Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

Over the course of history, many figures have left a lasting impression on the world. From religious saints to military generals and ancient Egyptians, these are individuals that have long since held the interest of many. They represent the making of the modern world, and all the twists and turns humanity took along the way. 

Thanks to etchings and portraits, many of us have a solid idea of what we think these icons looked like. However, a lot of the time these aren’t accurate. Thanks to advancements in technology, we now have a much clearer idea. Spoiler: you might just be surprised by what they really looked like. 

Place of Birth: Thebes
Era: 1370-1330 BC
Profession: Egyptian Queen
Estimated Net Worth: $800 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

When it comes to Egyptian queens, Nefertiti comes in at the top. Both she and her husband Akhenaten were like the Kim and Kanye of Ancient Egypt. They reigned supreme at a time when the country was experiencing great prosperity. It’s even thought by some experts that Nefertiti ruled the kingdom solo for a spell after her husband passed away. 

Nefertiti @joshuagates/twitter.com

It’s always difficult to imagine what someone that lived in 1370 BC actually looked like, but thanks to drawings and reconstructions historians now have a good idea. According to them, Nefertiti was a beautiful woman, with chiseled cheekbones and full lips. 

Place of Birth: Rome
Era: 100-44 BC
Profession: Roman Emperor
Estimated Net Worth: $4.63 trillion* (Adjusted for inflation)

Julius Caesar was a force to be reckoned with in his era, using his power to crush anyone that opposed his Roman armies. While Caesar is a much-revered historical figure, it’s often difficult to get a good grasp of what he looked like. After all, he’s been played by numerous actors on the silver screen. 

Julius Caesar /commons.wikimedia.org

Thankfully, actual scientists stepped in to recreate the man himself using a 3D scan of a marble bust. The result was a balding man with salt and pepper hair, close-set eyes and a very determined jawline. He’s a little on the skinny side, too.

Place of Birth: Ajaccio, Corsica 
Era: 1769-1821
Profession: Military Leader
Estimated Net Worth: $1 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

There are some things we know about Napoleon Bonaparte’s physical form. The fact that he was slightly on the shorter side at 5’ 6” is often spoken about in negative terms. The phrase “Napoleon Complex” was coined to describe a short, man resentful of his height. It’s true that Bonaparte wasn’t the tallest, but he certainly made a fine military leader. 

Napoleon Bonaparte /commons.wikimedia.org

Portraits from the time depict him in a fair way, with artists seemingly painting an accurate representation of what he looked like at the time. A mold taken of his face gives us more detail and actually makes him look more handsome than he does in paintings. 

Place of Birth: Alexandria
Era: 69-30 BC
Profession: Egyptian Queen
Estimated Net Worth: $95 billion* (Adjusted for inflation)

To many of us, Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal of Cleopatra in the 1963 movie influences how we picture the Egyptian queen. It’s no secret that the ruler was often described as strikingly beautiful with a way with men, but standards of beauty then were different from how they are today. 

Cleopatra @neoteo/Pinterest

Modern-day recreations of Cleopatra’s face show her with a very prominent nose and rather masculine features. This is miles away from the stereotypical Taylor-esque version that the wider public envisions. Perhaps most of Cleopatra’s appeal came from her ability to charm and manipulate the masses. 

Place of Birth: Popes Creek, Virginia 
Era: 1732-1799
Profession: President and Founding Father of the United States
Estimated Net Worth: $587 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Well-respected President of the United States George Washington had a fair few portraits painted in his time. Although he only lived to be 67 years old, the very first president of the country made sure he was well-documented. 

George Washington @anniefox/Instagram

Researchers were sure to compile a host of sources when they recreated a CGI image of Washington. They used many different paintings to come up with a realistic idea of what George saw in the mirror every day. The resulting image shows a distinguished-looking man with kind eyes and curly white powdered hair. 

