Born on December 31

Roman orator, politician, and philosopher (106–43 BC), Cicero is one of the greatest figures of the Roman Republic. He left a lasting mark on Latin literature through his eloquence and philosophical works, becoming a model of rhetoric for centuries to come.

King of England from 1199 to 1216, son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He lost most of the Plantagenet continental possessions to Philip Augustus and was forced to sign Magna Carta in 1215.

Dutch physician, botanist and chemist, professor at the University of Leiden. Considered the founder of modern clinical teaching and one of the greatest physicians of his era, he trained students who came from all over Europe.

Henri Matisse was a French painter, draughtsman, printmaker and sculptor, the leader of Fauvism. Regarded as one of the major artists of the 20th century, he revolutionized the use of pure color and, late in his life, invented the technique of cut-out gouaches.

Maurice Sinet (1928-2016), known as Siné, was a French press cartoonist and caricaturist, a figure of anarchism and satirical drawing. His sharp-lined drawings left their mark on the post-war French press, from L'Express to Charlie Hebdo.