History

Hollywood loves a good biopic. But many of the same stories get told over and over again - think of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/who-was-henry-viii/carly-silver">Henry VIII</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/lincoln-assassination-facts/setareh-janda">Abraham Lincoln</a> - even though there are plenty of lesser-known, unsung <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://m.ranker.com/list/people-who-should-have-biopics/matthewcoleweiss">historical figures who deserve a movie</a> about their lives, too.Just because a&nbsp;historical figure may not be widely known doesn't mean their story isn't worth telling. In fact, films are a great&nbsp;- if not strictly accurate - way to&nbsp;introduce&nbsp;people to lesser-known figures. That's certainly true of movies like&nbsp;Hidden Figures,&nbsp;Ammonite, and&nbsp;The Imitation Game, which helped 21st-century folks get to know historical figures Katherine Johnson, Mary Anning, and Alan Turing.Similarly, the people on this list should have their stories told, too. From <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/adrian-de-carton-wiart-unkillable-soldier/setareh-janda">soldiers who exemplified military chutzpah</a> to writers who demonstrated that the pen is mightier than the sword, these historical figures lived epic&nbsp;lives that would be compelling fodder for biopics.

16 Lesser-Known Historical Figures Who Deserve Their Own Biopic

Person

Setareh Janda

Since the dawn of civilization, a lot of important things have happened. Here are lists of about the many winding routes we took to get where we are today.

Historical Contexts

If you come at the king, you’d best not miss, and if you do succeed, you’d better be ready to look over your shoulder for the rest of your days. Even when a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/why-do-military-coups-happen/megan-summers">conspiracy to topple a king</a> actually succeeds, that doesn’t mean things worked out for the perpetrators. Regicide often comes with unforeseen costs.&nbsp;This collection looks at the times when historical backstabbers got way more than they bargained for.&nbsp;

10 Historical Backstabs That Backfired Big Time

General

M. Muir

Historical Figures

Photography&nbsp;is a relatively recent invention. Although the first true photograph as we know it was taken roughly 200 years ago, that&#39;s obviously&nbsp;just a tiny slice of recorded history. For all of those &quot;lost years,&quot; historians have had to get creative in <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/3d-recreations-of-historical-figures/stephanroget" target="_blank">reimagining&nbsp;famous historical figures</a>. Though photography grew increasingly prolific after its invention, there&#39;s a sort of twilight period when historical figures were actually photographed, yet the rare photos aren&#39;t&nbsp;that well known.&nbsp;

These real pictures of historical figures like John Quincy Adams, Harriet Tubman, and Billy the Kid can give a whole new perspective on when these people lived. The fact that they&#39;re preserved on camera is mind-blowing. Vote up the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/last-known-photos-of-historical-figures/cleo-egnal?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">images of historical figures</a> you&#39;re most surprised to see exist.

20 Photos Of Historic Figures We Didn't Know Lived Long Enough To Be Photographed

Mallory Weiler

Lifestyle

If you&#39;ve ever been on the lookout for a new roommate, you know how hard it is to find someone who fits what you&#39;re looking for. People bring with them all kinds of stuff - physical possessions and personality quirks alike. A new roommate might have some clothes you want to wear or add cool gadgets to the kitchen, but they could just as easily be accompanied by a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/1960s-exotic-pet-fad/claire-stephens" target="_blank">problematic pet</a> or some really <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strange-historical-friendships/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">obnoxious friends</a>. There&#39;s just no way to know.

When we got to thinking about this conundrum, we wondered which figures in history would be OK to live with. Leaders, celebrities, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-british-royal-family-facts/alby-thompson" target="_blank">members of royal families</a>,&nbsp;inventors - they&#39;d all have much to offer in&nbsp;a living situation. But would the pros cancel out some of the cons? Luckily, we broke it down&nbsp;so you could decide for yourself. Happy roommate hunting!

12 Historical Figures Ranked By Roommate Potential

Melissa Sartore

Exploring the strange and fascinating lives of rulers, royals, and royalty all around the world and throughout history.

