprised infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards. The force was created by the Sultan Murad I from male Christian children levied through the devşirme system from conquered Christian countries in the 14th century[1] and was abolished by Sultan Mahmud II in 1826 with the Auspicious Incident.

[...]

The origins of the Janissaries are shrouded in myth though traditional accounts credit Orhan I – an early Ottoman bey, who reigned from 1326 to 1359 – as the founder. Modern historians, such as Patrick Kinross, put the date slightly later, around 1365, under Orhan's son, Murad I, the first sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The Janissaries became the first Ottoman standing army, replacing forces that mostly comprised tribal warriors (ghazis) whose loyalty and morale could not always be trusted.

[...]

The Janissary corps were significant in a number of ways. The Janissaries wore uniforms, were paid in cash as regular soldiers, and marched to distinctive music, the mehter, similar to a modern marching band.

The Ottomans were the first state to maintain a standing army in Europe since the Roman Empire. The Janissaries have been likened to the Roman Praetorian Guard and they had no equivalent in the Christian armies of the time, where the feudal lords raised troops during wartime. A Janissary battalion was effectively the soldier's family. They lived in their barracks and served as policemen and firefighters during peacetime.

The Janissary corps was also distinctive in the regular payment of a cash salary to the troops, and differed from the contemporary practice of paying troops only during wartime. The Janissaries were paid quarterly and the Sultan himself, after authorizing the payment of the salaries, dressed as a Janissary, visited the barracks and received his salary as a regular trooper of the First Division.

Logistical support also set the Janissaries apart from their contemporaries. The Janissaries waged war as one part of a well organized military machine. The Ottoman army had a corps to prepare the road, a corps to pitch the tents ahead, a corps to bake the bread. The cebeci corps carried and distributed weapons and ammunition. The Janissary corps had its own internal medical auxiliaries, Muslim and Jewish surgeons who would travel with the corps during campaigns and had organized methods of moving the wounded and the sick to traveling hospitals behind the lines.

These differences, along with a war-record that was impressive, made the Janissaries into a subject of interest and study by foreigners in their own time. Although eventually the concept of the modern army incorporated and surpassed most of the distinctions of the Janissary, and the Ottoman Empire dissolved the Janissary corps, the image of the Janissary has remained as one of the symbols of the Ottomans in the western psyche.

In return for their loyalty and their fervour in war, Janissaries gained privileges and benefits. They received a cash salary, received booty during wartime and enjoyed a high living standard and respected social status. At first they had to live in barracks and could not marry until retirement, or engage in any other trade but by the mid-18th century they had taken up many trades and gained the right to marry and enroll their children in the corps and very few continued to live in the barracks. Many of them became administrators and scholars. Retired or discharged Janissaries received pensions and their children were also looked after. This evolution away from their original military vocation was the major cause of the system's demise.

In later years, they received "accession money", a gift from the incoming sultan.

[...]

In the first centuries, Janissaries were expert archers, but they began adopting firearms as soon as such became available during the 1440s. The siege of Vienna in 1529 confirmed the reputation of their engineers, e.g. sapping and mining. In melee combat they used axes and sabres. Originally in peacetime they could carry only clubs or cutlasses, unless they served as border troops.

By the early 16th century, the Janissaries were equipped with and were skilled with muskets. In particular, they used a massive 'trench gun', firing an 80-millimetre (3.1 in) ball, which was "feared by their enemies". Janissaries also made extensive use of early grenades and hand cannon, such as the abus gun. Pistols were not initially popular but they became so after the Cretan War (1645–1669).


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Saint Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d'Arc; c. 1412 – 30 May 1431) also known as "the Maid of Orleans," is a national heroine of France and a Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, claiming divine guidance, and was indirectly responsible for the coronation of Charles VII. She was captured by the English, tried by an ecclesiastical court, and burned at the stake when she was nineteen years old. Twenty-four years later, the Holy See reviewed the decision of the ecclesiastical court, found her innocent, and declared her a martyr. She was beatified in 1909 and later canonized in 1920.

Joan asserted that she had visions from God that told her to recover her homeland from English domination late in the Hundred Years' War. The uncrowned King Charles VII sent her to the siege at Orléans as part of a relief mission. She gained prominence when she overcame the dismissive attitude of veteran commanders and lifted the siege in only nine days. Several more swift victories led to Charles VII's coronation at Reims and settled the disputed succession to the throne.

Joan of Arc has remained an important figure in Western culture. From Napoleon to the present, French politicians of all leanings have invoked her memory. Major writers and composers who have created works about her include Shakespeare, Voltaire, Schiller, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Twain, and Shaw. Depictions of her continue in film, television, video games, song, and dance.