Place of Birth: Egypt
Era: 1342-1325 BC
Profession: Pharaoh
Estimated Net Worth: $1 billion* (Adjusted for inflation)

King Tut is one of the most interesting figures in Ancient Egyptian history. His story is fascinating right from the beginning, not least because his mother and father were siblings. Tut’s tomb was discovered in 1922. When his mummified remains were found, scientists were able to determine a lot of things about him. 

King Tut @pastfactory/pinterest.com

Researchers discovered that Tut had a plethora of health conditions, including a club foot as a possible result of inbreeding. This explains why he is the only pharaoh to be depicted doing everything sat down. As for his facial features, Tut had a smooth, rounded nose, inset mouth, and large head.

Place of Birth: Ayrshire
Era: 1274-1329
Profession: King of Scotland
Estimated Net Worth: $1.5 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Say what you want about Robert the Bruce, but you can’t call him shy. Bruce reigned as King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329, spending a lot of his time on the throne waging war against England. Bruce would stop at nothing to declare his kingdom independent from England’s ruler Edward II. 

Robert The Bruce @bbc/twitter.com

Unlike his English counterparts, Robert wasn’t partial to a portrait. Few drawings of the King exist, making it difficult to pin down his features. University of Glasgow scholars did their best to get an image by using casts of Bruce’s skull. The resulting picture is of a man with hazel eyes, a wide nose, and red hair peppered with grey. 

Place of Birth: Linlithgow Palace, Scotland
Era: 1542-1587
Profession: Queen of Scotland
Estimated Net Worth: $500,000* (Adjusted for inflation)

Mary Queen of Scots is one of the most talked-about figures in history for a reason. The redheaded ruler was known to be fierce and confident, although she often came up against great adversity. As her father died immediately after her birth, Mary rose to the throne immediately but was sent away to France until she was old enough to rule. 

Mary, Queen of Scots @earlymodernengland/Instagram

Mary’s modern-day depiction isn’t too far away from the original portraits and paintings that were created when she was alive. Her long, shapely nose and deep-set eyes still remain the same. The only real difference is that she doesn’t look astonishingly pale. 

Place of Birth: Antium, Italy
Era: 37-68 AD
Profession: Emperor of Rome
Estimated Net Worth: $120 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Imagine rising up to a rule a nation as big and bold as Rome at just 17 years old. Emperor Nero did just that, although he wasn’t more than a child himself. His family life was difficult as he often clashed with his mother. This led to him ordering her murder five years into his rule. 

Emperor Nero @mashable/twitter.com

Nero was not a well-respected ruler in his time. Many thought that his love of poetry and performing made him a weak individual. Spanish artists took it upon themselves to bring Nero to life in 2019, but their depiction was slightly shocking. With wild red hair and freckled skin, Nero is the opposite of what a stereotypical Roman should look like.

Place of Birth: Arras, France
Era: 1758-1794
Profession: Member of the Constituent Assembly
Estimated Net Worth: $2 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Maximilien Robespierre had a name that commanded attention. His moniker was every bit as important as the man he was: a prominent lawyer and active politician. Robespierre was (and continues to be) a controversial figure. He was eventually executed along with 21 of his comrades.

Maximilien Robespierre @tuxboard/Pinterest

Paintings of Robespierre depict a handsome man with a rosy complexion and a kindly face. The reality may have been slightly different. Made by forensic pathologist Philippe Charlier, the 2013 reconstruction of the politician’s face shows a weathered gent with a pock-marked face and distinct wrinkles.

Place of Birth: Northamptonshire, England
Era: 1452-1485
Profession: King of England
Estimated Net Worth: $5 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Some kings are considered just and gentle rulers, doing their duty for their citizens no matter the cost. Richard III is not among them. Richard ruled from 1483-1485, but despite being on the throne for just two years he left an almightly impression. Largely considered a bad egg, Richard is depicted in portraits as a stern man with shoulder-length hair. 

Richard III ©Georgios Kollidas/stock.adobe.com

In 2012 Richard’s body was finally found, allowing scholars to get an accurate idea of what he looked like for the first time in history. A team from Dundee University discovered that the King likely had dark brown hair, a full, round face, and a heavy brow. 