We Will Never Be Royals

Weird History

In a monarchy, the common refrain “long live the king!” isn’t always a sincere statement. If you’re next in line for the throne, you've got even less reason to wish for longevity for the king (or queen). The trouble with being the heir apparent is that there’s no apparent way of knowing just how long the wait will be. Sometimes it's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/shortest-reigning-monarchs-from-history/setareh-janda">very little time</a>, but as this collection shows, the period can stretch for decades.These are some of the heirs who had the longest waits - and quite a few didn’t even get to rule at the end of it all. Some were outlived by the monarch, while others outlived the monarchy itself. From the seven decades <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/king-charles-iii-facts/melissa-sartore">Charles III had to endure</a>, to the Brazilian princess who likely destroyed her own chances of ascension for a good cause, this collection looks at history’s most patient heirs.

11 Of History's Most Patient Heirs

Think the whole world revolves around you? Read about some Very Important Historical Figures and the fascinating lives they led while changing the world and having no idea that you even exist.

People of the Past

We may know their names and their achievements through art, TV, and film, but many famous historical figures didn't actually leave behind all that much evidence of their existence and deeds. In many cases, all we have to go on in the present day is the word of an ancient scholar writing years, decades, or even centuries later. Many valuable tomes from the time have simply <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-important-missing-historical-documents/melissa-sartore">been lost to the ages</a>, while others lay somewhere beneath the earth waiting to be found.This collection looks at renowned historical figures from the ancient and medieval worlds for whom very little verifiable information has survived into the present day. From the mysterious Chinese general who wrote the book on war to the great Macedonian conqueror whose<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/alexander-empire-died/michael-muir"> empire crumbled immediately</a> upon his demise, we'll see just how little we really know about these great historical figures.&nbsp;

Well-Known Historical Figures Whose Lives Are Surprisingly Poorly Documented 

Entertainment

When you watch your favorite actors onscreen, you often see them transform. They become the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-pictures-of-actors-and-people-they-played-in-biopics/hoserusc" target="_blank">characters they portray</a>, adopting mannerisms and characteristics of individuals who lived long ago. What you may not realize is actors may actually be tapping into an unknown connection between their own history and that of the character they play.&nbsp;

Actors who played their ancestors may know it going into a role, or they may discover it in their preparations to portray someone onscreen. It&#39;s possible an actor may learn about a relationship or link with a character after the fact, offering another layer of involvement in storytelling. Regardless of how it comes to light,&nbsp;real-life connections between actors and the characters they portray make movie and TV watching that much more fun.&nbsp;

People With Real-Life Connections To The Characters They Portrayed

Lists about notable people who were targeted for termination, the ways they were slayed, and their portrayals in the media.

Hits for Hire

Assassinations

What becomes of history&#39;s most notorious villains? While we often hear&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/assassination-weapons/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">gory details about assassination plots</a>, we rarely hear what happened&nbsp;afterward to the assassins of&nbsp;Abraham Lincoln, Franz Ferdinand, John F. Kennedy, and Mahatma Gandhi. What were their lives like after achieving infamy? Did they repent for their sins? Or did they gloat about their misdeeds?

It&#39;s a mixed bag. Some died during their attempt, or were smoked out for what they did (quite literally, in the case of&nbsp;Lincoln&#39;s assassin).&nbsp;Others&nbsp;were regarded as heroes, or served time and&nbsp;returned to society.&nbsp;

You might be surprised by&nbsp;what happened to some of the most famous assassins around the world.

What Actually Happened To Famous Assassins

Emily Mast

Trending Today

Interesting

The chain of command and obeying orders are two concepts that are essential to military success. But military history is still full of people who disobeyed orders. Armies are made up of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/adrian-de-carton-wiart-unkillable-soldier/setareh-janda" target="_blank">individuals</a>, and regardless of the time period or culture, there are always people who buck the system.&nbsp;

The reasons soldiers have disobeyed are as varied as the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unusual-military-units/jim-rowley" target="_blank">world&#39;s militaries themselves</a>. Many have refused commands that they personally found objectionable, like Col. Raoul Berube, the WWI commander who refused to fire on his troops for their perceived cowardice. With others, like Union General Daniel Sickles in the Civil War, their reasons had more to do with their own glory. And sometimes,&nbsp;soldiers have disobeyed because their&nbsp;orders were too cautious,&nbsp;as Australian Lt. Thomas Derrick did during the Battle of Sattelberg in 1943.