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Niccolò Paganini (October 27, 1782 – May 27, 1840) was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His caprice in A minor, Op. 1 No. 24 is among his best known of compositions, and serves as inspiration for many prominent artists.

[...]

Paganini was in possession a number of fine string instruments. More legendary was some of the circumstances under which he obtained (and lost) them. While Paganini was still a teenager in Livorno, a wealthy businessman named Livron lent him a Guarneri for a concert. Livron was so impressed with Paganini's playing that he refused to take it back. This particular violin would come to be known as Il Cannone.

In a later occasion, in Parma, he won another valuable violin (also by Guarneri) after a difficult sight-reading challenge brought on by a man with the name of Pasini.

[...]

The Israeli violinist Ivry Gitlis once referred to Paganini as a phenomenon rather than a development. Though some of the violinistic techniques frequently employed by Paganini were already present, most accomplished violinists of the time focused on intonation and bowing techniques, the so-called right-hand techniques for string players. Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) was considered a pioneer in transforming the violin from an ensemble instrument to a solo instrument. In the mean time, the polyphonic capability of the violin was firmly established through the Sonatas and Partitas BWV 1001-1006 of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Other notable violinists included Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770), who, in their compositions, reflected the increasing technical and musical demands on the violinist. Although the role of the violin in music had been drastically changed through this period, progress on violin technique was steady but slow up to this point. Any study of techniques requiring agility of the fingers and the bow was still considered unorthodox and discouraged by the established community of violinists.

Much of Paganini's playing (and his violin compositions) were influenced by two violinists, Pietro Locatelli (1693-1746) and Auguste Frederick Durand (1770-????). During Paganini's study in Parma, he came across the 24 Caprices of Locatelli (entitled L'arte di nuova modulazione - Capricci enigmatici or The art of the new style - the enigmatic caprices). Published in the 1730s, they were shunned by the musical authorities for its technical innovations, and were forgotten by the musical community at-large. Around the same time, Durand, a former student of Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755-1824), became a celebrated violinist. He was renowned for his use of harmonics and left hand pizzicato in his performance. Paganini was impressed by Durand innovation and showmanship, which later also became the hallmarks of the young violin virtuoso. Paganini was instrumental in the revival and popularization of these violinistic techniques, which are now incorporated into regular compositions.

Another aspect of Paganini's violin techniques concerned his flexibility. He had exceptionally long fingers and was capable of playing three octaves across four strings in a hand span, a feat that is still considered impossible by today's standards. His seemingly unnatural ability may have been a result of Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

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The term Dharma (Sanskrit: dhárma), is an Indian spiritual and religious term, that means one's righteous duty or any virtuous path in the common sense of the term. In Indian languages it contextually implies one's religion. Throughout Indian philosophy, Dharma is presented as a central concept that is used in order to explain the "higher truth" or ultimate reality of the universe.

The word dharma literally translates as that which upholds or supports, and is generally translated into English as law. The word "dharma" can also be translated as "the teachings of the Buddha".

The various Indian religions and philosophy (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, among others) have all accorded a central focus to Dharma and advocate its practice. Each of these religions emphasizes Dharma as the correct understanding of reality in its teachings. In these traditions, beings that live in accordance with Dharma proceed more quickly toward Dharma Yukam, Moksha or Nirvana (personal liberation). Dharma also refers to the teachings and doctrines of the founders of these traditions, such as those of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira. In traditional Hindu society with its caste structure, Dharma constituted the religious and moral doctrine of the rights and duties of each individual. (see dharmasastra). Dharma in its universal meaning shares much in common with the way of Tao or Taoism.

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For many Buddhists, the Dharma most often means the body of teachings expounded by the Buddha. The word is also used in Buddhist phenomenology as a term roughly equivalent to phenomenon, a basic unit of existence and/or experience.
[...]
The tradition says that the Buddha spent forty-nine days in the neighborhood of the Bodhi Tree. Then the two merchants en route from Orissa passed close by and were advised by the spirit of a dead relative to make offerings to the new Buddha, who was sitting at the foot of a certain tree. They offered honey cakes and sugar cane and "took refuge in the Buddha and his Dharma, thus becoming the first Buddhists and the first lay devotees in the world."