Place of Birth: Lisbon, Portugal
Era: 1195-1231
Profession: Catholic priest and friar
Estimated Net Worth: $0* (Adjusted for inflation)

Saints often bring to mind old portraits with halos and robes, but they were just as real as the rest of us. Saint Anthony hailed from Lisbon and spent his days helping the poor and healing the sick. He didn’t have much in the way of money as a friar, but he was rich in spirit. 

Saint Anthony /commons.wikimedia.org

A 3D recreation of Saint Anthony shows a man with a short, stubbly beard, a round-tipped nose, and a partially bald head. There’s no denying that he also has a very soft, inviting face, but the jury is out on just how accurate this depiction is.

Place of Birth: Eisenach, Germany
Era: 1685-1750
Profession: Composer
Estimated Net Worth: $200,000* (Adjusted for inflation)

Johann Sebastian Bach certainly knew how to a piece a tune together. He might be known as one of the best composers the world has ever seen now, but when he was alive he wasn’t quite as prolific. While his contemporaries noted that he was an incredible musician, no one could’ve known how important his legacy would be. 

Johann Sebastian Bach @mentalfloss/Pinterest

When Bach’s remains were finally found, it allowed researchers to recreate what he looked like. Clearly, the composer had a taste for the finer things in life and didn’t go hungry. Bach had heavy jowls, a large nose, and often wore a wig, as was the fashion.

Place of Birth: Royal Prussia, Kingdom of Poland
Era: 1473-1543
Profession: Polymath
Estimated Net Worth: $10,000* (Adjusted for inflation)

Copernicus was way ahead of his time, letting people know that the Earth wasn’t the center of the universe. It’s far from it. At the time he created his model, Copernicus changed the entire way people thought of space. 

Nicolaus Copernicus @archeologia.ah.edu.pl/instagram.com

Paintings portray Nicolaus in a way that’s flattering, displaying him with long dark hair and smooth skin. In reality, his features were large and unbecoming, with a crooked nose and thinning white hair. One thing remains unchanged: his serious and slightly miserable expression. Regardless of how he looked, Copernicus had one of the finest minds the world has ever been graced with.

Place of Birth: Greenwich, England
Era: 1533-1603
Profession: Queen of England
Estimated Net Worth: $400 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Queen Elizabeth I didn’t have an easy time when it comes to ascending to the throne. Although she was born as the legitimate daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn when their marriage was annulled she lost her rights to the throne and became illegitimate. Elizabeth eventually started ruling England in 1558. 

Queen Elizabeth I @pastfactory/Twitter

Paintings depict her as having bright red hair and alabaster skin. The most famous work is the Armada Portrait, but the artist was likely quite flattering as Liz was actually 55 at the time. A more realistic animatronic mask was created that shows the historical figure with a long, prominent nose and thin lips.

Place of Birth: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Era: 1563-1616
Profession: Playwright
Estimated Net Worth: $100,000* (Adjusted for inflation)

As one of England’s most prized historical figures, there has been much discussion over what William Shakespeare really looked like. In drawings and portraits he is depicted with a semi-bald head and a slight beard, but how accurate is this? 

William Shakespeare @pastfactory/Pinterest

A doctor from the University of Dundee recreated Shakespeare’s face in 2010 using his death mask, but the result was a far cry from the pictures we’ve seen before. Carolin Wilkinson’s rendering of William shows him to be a relatively handsome older man with a gray mustache. The playwright was just 52 when he passed away, so we’ll never know what he could’ve looked like in retirement.

Place of Birth: Bethlehem
Era: 4 BC-30 AD
Profession: Jewish preacher
Estimated Net Worth: $10 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Thousands of paintings, drawings, and etchings exist of Jesus of Nazareth. As the most famous living person to have ever existed, he’s revered by many as the Son of God. Most images depict Jesus as a tall, lean man with shoulder-length brown hair and a kindly face.

