Born on March 25

Andronikos III Palaiologos (1297–1341) was Byzantine emperor from 1328 to 1341. He came to power after a civil war against his grandfather Andronikos II. His reign was marked by military campaigns and the rising power of the Ottoman Empire.

Italian conductor (1867–1957), considered one of the greatest in history. Music director of La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Philharmonic, he was renowned for his absolute rigor and prodigious memory.

French actress and writer (1921–1985), Simone Signoret was the first French actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for Room at the Top (1959). An icon of postwar cinema, she was equally recognized for her political activism and her memoirs.

American novelist and short story writer (1925–1964), a major figure of Southern Gothic literature. Her work blends the grotesque, violence, and divine grace in the American Deep South.

An American journalist and feminist activist, Gloria Steinem is one of the iconic figures of the women's movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Co-founder of Ms. magazine in 1972, she dedicated her life to defending gender equality and civil rights.

American singer nicknamed the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin is one of the most powerful voices of the 20th century. A committed artist, she contributed to the civil rights movement and left her mark on world music with songs that became anthems.