Born on December 16

A Spanish Infanta who became Queen of England, Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of Henry VIII. Her refusal to have their marriage annulled triggered the Anglican schism and England's break with Rome.

German composer (1770–1827) who marked the transition between musical classicism and romanticism. Despite his progressive deafness, he created major works that revolutionized Western music, including the famous 9th Symphony.

Jane Austen (1775-1817) was a major English novelist of the 19th century, author of romantic and social novels that subtly critique the social conventions of her time. Her work, most notably Pride and Prejudice, explores human relationships and the stakes of marriage with irony and psychological insight.

Remedios Varo (1908-1963) was a Surrealist painter of Spanish origin who became a naturalized Mexican citizen. Fleeing the Spanish Civil War and then war-torn Europe, she settled in Mexico City, where she developed a dreamlike body of work blending alchemy, science and mysticism.

Liv Ullmann is a Norwegian actress, director, and screenwriter born in 1938. The muse of filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, she established herself as one of the greatest actresses in European cinema of the 20th century. She also advocates for children's rights as a UNICEF ambassador.