Jesus Christ @cnn/twitter.com

As researchers have nothing to go on and no remains or description in the Bible, it’s difficult to say what Jesus really looked like. When a team of scientists took to the task, they used what little information was available to them and came up with a brown-eyed, olive-skinned, heavily bearded man with notably more masculine features than the stereotypical image.

Place of Birth: Windsor Castle, England
Era: 1421-1471
Profession: King of England
Estimated Net Worth: $500 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Kings often have nicknames and Henry IV lucked out with his. Dubbed “Good King Henry”, he was largely loved by his people. In portraits and etchings, Henry looked like a handsome man with sharp features and well-groomed facial hair. 

King Henry IV @supercoolpics/Pinterest

The same team that recreated Robespierre took on the challenge of bringing Henry back to life again, and they did an incredible job. The finished result shows Henry the Great with a wrinkled face, a fluffy grey beard, and smiling eyes. He looks suspiciously like British actor Jim Broadbent. Despite being “good” Henry was offed by a Catholic in 1610. 

Place of Birth: Patara, Roman Empire
Era: 270-343
Profession: Christian bishop
Estimated Net Worth: $0* (Adjusted for inflation)

We have a lot to thank St. Nicholas for. Few people realize that the saint from yesteryear helped to create Christmas. Although we’ll never know for sure, it’s alleged that St. Nic used to leave gifts in children’s shoes for them to discover. Often described as bald-headed with a full white beard, the reality probably isn’t far off.

St. Nicholas @bbc/Instagram

Researchers believe that St. Nicholas had a kind expression, dark brown eyes, and a lot of facial hair. Put a red suit on him, give him a sack and he could just pass as Father Christmas himself. It’s not hard to see where Santa Claus has stemmed from. 

Place of Birth: Egypt
Era: 1330-1213 BC
Profession: Pharaoh
Estimated Net Worth: $900 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Historians usually have the best chance of recreating the face of an Ancient Egyptian king as they have their remains to go on. Ramesses II was quite well preserved when he was discovered, allowing for a fairly accurate depiction of the former Pharaoh. 

Ramesses II r/worldnews/Reddit

The resulting image shows the ruler with very pronounced, slightly gaunt cheeks and large ears that stick out. He has a definite air of royalty about him. Thanks to his remains, we know that Ramesses II was bald on top with short hair around the sides of his head. 

Place of Birth: Bonn, Germany
Era: 1770-1827
Profession: Composer
Estimated Net Worth: $150,000* (Adjusted for inflation)

Talking about Beethoven often conjures up the image of a furiously working, wild-haired individual with an expression of determination and sheer grit. That’s the picture we’ve been left with thanks to numerous portraits of the composer, but the reality looks a little different. 

Ludwig van Beethoven /flickr

The German mastermind likely was gaunter by the time he passed away aged 57 in 1827 if his death mask is anything to go by. Scholars believe that like many people of his era, Beethoven fell victim to alcohol abuse. He passed away from liver cirrhosis, meaning he really didn’t look like a well man at all.  

Place of Birth: Lincolnshire, England
Era: 1642-1726
Profession: Physicist
Estimated Net Worth: $200,000* (Adjusted for inflation)

Isaac Newton is the type of genius that comes around once in a blue moon. Considered to be every bit as important as Einstein, the English physicist changed the landscape of life as we know it. His portraits show a lean man with a very strong, long nose and a dimpled chin. 

Isaac Newton /commons.wikimedia.org

By the time he passed away, he looked largely different, with a more rotund face. His nose was certainly his dominant feature, as was his heavy, deep-set brow and thin lips. Even in passing it looked like Isaac Newton was thinking hard, stewing over his next discovery.

Place of Birth: Peru
Era: circa 50 AD-700 AD
Profession: Lord of Sipan
Estimated Net Worth: $10,000* (Adjusted for inflation)

When archeologist Walter Alva discovered the mummified remains of a man at a site in Peru, he was elated. He aptly named the unknown gentleman The Lord of Sipan as it was clear he was a figure of some importance. 