In this case, Gautama did not preach Dharma to the two men, but merely received their reverence and offerings. Worship of holy persons is nonsectarian, and does not involve subscribing to their ideas. The Buddhist lay cult is here shown developing naturally out of pre-Buddhist practices

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Harald Bluetooth Gormson (Old Norse: 'Haraldr Blátönn', Danish: Harald Blåtand, Norwegian: Harald Blåtann, Swedish: Harald Blåtand) (born c. 935) was the son of King Gorm the Old and of Thyra Dannebod. He died in 985 or 986 having ruled as King of Denmark from around 958 and king of Norway for a few years probably around 970. Some sources state that his son Sweyn forcibly deposed him as king.

Harald Bluetooth caused the Jelling stones to be erected to honour his parents. Encyclopedia Britannica (Britannica) considers the runic inscriptions as the most well known in Denmark.[2] The biography of Harald Bluetooth is summed up by this runic inscription from the Jelling stones:

"Harald, king, bade these memorials to be made after Gorm, his father, and Thyra, his mother. The Harald who won the whole of Denmark and Norway and turned the Danes to Christianity."

[...]

During his reign, Harald oversaw the reconstruction not only of the Jelling runic stones but of other projects as well. Some believe that these projects were a way for him to preserve the economic and military control of his country. During that time, ring forts were built in five strategic locations: Trelleborg on Sjælland, Nonnebakken on Fyn, Fyrkat in central Jylland, Aggersborg near Limfjord, and Trelleborg near the city of Trelleborg in Scania in present-day Sweden. All five fortresses had similar designs: "perfectly circular with gates opening to the four corners of the earth, and a courtyard divided into four areas which held large houses set in a square pattern." A sixth Trelleborg is located in Borgeby, in Scania in present-day Sweden. This one has been dated to the vicinity of 1000 AD and has a similar design, so it too may have been built by king Harald.

He also constructed the oldest known bridge in southern Scandinavia, known as the Ravninge Bridge in Ravninge meadows, which was 5m wide and 760m long.

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Ankhesenamun (ˁnḫ-s-n-imn, “Her Life Is of Amun”; c. 1348 – after 1324 BCE) was a queen of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt. Born as Ankhesenpaaten, she was the third of six known daughters of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten and his Great Royal Wife Nefertiti, and became the Great Royal Wife of her (half-)brother Tutankhamen. The change in her name reflects the changes in Ancient Egyptian religion during her lifetime after her father's death. Her youth is well documented in the ancient reliefs and paintings of the reign of her parents.

She was probably born in year 4 of Akhenaten's reign and by year 12 of her father's reign she was joined by her three younger sisters. He possibly made his wife his co-regent and had his family portrayed in a realistic style in all official artwork.

Ankhesenamun was definitely married to one king - she was the Great Royal Wife of pharaoh Tutankhamun (who may have been her half-brother). It is also possible that she was briefly married to Tutankhamun's successor, also her grandfather, Ay. It has also been posited that she may have been the great royal wife of her father, Akhenaten, after the possible death of her mother and co-regent of Akhenaten's immediate successor, Smenkhkare.

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Ankhesenpaaten was born in a time when Egypt was in transition (c. 1348 BC). Her father had abandoned the old deities of Egypt in favor of the Aten, a minor sun-god who was the physical Sun Disk.

She is believed to have been born in Waset (present-day Thebes), but probably grew up in her father's new capital city of Akhetaten (present-day Amarna). The three eldest daughters – Meritaten, Meketaten, and Ankhesenpaaten – became the "Senior Princesses" and participated in many functions of the government and religion.

[...]

She is believed to have been married first to her own father, and is thought to have been the mother of the princess Ankhesenpaaten Tasherit (possibly by her father or by Smenkhkare) when she was twelve, although the parentage is unclear.

After her father's death and a presumed short marriage to Smenkhkare, she became the wife of Tutankhamun. Following their marriage, the couple honored the deities of the restored religion by changing their names to Tutankhamen and Ankhesenamen. The couple appear to have had two stillborn daughters, although there is no evidence of their relationship to the remains found in Tutankhamun's tomb. Some time in the ninth year of his reign, at about the age of eighteen, Tutankhamen died suddenly leaving Ankhesenamen alone without an heir at about age twenty-one.

A ring shows that Ankhesenamen married Ay, shortly before she disappeared from history, although no monuments show her as a royal consort. On the walls of Ay's tomb it is Tey (Ay's senior wife), not Ankhesenamen, who appears as queen. She probably died during or shortly after his reign and as of yet no burial has been found for her

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"Have I missed the mark, or, like true archer, do I strike my quarry? Or am I prophet of lies, a babbler from door to door?" (Cassandra. Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1194).

Source: Greek Mythology

[...]