Here are some times people disregarded orders -&nbsp;and changed history along the way.

11 Times People Disregarded Orders And Changed History

Jim Rowley

Lists about some of the worst people to ever live and the very bad ways things they did when they let their power go to their heads.

Real Historical Villains

Perhaps the best way to complicate one&#39;s view of a notorious historical figure is to learn about their personal tastes. Even a person that you, and much of the public, may absolutely despise will have had interests that overlap with your own. Look no further than movies for some prime examples. Love&nbsp;Star Wars? So did a famous serial killer.&nbsp;The Godfather? You&#39;re in company with an Iraqi dictator. What about James Bond films? An infamous drug lord and a North Korean supreme leader were big fans -&nbsp;one even owned a box set. Have some warm nostalgia for cartoons like Tom and Jerry? A <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bizarre-obsessions-of-dangerous-dictators/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">Ugandan despot couldn&#39;t get enough</a> of that rascally cat and mouse.

The more <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-cruel-rulers-in-history/michael-anderson" target="_blank">ruthless the figure</a> and wholesome the film, the more shocking the connection. Although you may be tempted to dive into the psychology of each incongruous choice, just know people are people - even the worst ones require good entertainment.

Favorite Movies Of The Most Notorious Figures In History

Favorite Movies Of Notorious Historical Figures

Shane Fraser

Lists about depictions of families and family relationships throughout film, TV, music, and more.

We Are Family

Feuds

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sibling-rivalries-history/jim-rowley">Sibling rivalries can be intense</a> in any context, but especially in royal families. After all, royal rivalries between siblings often have geopolitical repercussions, with entire kingdoms at stake.If there's one thing royals have learned throughout history, it's the importance of having an “heir and a spare”: one child to inherit the throne and another on standby in case anything happens to the first. Although this theoretically makes sense, it has also fostered royal rivalry when soon-to-be kings and queens must contend with other siblings who have legitimate claims to the throne. How can a monarch consolidate his or her own authority -&nbsp;and how can younger siblings make a play for the throne?One solution is straightforward, if risky: eliminate the competition. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-patient-heirs/michael-muir">Unlike patient royal heirs</a>, some soon-to-be monarchs have killed their siblings to ensure that they never pose a threat. Conversely, queen or king siblings have schemed against their crowned family members to usurp their position and claim authority for themselves.&nbsp;At the same time, not all royal rivalries have ended in bloodshed. Some royals simply want their siblings’ support, and that can get complicated when a monarch has to juggle a number of competing responsibilities.From fratricide to smear campaigns and everything in between, these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bloody-historical-family-feuds/setareh-janda">rivalries and family feuds</a> demonstrate that there’s nothing inherently noble about royal families -&nbsp;they can be just as dysfunctional as the rest of us.

13 Of The Most Intense Royal Sibling Rivalries From History

The Most Intense Royal Sibling Rivalries From History

Pop Culture

Biographical movies are released all the time. Few things are as compelling as a true story dramatized with flair. Plenty of actors have won Oscars for playing real people in these films, too. Jamie Foxx got one for playing Ray Charles in Ray, Meryl Streep got one for playing Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, and so on.More rare, but infinitely more fascinating, is when people play themselves in autobiographical movies. Audiences get an added level of authenticity in these cases. Of course, there are all kinds of pitfalls involved in making this happen. If the film isn't well-made, for example, it can come off as nothing more than a vanity project. Conversely, when a celebrity with a distinct personality or specific talent brings their own life events to the screen, believing in the story becomes easier.The following famous people all played themselves in movies that were either true stories or very thinly veiled versions of their lives. Who did it best? Vote up your picks.&nbsp;

15 People Who Starred As Themselves In Their Own Biographical Movies

People Who Played Themselves In Their Own Biopics

Mike McGranaghan

"You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old." -George Burns

Age Is Just a Number

If your career as a writer, actor, or entrepreneur hasn&rsquo;t taken off yet, have no fear! Some of history&rsquo;s most legendary movers and shakers didn&rsquo;t peak until later in their life. The common thread between every person on this list is that they never gave up, even in the face of rejection and adversity.