The Lord Of Sipan @dailymailuk/Instagram

The remains were enough for researchers to come up with an idea of what the Lord looked like. According to them, he had a stern expression with a furrowed brow, a long, thin nose, and set, pursed lips. One of his defining characteristics is his massively stretched earlobes that held decorative discs. 

Place of Birth: Huntingdon, England
Era: 1599-1658
Profession: English general
Estimated Net Worth: $1 million* (Adjusted for inflation)

Oliver Cromwell did a lot of living in his 59 years. He was the man that led the charge against King Charles I when things started to go south during the English civil war. Although many people believed in Cromwell, many opposed him, too. 

Oliver Cromwell /commons.wikimedia.org

Cromwell suffered from ill health throughout his life and eventually passed away when a urinary infection spiraled out of control. His death mask shows us what the Lord Protector looked like when he passed away. By all accounts, Oliver was a good-looking man with a tidy, kept beard and a full mouth.

Place of Birth: Thebes
Era: Sometime around 1500-331 BCE
Profession: Unknown
Estimated Net Worth: Unknown

Universities often hold on to some strange things over the years. Australia’s University of Melbourne kept a mummified head in the basement for years without knowing who the skull belonged to. Thanks to the evolution of technology, scholars were able to use a CT scan and 3D printing to try and recreate the young woman, who they called Meritamun. 

Meritamun @dailymailuk/twitter.com

The resulting 3D print was of a very beautiful woman with dark hazel eyes and a thick head of braided brunette hair. Although the mummy was over 2,000 years old, researchers were hopeful that it was an accurate depiction of what Meritamun really looked like. 

Place of Birth: Isle of Lewis, Scotland 
Era: 3rd Century B.C.E.
Profession: Prophetess 
Estimated Net Worth: N/A (Druids Gave Up Material Possessions)  

The bones of Hilda the Ancient Druid were found by archaeologists in Scotland. A Scottish student recreated Hilda’s face using 3D wax technology. The feat was quite amazing, as the student had only a toothless skull for reference. As it turns out, Hilda was also toothless in real life.

Hilda, The Ancient Druid @dailymailuk/twitter.com

Hilda was an elderly woman, with pale skin and heavy wrinkles around her eyes. She was part of an ancient Scottish society that practiced religious magic and conjuring. Her date of death is reported to be between 55 B.C. and 400 A.D. She was born, lived, and died on the famed Druid holy site, the Isle of Lewis. 

Place of Birth: Amherst, Massachusetts 
Era: 1830-1886 
Profession: Poet 
Estimated Net Worth:Unknown – Family was “Prominent”

The poet Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, and she penned some of the most famous verses of all time. One of her poems, “Hope” is the thing with feathers, is still read widely today, among many others. The dark-haired Dickinson was born into a well-known, if not wealthy, family in the community.

Emily Dickinson @bookhaven.stanford.edu/twitter.com

She was educated at Amherst Academy as a young girl, and she attended Mount Holyoke College. Dickinson, despite her pretty face, had serious mental and physical issues. She was agoraphobic and refused to leave her father’s home. She died of Bright’s Disease (a kidney ailment) in 1886. 

Place of Birth: The Hofburg, Vienna, Austria
Era: 1755-1793 
Profession: Queen of France 
Estimated Net Worth: $25 million* 

When she still had her head attached to her body, Marie Antoinette was quite pretty, with full lips and a high bouffant. She was the final Queen of France before the Revolution, which would go on to claim the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Marie Antoinette @foter/Instagram

Antoinette spent most of her adult life in Paris, France. She was married to Louis XVI of France, and he suffered an equally gruesome fate. King Louis was executed in January of 1793, and Marie followed him in October of that year. Antoinette’s charges were treason and theft; in reality, her death was more for symbolic purposes. 