In Greek mythology, Cassandra (Greek: Κασσάνδρα, "she who entangles men", also known as Alexandra) was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Her beauty caused Apollo to grant her the gift of prophecy. In an alternative version, she spent a night at Apollo's temple, at which time the temple snakes licked her ears clean so that she was able to hear the future. This is a recurring theme in Greek mythology, though sometimes it brings an ability to understand the language of animals rather than an ability to know the future. However, when she did not return his love, Apollo placed a curse on her so that no one would ever believe her predictions. She is a figure both of the epic tradition and of tragedy, where her combination of deep understanding and powerlessness exemplify the tragic condition of humankind.

[...]

Apollo's cursed gift became a source of endless pain and frustration. In some versions of the myth, this is symbolized by the god spitting into her mouth; in other Greek versions, this act was sufficient to remove the gift so recently given by Apollo, but Cassandra's case varies. From Aeschylus' Agamemnon, it appears that she has made a promise to Apollo to become his consort, but broke it, thus incurring his wrath: though she has retained the power of foresight, no one will believe her predictions.

While Cassandra foresaw the destruction of Troy (she warned the Trojans about the Trojan Horse, the death of Agamemnon, and her own demise), she was unable to do anything to forestall these tragedies since they did not believe her.

Coroebus and Othronus came to the aid of Troy out of love for Cassandra. Cassandra was also the first to see the body of her brother Hector being brought back to the city.

At the fall of Troy, she sought shelter in the temple of Athena, where she was violently abducted and raped by Ajax the Lesser. Cassandra was then taken as a concubine by King Agamemnon of Mycenae. Unbeknownst to Agamemnon, while he was away at war, his wife, Clytemnestra, had begun an affair with Aegisthus. Clytemnestra and Aegisthus then murdered both Agamemnon and Cassandra. Some sources mention that Cassandra and Agamemnon had twin boys, Teledamus and Pelops, both of whom were killed by Aegisthus.

Telephus, the son of Heracles, loved Cassandra but she scorned him and instead helped him seduce her sister Laodice.

[...]

In more modern literature, Cassandra has often served as a model for tragedy and Romance, and has given rise to the archetypal character of someone whose prophetic insight is obscured by insanity, turning their revelations into riddles or disjointed statements that are not fully comprehended until after the fact. Notable examples are the character of River Tam from the science fiction TV series Firefly, the character Cassandra in the TV series The X-Files (an alien abductee that nobody took seriously), and the science fiction short story "Cassandra" by C. J. Cherryh.

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Okuni (1572?-?) was the originator of kabuki theater. She was believed to be a miko at the Grand Shrine of Izumo who began performing this new style of dancing, singing, and acting in the dry riverbeds of Kyoto.


Okuni grew up in the vicinity of the Izumo shrine, where her father worked as a blacksmith, and where several other family members served. Eventually Okuni joined as a miko, where she was known for her skill in dancing and acting, as well as her beauty. As it was a custom of the time to send priests, miko and others to solicit contributions for the shrine, she was sent to Kyoto to perform sacred dances and songs.

It was during her performances in Kyoto that she also became known for her performances of nembutsu odori (or nembutsu dance) in honor of the Amida Buddha. Though this dance traces its origins to Kūya, a tenth-century evangelist of Pure Land Buddhism, by Okuni's time it had become a largely secular folk dance, and her particular adaptation tended to be known for its sultriness and sexual innuendo. Other popular themes for Okuni's acts included humorous skits about lover's trysts at various public establishments and meetings between men and prostitutes. Between these and other dances and acts, she garnered much attention and began to draw large crowds wherever she performed. Eventually she was summoned to return to the shrine, a call she ignored, though she continued to send money back.


Around 1603, Okuni began performing on the dry riverbed of the Shijōgawara (Fourth Street Dry Riverbed) of the Kamo River and at Kitano Shrine. Gathering up the female outcasts and misfits of the region, particularly those involved in prostitution, Okuni gave them direction, teaching them acting, dancing and singing skills in order to form her troupe. Several theories exist as to the etymology of the word kabuki, one being that it is derived from those who, oddly dressed and swaggering on the street, had been dubbed kabukimono (from kabuku "to lean in a certain direction", and mono, "people"). Another possible origin is katamuki, which means "slanted" or "strongly-inclined." In either case, others labeled Okuni's troupe's performances kabuki due to their eccentricity and social daring. The earliest performances of kabuki were dancing and song with no significant plot, often disdained as gaudy and cacophonous, but equally lauded as colorful and beautiful.