Whether it was Samuel L. Jackson or Winston Churchill, these historical figures all reached the peak of their success in the latter portion of their life.&nbsp;

Historical Figures We Never Realized Peaked Only At The End Of Their Lives

Historical Figures Who Peaked After 40

Liv Pasquarelli

Whoa Facts

There are certain major historical figures who we automatically associate with a particular decade or period of time, but sometimes forget that people live long, productive lives (often outside the public eye) and were around well into other decades where we never imagine them existing. Here are 16 of these examples to warp your sense of time.

Historical Figures Who Lived A Lot Longer Than You Thought

Raelyn Giansanti

As one of the world&#39;s oldest government systems, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/notable-monarch_s)/reference" target="_blank">monarchies</a> have&nbsp;existed in some form for millennia. In all that time, historical royals have done some pretty unbelievable things. From a prince finding a creative way to get out of prison,&nbsp;to a queen who escaped the confines of court by living out her own fantasies, some facts about royals in history are hard to believe. Yet, while they all sound made up, they are absolutely true.

Interesting royal history and facts highlight the power and precarious privilege of&nbsp;kings, queens, princes, and princesses through the ages. After all, successions could be tricky, and&nbsp;royals didn&#39;t always represent the culture of their subjects. These wild facts reveal the disconnect between how people believe royals lived and acted, and how many of them actually lived, acted, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-royalty-quotes-that-sound-fake-but-are-true/setareh-janda" target="_blank">and even spoke</a>.

Facts About Historical Royals That Sound Made Up But Aren’t

In times of crisis, core beliefs can often take a back seat to more immediate goals. Even a sworn <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/states-always-fighting/michael-muir" target="_blank">religious or political&nbsp;foe</a> can seem like a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-allies/michael-muir" target="_blank">friend in a pinch</a>. Sometimes the cooperation stems from a mutual enemy;&nbsp;at other moments, the bigger prize is worth the cost of helping a rival.

From the uneasy coalition of Romans and Barbarian&nbsp;kingdoms that stood against Attila, to the American and German rescue mission in the dying days of World War II, this collection&nbsp;looks at the strangest historical partnerships.

10 Historical Rivals Who Became Friends (For A While)

Historical Figures lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of historical figures lists and rankings

Historical Figures lists on Ranker

A look at major events that happened a long time ago and the people who played the biggest roles in shaping the world as we know it.

Historical Facts & Figures

Influential

This is a list of the most <a href="/list/important-historical-figures-not-taught-in-school/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">influential people</a> of all of human history. This means that the individuals on this list have had a significant effect on how regular people live their lives today and have had a large impact on how modern society works. The names on this list include iconic religious figures, recognizable scientists and inventors, and some of the most powerful&nbsp;<a href="/crowdranked-list/the-most-important-leaders-in-world-history" target="_blank">important leaders in world history</a>. Vote for your top choices and re-rank this list your way.&nbsp;

What makes an individual worthy of a spot on a list of the most influential people ever? Certainly, some of the <a href="/list/greatest-minds-of-all-time/walter-graves" target="_blank">greatest minds of all time</a> deserve to be ranked highly. Examples include Leonardo da Vinci, Sir Isaac Newton, and certainly <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-figure-facts-09252020/mallory-weiler" target="_blank">Albert Einstein</a>. Each one of these incredible and inspirational&nbsp;people used the power of their minds to change the world. Not surprisingly, several names on this list are also among the most <a href="/crowdranked-list/famous-role-models-we_d-like-to-meet-in-person" target="_blank">famous role models we&#39;d like to meet in person</a>.

