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Bartolomeu Dias was a nobleman of the Portuguese royal household in the 15th century. Famous as an explorer, he sailed around the southernmost tip of Africa and set up a route from Europe to Asia. He became the first European to anchor in Cape Good Hope, South Africa, during the Age of Discovery. He perished in 1500.
Josquin des Prez was one of the most influential Renaissance composers. Known for his motets, masses, and chansons, he is revered as the main figure of the Franco-Flemish School. Details of his early days are vague, and he was, for a long time, mistaken as another singer, Josquin de Kessalia.
One of the greatest Welsh poets of the late medieval period, Dafydd ab Edmwnd was a freeman of Norman lineage. He went down in Welsh history for classifying and reforming the 24 metres of Welsh bardic poetry. His works were later collated and published as Gwaith Dafydd ab Edmwnd.
Credited as the first Renaissance painter in Spain, Pedro Berruguete brought back the style to Spain, when he returned home after a short stint in Italy. Initially working in various cities, he finally settled down in Avila, painting the main altarpiece in the convent of San Tomás, drawing heavily from Flemish, Spanish Gothic, and Italian Renaissance, without actually imitating any.
Francisco de Almeida was a Portuguese nobleman, explorer, and soldier. He served as a counsellor to John II of Portugal and played an important role during the conquest of Granada and in the battles against the Moors. Francisco de Almeida also served as the first viceroy and governor of Portuguese India in the early 1500s.
Remembered especially for his contribution towards the development of German music, Heinrich Isaac was a leading fifteenth-century composer, belonging to the Franco-Flemish school. A prolific composer, he wrote numerous masses, motets and songs in French, German and Italian, all the while maintaining a close tie with the Habsburg Court, which helped to popularize polyphonic style of the Netherlands in Germany.
Telugu poet Bammera Pothana is best remembered for translating Bhagavata Purana from Sanskrit to Telugu. Mild-natured Pothana was known as the Sahaja Kavi. His style included heavy use of similes and metaphors, apart from a rhythmic element. He also worked on agricultural fields.
One of the most prominent 15th-century Welsh poets, Dafydd Nanmor was said to have been banished from his native land for singing a love poem to a married woman. He was known for his signature cywydd form of bardic tradition. His works were later collated as The Poetical Works of Dafydd Nanmor.
William Warham served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1503 until his death in 1532. A gifted diplomatist, Warham proved to be useful in the court of Henry VII; he played a pivotal role in arranging the marriage between Catherine of Aragon and Henry's son, Arthur Tudor. He also presided over the wedding of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII.