As mentioned above, Okuni's troupe was exclusively female. Thus, she required her actors to play both male and female roles. In particular, Okuni herself was best known for her roles as samurai and Christian priests. As her troupe gained fame, she was emulated by many others, particularly brothels, which offered such shows to amuse wealthy clients, as well as to gain prostitutes who had marketable acting and singing skills. This new style of exclusively female troupes became known by the alternate names of shibai, onnakabuki, (from onna, the Japanese word for "woman" or "girl") and Okuni kabuki.


Eventually, with the aid of Ujisato Sanzaburō, who supported Okuni financially as well as artistically, kabuki evolved into a more dramatic style. On a more personal level, Sanzaburō was also said to be Okuni's lover, though they did not marry. After his death she continued without him, continuing to merge the drama with the music and dance. Eventually, her fame and that of her kabuki troupe spread throughout Japan.

Okuni retired around 1610, and after that time she disappeared. In 1629, due to public outcry of morals, those under the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu forbade women from performing in kabuki. This was quickly replaced by the use of young men as actors/"actresses," though this was quickly banned as well due to some of the same issues of prostitution and corruption of morals, restricting the performances to those by older men, which is a standing practice in the official theatres even today.

There are several theories of Okuni's year of death: some say in 1613, others in 1640 or 1658.

In November 2003 a statue was erected in her honor and to commemorate 400 years of kabuki. It is located on Kawabata Street at the north of the Shijō Ōhashi, near the shore of the Kamo River in Kyoto.


In addition to her founding of kabuki, Okuni contributed to Japanese theatre in general. She is said to have introduced the forerunner of the hanamichi (path of flowers), a runway leading from the rear of the theatre and crossing between the audience to the stage. This has been incorporated in several Japanese theatre arts beyond that of kabuki.


Unlike her role in history, Okuni's appearances in fiction often portray her as a betsushikime, a capable fighter skilled with weapons and magic.

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Leonidas (pronounced /liːˈɒnɨdəs/, Greek: Λεωνίδας; "Lion's son", "Lion-like") was a king of Sparta, the 17th of the Agiad line, one of the sons of King Anaxandridas II of Sparta, who was believed in mythology to be a descendant of Heracles, possessing much of the latter's strength and bravery. While it has been established that King Leonidas of Sparta died at the Battle of Thermopylae in August, 480 BC, very little is known about the year of his birth, or for that matter, his formative years. Paul Cartledge has narrowed the date of the birth of King Leonidas to around 540 BC.

Leonidas was one of three brothers: he had an older brother Dorieus and a younger brother Cleombrotus, who ruled as regent for a while on Leonidas' death before the regency was taken over by Pausanias, who was Cleombrotus' son. Leonidas succeeded his half-brother Cleomenes I, probably in 489 or 488 BC, and was married to Cleomenes' daughter, Gorgo. His name was raised to heroic status as a result of the events in the Battle of Thermopylae, one of the most famous battles in ancient history.

[...]

Popular culture:


Leonidas was the name of an Epic poem written by Richard Glover, which originally appeared in 1737. It went on to appear in 4 other editions, being expanded from 9 books to 12.
Leonidas appears as an NPC in the PC game Titan Quest.
Leonidas also appears as an NPC in the video game Spartan: Total Warrior. In that game, he leads the playable character in battle against the Romans.
Leonidas appears both as a warrior and a promo king of the south warrior in the card game Anachronism.
Fedora 11, a distribution of Linux, is codenamed Leonidas after the Spartan king.
Leonidas appeared in the video game Civilization IV as a Great General unit.
Leonidas and the Battle of Thermopylae are fully described in Steven Pressfield's historical novel Gates of Fire. Published 1998
Leonidas at Thermopyles: History from Ancient Texts by Prof. Marcy George-Kokkinaki (http://www.asxetos.gr/article.aspx?i=1608)
"Leonidas" is a movement of the Delta Halo Suite from the game Halo 2.
"Thermopylae Soon" is a movement of the Finale from the game Halo 2.
"Leonidas Returns" is a movement of the Covenant suite from the game Halo 3
Leonidas is a chain of Belgian chocolate stores, with a Spartan helmet as its logo.
Leonidas became the subject of an Internet meme, with Gerard Butler's (see above) portrayal of him screaming "This is Sparta!" This spawned a series of parodies, in which Leonidas' face is superimposed on someone else's, accompanied with the latter phrase, or some altered version, sometimes accompanied with other lines from the movie.
In the MMORPG Atlantica Online, Leonidas is the "Hero" (upgraded) version of the "Spartan" Mercenary.