Featuring historical figures, interesting men, and impactful people, this list of the world&#39;s most legendary figures have had all kinds of effects on the biggest and historic events.

And modern-era figures also deserve to be listed here. Can anyone argue that Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg aren&#39;t among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-most-influential-contemporary-americans" target="_blank">most influential contemporary Americans</a>? It&#39;s time to add your opinions on who you believe are the most&nbsp;influential&nbsp;people&nbsp;in&nbsp;history, with your votes and your rankings.

William Shakespeare

The Legacy Of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The Most Influential People of All Time

Ranker Community

Weird, spooky, and tragic stories of people who passed in odd ways or on strange days.

Unusual Demises

Death

There were some strange deaths that have occurred during the 20th century and these are the most bizarre ways that people passed in the 1900s. The following list includes some the most unusual ways of passing imaginable. There are plenty of strange ways to perish, but these might be the strangest&nbsp;of all&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;unique and extremely rare circumstances that you can think of.

What are the most bizarre ways famous people have died in the last century? Do you know someone who swallowed a toothpick at a party and then perished because of peritonitis? Did you know about an actress who passed when she fell down a chimney, thinking it was a balcony? If not, read this list of all the unusual deaths of 20th century people who died in strange ways.

Unusual Deaths: Bizarre Deaths Of The 20th Century

Bizarre Deaths | List of Unusual Ways To Die

Notable Famous Deaths

List of the Greatest Minds of All Time, throughout history. This list represents the most influential thinkers across various disciplines, ranked in a way that represents the power of their ideas and their impact on the world. The wisest men and women include <a href="/list/top-philosophers-ever-/jedralski">top philosophers,</a> physicists, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/notable-poet_s)/reference">famous poets</a>, thinkers, teachers, physiologists, artists, inventors, engineers, <a href="/list/the-most-irreplaceable-ceos-in-the-world/ready-to-startup">the most irreplaceable CEOs in the world</a>, economists and politicians and those whose talents span across many fields of study.This list takes a historic perspective, so the greatest thinkers who are included on this list come from many different eras. The greatest minds of the 21st century may be quite different from great geniuses from the distant past, but each person should be judged within the context of the time that they were living. For example, inventing a new type of telephone in 2013 would not qualify one as &quot;the most brilliant mind of all time,&quot; but in 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell first patented the telephone, it was an act of genius not seen before. See Also: <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-most-influential-people-of-all-time">The Most Influential People of All Time.</a>

Isaac Newton

The Greatest Minds of All Time

Greatest Minds of All Time |  List of Genius Thinkers in History 

Walter Graves

Some of the most prolific&nbsp;figures in history got off in ways that would have been considered untoward in their time.&nbsp;

Nowadays, many&nbsp;of the&nbsp;behaviors described here are seen as normal, or at least, somewhat so. But back in the day, some of these writers, revolutionaries, philosophers, and the like kept their sexuality&nbsp;and kinks a secret, only to be discovered decades after their passing by scholars and curious readers.

Perhaps if these legends were alive now, they would wave their flags proudly and let the world know what turns them on. Or not, and that&#39;s fine too; after all, it&#39;s nobody&#39;s business what you&#39;re into.

10 Historically Important Figures With Extra Colorful Personal Lives

The Most Historically Important Perverts Of All Time

Beau Iverson

Bill Gates

Steve Jobs

Ronald Reagan

poll

A list of the Americans who have had the most central influence on, or importance to, the modern era. This would include Americans who have most significantly altered the course of events from roughly the 1980s onward. So while someone like Ronald Reagan or Steve Jobs might very well apply, figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt or even Martin Luther King Jr. would probably not be considered contemporary enough to qualify.Americans from every walk of life and every industry have managed to profoundly influence the country. This can include efforts to alter the culture or perspective of Americans, technological or scientific innovations that forever <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ways-internet-changes-how-we-think/hannah-collins?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">changed the way</a> we live, business achievements which altered the course of one or multiple industries, or political decisions that permanently shifted later events in America and the world.Vote for the important Americans below you think had the greatest impact on the way we live today. Or if you don't see your selection, add it by making your own list.