#31 – Kristina Augusta, Queen of Sweden (1632-1654), Duchess of Bremen-Verden (1648-1654)

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The death of her heir brought her back to Sweden, to claim the crown. But now Catholic, she was refused and five-year-old Carl XI succeeded his father. When her heirless Vasa second cousin abdicated in Poland, she made an attempt to get herself elected, but she failed there as well. 10/10

Her experience as queen would remain as a strong emotion. In 1656, she plotted with Cardinal Mazarin of France to seize Naples, which was then ruled by Spain. But a betrayal from within would lead to the collapse of that plot. 9/10

She provided the impetus for artists like Alessandro Scarlatti and Arcangelo Corelli. She would finally die in 1689, buried in St Peter's Basilica as one of the three women to buried there. Despite a strong legacy in arts, it was not the prime driver in her life. 8/10

Only 28, the ex-Queen Kristina was not done yet. She converted to Catholicism and moved to Rome, where she was accepted with much pomp and show. Her patronage of arts continued throughout her life leading to the creation of Accademia Dell’arcadia after her death. 7/10

In 1649, having decided not to marry, she declared her cousin, Karl Gustav von Zweibrücken as her heir. She abdicated in his favour in 1654, ending the rule of House of Vasa in Sweden. A senior line was still ruling in Poland, but they had been deposed from Sweden for being Catholic. 6/10

Kristina gained control of Bremen, Verden and Western Pomerania in the Peace of Westphalia that ended the Thirty Years War. With the war over, she could focus her attention of arts and science. Sweden grew as a centre for learning during this period. 5/10

Kristina came of age in 1644 and took the throne for herself. Though Sweden's role in the German religious wars had diminished after her father's death, especially with the entry of France, Kristina kept a watchful eye as she sued for peace. The war would incur a terrible cost on Europe. 4/10

The Protestants were victorious in Lutzen and the Swedish war effort continued, while regents ruled Sweden on Kristina's behalf.

She grew up as an excellent student, with the best of teachers, inviting René Descartes to teach philosophy. He would later die in Stockholm. 3/10

In 1630, Sweden, a Lutheran state, entered the war raging in Germany over religion. Gustaf's leadership turned a losing Protestant effort towards victory. But his death in 1632 during the Battle of Lutzen would put a brake on their progress as a young Kristina ascended to the throne of Sweden. 2/10

Princess Kristina Augusta was born in 1626, the only child of the Swedish king Gustaf Adolf and his wife Marie Eleonore.

Her father had propelled Sweden as a great northern power and raised it into a military power. 1/10

#30 – Dmitry Ivanovich, Prince of Moscow (1359-1389), Grand Prince of Vladimir (1362-1389)

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As Third Rome, Moscow would see itself as the protector of the Orthodox faith for centuries, a role which played a crucial role in its engagements with the Ottomans especially in the 19th and 20th centuries. 10/10

Ivan was also the first to use the title Tsar (Based on Caesar, earlier used by the Bulgars) and his grandson, also Ivan, would unite all the remaining independent Rus' dominion as Russia in 1547. Moscow would remain the capital of Russia until 1703, but return again in 1918. 9/10

Dmitry's great grandson, Ivan, would finally end the tributes in 1480. He would also marry the Byzantine princess Zoe Palaiologina, daughter of Thomas Palaiologos, Despot of Morea. The union would be the basis for Moscow to call itself Third Rome, after Rome and Constantinople. 8/10

The victory was short lived though. The Golden Horde would get a new Khan soon. This new Khan, Tokhtamysh, would besiege Moscow and get the tribute reinstated. But the period of brief independence would be the stepping stone for far greater heights for Moscow. 7/10

Two years later came another victory for Dmitry. This time he had with him many of the remaining Rurikid princes as well. He would rout the Golden Horde's forces led by General Mamai at Kulikovo near the Don River, giving Dmitry the cognomen Donskoy. 6/10

The Mongol domination had started to fail due to internal strife. By 1375, Dmitry had stopped paying them tributes. In 1378, the Golden Horde sent an army to punish Moscow. But it was Dmitry who would come out victorious, at Vozha River. 5/10

Tver, another major Rus' principality, had allied with Algirdas, with Algirdas marrying Tver princess Iuliana. As Algirdas besieged Moscow, Dmitry would stay safe with the help of the newly rebuilt Kremlin. The war ended in a truce, raising Moscow's prestige among the Rus'. 4/10