Source: Wikipedia

[...]

As a result of a social revolution occurring in the 8th-7th centuries BC, the whole Spartan state became militarised. This was made possible by the conquest of neighbouring lands, and the enserfment of the people. Known as Helots, they farmed the lands owned by the Spartans, thus removing the burden of supporting Sparta from the Spartans themselves. This left the Spartans free to dedicate themselves to the art of war.

From the age of seven onwards, Spartan males were trained for a life of warfare. They were taught iron discipline, and almost programmed to forget about their individuality for the sake of Sparta. The strenuous training and comradeship engendered between Spartans made them ideally suited to hoplite warfare which required high levels of discipline and selflessness. Spartans were taught not to fear death, only the shame of defeat in battle. In Spartan military culture, throwing away a soldier's aspis was not acceptable. The saying went: "Come home with this shield or upon it".

It is not quite accurate to describe Spartans as professional soldiers, as the military was not an occupation which they chose, but a requirement by birth. Spartans were not employed as soldiers; instead, they were provided with serfs to support them. This can be compared to feudal Europe; knights were not professional soldiers, but a militaristic caste, supported by the local population. Nevertheless, despite their obvious differences compared to other Greek city-states, the Spartans fought in much the same way as other Greeks, only perhaps more effectively. The Spartans did, unusually, have standard-issue equipment, including a shield called the aspis, featuring the Greek letter lambda (Λ), in reference to their homeland Lacedaemonia and the bronzed cuirass that was bestowed upon all of the Spartans with their helmet. Every Spartan wore a scarlet robe to represent them as Spartans. The Helots would usually accompany the Spartans in battles and provide ranged support, for the Spartans thought of archery as a job unfit for a true warrior. The Helots also set camps and performed labour for the Spartans whilst on campaign.

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Zhao Yun (? - 229) was a major military general during the civil wars of the late Han Dynasty and during the Three Kingdoms era of China. For most of his career, Zhao Yun served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of Shu Han. In literature and folklore he is lauded as the third member of the Five Tiger Generals.

Due to the limited historical records, many facts about Zhao Yun's life remain unclear or unknown. The original records in Chen Shou's Records of Three Kingdoms are only a couple of hundred words long. Pei Songzhi's annotations provide a relatively clear, though still incomplete picture of Zhao Yun's life.

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Many of Zhao Yun's actual exploits were highly dramatized in Luo Guanzhong's novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In the novel, Zhao Yun is described as being almost perfect, possessing unparalleled physical power as well as unwavering loyalty to his master, tremendous courage, keen intelligence and serene charisma. These traits have often been reflected in almost all modern material regarding Zhao Yun to date. The novel portrays him as a courageous, loyal, and heroic warrior, and show him surviving insurmountable odds, many times single-handedly.

The rescue of Liu Shan in Changban

The novel portrayed Zhao Yun quickly and single-handedly slaying numerous enemy generals as he rode his horse from group to group during the Battle of Changban, asking fleeing Shu soldiers where Lady Gan, Lady Mi, and Liu Shan had disappeared. As proof of his resolve, he stated that he would search through heaven and hell to find them and if he could not, he would die on the battlefield. One of the many generals that fell to Zhao Yun was Xiahou En, who carried one of Cao Cao's prized swords, the "Qing Gang", which Zhao Yun took with him. Upon finally finding Lady Mi and Liu Shan near an old well, Lady Mi, who was injured in the leg, gave the child to Zhao Yun and refused to go with him stating that she would only slow them down. With enemy soldiers approaching, the two argued until Lady Mi threw herself into a nearby well, killing herself. Zhao Yun then placed the child inside his breast armor and proceeded to fight his way out through overwhelming encirclement of enemy soldiers, using only his lance and the newly acquired Qinggang sword. Zhao Yun's valor impressed even Cao Cao, who ordered his men not to use archers on Zhao Yun, but capture him alive instead in the hope that Zhao Yun would surrender to his side. Throughout the battle, Zhao Yun charged seven times in and out of Cao Cao's troops, and killed over fifty enemy commanders.

When Zhao Yun fought his way to the Changban Bridge he met up with Zhang Fei, who stayed behind to stop the incoming Wei troops. When Zhao Yun finally returned to Liu Bei's side, he felt very guilty over his failure to bring back Lady Mi. Liu Bei threw Liu Shan to the ground, saying his infant son was not worth risking his great general's life. Zhao Yun barely caught him.

