Born on May 12

Justinian was a Byzantine emperor who reigned from 527 to 565. He is famous for codifying Roman law in the Justinian Code and for conquering vast territories. His reign marks the height of the Byzantine Empire.

Florentine philosopher and statesman (1469–1527), Machiavelli is the author of The Prince, a treatise that laid the foundations of modern political realism. He analyzes power as it is actually exercised, not as it should be, revolutionizing political thought during the Renaissance.

British nurse and statistician (1820–1910), she revolutionized hospital care during the Crimean War. A pioneer of public health, she founded the first secular nursing school and used statistics to demonstrate the critical importance of hygiene.

An Indonesian national heroine, Cut Nyak Dhien led armed resistance against Dutch occupation in the Aceh region (Sumatra) following the death of her husband. A symbol of Indonesian nationalism, she fought until her capture in 1905 despite serious illness.

An American film and stage actress, Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) is considered one of the greatest stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. She won four Academy Awards for Best Actress, an absolute record.

British chemist (1910-1994)

Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) was a major postwar German artist — sculptor, draughtsman, and performer. A theorist of “social sculpture,” he expanded the notion of art to encompass the transformation of society and was a central figure in European contemporary art.