Famous People Born In 109

Hildegard of Bingen was a German writer, composer, Christian mystic, visionary, philosopher, polymath, and Benedictine abbess of the High Middle Ages. Apart from being the most-recorded composers of sacred monophony in modern history, Hildegard of Bingen is also widely regarded as the founder of scientific natural history.

Bernard of Clairvaux, or Saint Bernard, was a 12th-century Burgundian monk, who became the abbot of the abbey of Clairvaux, founded by him. He chose to live a life of physical austerities, which caused him ailments such as anemia. He is revered as the patron saint of beekeepers and candlemakers.

The ruler of the Khmer Empire, Suryavarman II is known to be the founder of the famed Angkor Wat in Cambodia. His rule extended from Thailand to Vietnam. He is believed to have died while on a military campaign against Champa,following which, Angkor was taken over by the Chams.

Fulk, King of Jerusalem, reigned as the King of Jerusalem from 1131 until his death in 1143. He is credited with helping the Kingdom of Jerusalem reach its largest territorial extent. His reign witnessed the construction of the fortress of Kerak, which is counted among the largest castles in the region.

English bishop and chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth is best remembered for his iconic work Historia regum Britanniae, which introduced the character King Arthur in literature. His Latin poem Vita Merlini, written in hexameters, is based on the Celtic legend of Merlin. A lot of his so-called historical treatises seem to be fabricated.

Abd al-Mu'min was an important member of the Almohad movement. He is credited with founding the Almohad dynasty and creating the dynasty's Empire. In 1133, he became the first ruler of the Almohad Caliphate and ruled until his demise in 1163. The government established by Abd al-Mu'min would control North Africa for over 50 years after his death.

Béla II, also known as Béla the Blind, was the son of Hungarian prince Álmos. Both he and his father were blinded on the orders of Álmos's brother, Coloman. He took over as the king of Hungary after the death of Coloman's son, King Stephen II.

Afonso I of Portugal reigned as the first king of Portugal from 26 July 1139 until his death on 6 December 1185. He played an important role in freeing the County of Portugal, founding a new kingdom, and expanding its area to more than double of its original size.       

A 12th-century Italian bishop of Paris, Peter Lombard is remembered for his iconic book on theology, Four Books of Sentences. The book earned him the title of magister sententiarum, or “master of the sentences.” Though his teachings were challenged during his lifetime, they were approved by the fourth Lateran Council.

Best remembered for establishing the tradition of mysticism at Saint-Victor Abbey in Paris, Hugh of Saint Victor was an eminent twelfth century philosopher, theologian and mystical writer. Author of several renowned works including The Sacraments of the Christian Faith; he was an ardent upholder of secular learning, writing a comprehensive early encyclopedia, holding that art and philosophy can serve theology.  

Qin Hui was a Chinese politician who served as the Chancellor of the Song dynasty. He is best remembered for his participation in the persecution and execution of Yue Fei, who fought for the Song dynasty during the Jin-Song Wars. Not surprisingly, Qin is considered a traitor and is usually portrayed as a villain in the folktales of China.

Ibn Zuhr was an Arab poet, physician, and surgeon. The most respected physician of his time, Ibn Zuhr is credited with performing the first experimental tracheotomy. His best known literary work, Book of Simplification Concerning Therapeutics and Diet, was influential to the development of surgery.

Twelfth-century French astronomer and scholastic philosopher William of Conches believed in the atomistic theory of nature. His works consisted of one of the earliest written works on ethics and discussions of Plato’s works. Part of the School of Chartres, he had also gained fame as a skilled grammarian.

The head of the Taira clan, Taira no Tadamori was the first samurai to serve an emperor at the court, directly. He fought against pirates and warrior monks. He is also believed to have built the Kyoto temple Rengeō-in. His diplomatic skills later helped his son Kiyomori conquer almost all of Japan.