Zhao Yun rescues Ah Dou from Lady Sun

In Chapter 61 (a fictionalization of a true incident), Lady Sun (younger sister of the powerful warlord Sun Quan), who married to Liu Bei to secure an alliance between the two factions, returned to her homeland to visit her sick mother. However, the sickness was a lie to lure Lady Sun to bring along Liu Shan, who would then be used as a hostage to exchange for the Jing province with Liu Bei. When Zhao Yun learned of her departure, he rushed down to the quay, where Lady Sun had already boarded the boat manned by Zhou Shan , whom Sun Quan sent to fetch his sister.

Grabbing hold of a small fishing boat, Zhao Yun caught up with the larger boat and leapt onto it. Soldiers from the Kingdom of Wu were not able to stop him. Although Zhao Yun was able to forcibly retrieve Liu Shan from his stepmother, he was not able to get off the boat, which was speeding down the river back to Wu lands. Fortunately, the boat was intercepted by a fleet led by Zhang Fei. When Zhou Shan tried to resist, Zhang Fei slew him. The two generals then brought the only son of Liu Bei safely back while Lady Sun returned to her mother.

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Zhao Yun has become a popular figure in Chinese culture, having been featured prominently in literature, art, anecdotes, etc. Already a relatively well-known hero from the Three Kingdoms period through tales told for centuries, Zhao Yun became a household name after the wide success of the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms .

Recently Zhao Yun’s popularity has moved well beyond Asia and into the Western world through various media including the Internet and video games. Zhao Yun is often portrayed as being youthful and handsome, fearless and invincible, calm and intelligent, genuine and selfless in today’s operas, novels, games, comics and plays.

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Zhao Yun has been a central character in the Dynasty Warriors video game series developed by Koei. He is usually placed in a prominent position on the manual/cover of each title and is the character most often used by the developers in screenshots and promotional materials for upcoming releases. Because of this, Zhao Yun is widely perceived as the "face" of the Dynasty Warriors series, and is now instantly recognisable to those familiar with the titles. In Dynasty Warriors 6 he has a new silver armour and a longer spear called "Dragon Spike". His hair has been changed from a ponytail or long hair to spikey hair.

In DW5, he continues to fight for Shu after Liu Bei's death, and talks with Liu Chan in his ending. In DW6, Zhao Yun becomes the top commander under Liu Bei. In DW4 Xtreme Legends, Zhao Yun must rescue Liu Chan and escape. In DW5 Xtreme Legends, he and Huang Zhong must repel enemy forces.

Zhao Yun also appears in Warriors Orochi where he is captured by Orochi's forces at the beginning of the game. He is later rescued by Zuo Ci, Shimazu Yoshihiro and Xing Cai. He then goes on a quest to find and free Liu Bei and aligned himself with Sanada Yukimura who he felt was his match and shared the same beliefs he did. Together with Yukimura as well as other allies, he was successful in saving him. Although his character in the game is essentially the same as it was in Dynasty Warriors 5, he is also given a new, somewhat quirky sense of humor. He also has an important role in the other storylines, thus making him one of the main protagonists in the game along with Sun Ce, Cao Pi, and Oda Nobunaga.

Zhao Yun reappears in Warriors Orochi 2 playing a much smaller role, where he and Wei Yan provide reinforcements for Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Saika Village. Later, he along with Akechi Mitsuhide and Zhang Liao attack Taira Kiyomori at Koshi Castle in an attempt to stop a ritual to revive Orochi involving Himiko. In Dream Mode, Zhao Yun, Sanada Yukimura, and Shimazu Yoshihiro save Liu Bei and peasants.

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Gyebaek (died 660) was a general in the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje during the early to mid 7th century. Little else is known of his personal life—including the year and location of his birth. The Taekwondo pattern Gyebaek is named after him.
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Baekje and Goguryeo joined forces to attack Silla, although they were eventually driven back when Silla received aid from Tang Dynasty China. In 660, when a huge united army of Silla and the Chinese invaded Baekje, General Gyebaek organized 5,000 soldiers of the highest morale and courage to meet them in battle. He knew before he set out that his army was outnumbered and that his efforts would be futile, but he did not hesitate to try to defend his country, reportedly stating I would rather die than be a slave of the enemy. He then killed his wife and family to prevent them from falling into the hands of opposing forces, and to prevent the thought of them to influence his actions or cause him to falter in battle.

His forces won four small initial battles, but then he was forced to move his forces to block the advance of General Kim Yu-shin on the Baekje capital, Buyeo. The two generals met on the plains of Hwangsan Field, in present day Hamyang, near Chiri Mountain. Gyebaek's forces fought bravely but they were outnumbered ten to one and, in the end, he and his men were annihilated.
Baekje was destroyed after 678 years of rule, but shortly after Gyebaek's defeat and death at Hwangsan Field. As Neo-Confucian philosophy became more influential in the later Korean Dynasties, Gyebaek was recognized by historians and scholars are exemplifying the Confucian ideals of patriotism and devotion to his King and praised as such. Although not much else is known about Gyebaek's life, his actions leading up to his last battle are the stuff of legend well known to most Koreans.

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Morgan le Fay, alternatively known as Morgane, Morgain, Morgana and other variants, is a powerful sorceress and antagonist of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere in the Arthurian legend. Early works featuring Morgan do not elaborate her character beyond her role as a fay or magician. She became much more prominent in the later cyclical prose works such as the Lancelot-Grail and the Post-Vulgate Cycle, in which she is said to be the daughter of Arthur's mother, the Lady Igraine, and her first husband, Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall; Arthur is her half brother by Igraine and Uther Pendragon.

Morgan has at least two older sisters, Elaine and Morgause, the latter of whom is the mother of Gawain and the traitor Mordred. In Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and elsewhere, she is married, unhappily, to King Urien of Gore and Ywain is her son. Though she becomes an adversary of the Round Table when Guinevere discovers her adultery with one of her husband's knights, she eventually reconciles with her brother, and even serves as one of the four enchantresses who carry the king to Avalon after his final battle at Camlann. She was also later introduced into the Matter of France, where she is mainly associated with Ogier the Dane.


As her name indicates, the figure of Morgan appears to have been originally a fairy (le Fay from the french La fée=fairy) rather than a human woman. Later transformed into a woman, and King Arthur's half sister, she became an enchantress to continue her powers. Inspiration for her character came from earlier Welsh mythology and literature; she has often been compared with the goddess Modron, a figure derived from the continental Dea Matrona featured with some frequency in medieval Welsh literature. Modron appears in Welsh Triad 70, in which her children by Urien, Owain and Morfydd, are called the "Three Blessed Womb-Burdens of the Island of Britain,"[2] and a later folktale preserved in Peniarth MS 147 records the story behind this conception more fully. Urien is Morgan le Fay's husband in the continental romances, while Owain mab Urien is the historical figure behind their son Ywain. Additionally, Modron is called "daughter of Avallach," a Welsh ancestor deity whose name can also be interpreted as a noun meaning "a place of apples"; In fact, in the story of Owain and Morvydd's conception in Peniarth 147, Modron is called the "daughter of the king of Avallach." This is similar to Avalon, the "Isle of Apples" with which Morgan le Fay has been associated since her earliest appearances. Additional speculation sometimes connects Morgan with the Irish goddess Morrígan, though there are few similarities between the two beyond the spelling of their names.

Morgan first appears by name in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini, written about 1150. Purportedly an account of the wizard Merlin's later adventures, it elaborates some episodes from Geoffrey's more famous earlier work, Historia Regum Britanniae. In the Historia, Geoffrey explains that after Arthur is seriously wounded at the Battle of Camlann, he is taken off to Avalon, the Isle of Apples, to be healed. In the Vita Merlini he describes this island in more detail and names "Morgen" as the chief of nine magical sisters who dwell there. Morgan retains this role as Arthur's otherworldly healer in much later literature.

Before the cyclical Old French romances, appearances of Morgan are few. Chrétien de Troyes mentions her in his first romance Erec and Enide, completed around 1170; he says one guest at the titular characters' wedding, a certain Guigomar, lord of the Isle of Avalon, is a friend of Morgan. She is later mentioned in the same poem when Arthur provides a wounded Erec with a healing balm made by his sister Morgan; this episode both affirms her early role as a healer and provides the first mention of Morgan as Arthur's sister. Chrétien again refers to Morgan as a great healer in his later romance Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, in an episode in which two ladies restore the maddened hero to his senses with a concoction provided by Morgan. However, it should be noted that while Modron is the mother of Owain in Welsh literature, and Morgan would be assigned this role in later French literature, this first continental association between Ywain and Morgan does not imply they are son and mother.

uhjpae

But why is Robin Hood in AO a female? You have any answers?

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lm8dark

Cool info about cassandra being given the power of prophecy by apollo... Now i know whe she is the prophet ^^

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dhrddm

Not realy. Just that AO is stated as being in a paralel univers. The countries are developed diferently from our own, great people live in the same times so maybe Robin and Paganini are females in this AO reality...