Place of Birth: Caracas, Venezuela
Era: 1783-1830
Profession: “The Liberator” 
Estimated Net Worth: $53 million* 

Simon Bolivar was tall, dark-haired, and handsome with narrow features. He was nicknamed El Libertador (The Liberator). He was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and he was a soldier turned statesman. He was a crucial figure in the South American Independence Movement. He was the president of Gran Colombia from 1819 until 1930.

Simón Bolívar @pastfactory/twitter.com

During that time, he was also the dictator of Peru. As you may have guessed, Bolivia is named after him. Most images of Bolivar show him wearing regal gear, as befitting a noble of that time period, all the way down to the gold epaulets and high collar.  

Place of Birth: El Brujo (Peru) 
Era: 1,600 Years Ago 
Profession: Ruler of the Moche People 
Estimated Net Worth: Unknown 

The Lady of Cao was a sorceress queen. She lived around 1,500 years ago, and she was given her name by archeologists who found her at El Brujo, a Peruvian archeological site. She was the ruler of the Moche people. The Lady of Cao’s body was found, specifically, in La Libertad Region, Peru.

The Lady of Cao @cnn/twitter.com

The Lady of Cao was heavily-tattooed and had black hair, high cheekbones, and indigenous features. She was not mummified, as that was not part of the Moche tradition, but her body was desiccated enough that her bones were preserved. It is thought that she died in her mid-twenties due to complications from childbirth.

Place of Birth: Palermo, Italy
Era: 1668-1714 
Profession: Secularist/Fake Samurai 
Estimated Net Worth: $0* 

Giovanni Battista Sidoti was born in Palermo, Italy. He was a priest and missionary, and it was his latter profession that would end up getting him arrested. Sidoti was dedicated to preaching his religion, even to people who did not want to hear it. He snuck into Japan in the 1600s, dressed as a samurai.

Giovanni Battista Sidotti @pastfactory/twitter.com

He landed on Yakushima, where he was quickly discovered to be fake. The Japanese people imprisoned him in a cell in Bunkyo City, Tokyo, Japan. He died there in 1714. Recreations of his face show him to be dark-haired, dark-eyed, and light-complected.

Place of Birth: Pylos 
Era: The Bronze Age (1,450 B.C.E.) 
Profession: Ancient Soldier 
Estimated Net Worth: N/A – Paid in Land 

This Mycenaean Griffin Warrior looks a little like John Travolta, with a prominent brow, wide mouth, and long, dark hair. The Griffin Warrior was discovered in 2015 near Pylos, Greece. The intact skeleton of an adult male was the biggest find from the Bronze Age shaft tomb.

The Mycenean "Griffin Warrior" @seeker/Instagram

The tomb is thought to date back to 1,450 B.C.E. The Griffin Warrior was recreated, prominent jaw and all, using a computerized facial reconstruction. The research team said that they don’t know his name, but they do know that he was likely “very rich” and “very important.” He was buried with objects of “ritual significance.”

Place of Birth: Florence, Italy 
Era: 1300s 
Profession: Poet, Author
Estimated Net Worth: $53 million* (Pre-Exile)

Dante Alighieri had a hooked nose and sharp features, and a posthumous portrait done by Sandro Botticelli in 1495 shows him wearing garb associated with the upper class. Alighieri is best known for his novel, Divine Comedy, which is one of Italy’s greatest literary works.

Dante Alighieri @pastfactory/twitter.com

Divine Comedy was unique, not just because of its content, but because it was written in plain Italian, which made it accessible to the common people. Alighieri defended his choice to eschew Latin, and he would inspire famous authors, including Boccaccio and Petrarch, to do the same. He was exiled for political reasons in the early 1300s.

Place of Birth: Pella, Greece 
Era: 382 B.C. – 336 B.C. 
Profession: King of Macedon 
Estimated Net Worth: Over $350 billion* 

Philip II of Macedon was the father of Alexander the Great, and the two share the same strong features: a prominent jaw, large nose, and deep-set eyes (however, Phillip’s son did not have a beard). Phillip II was the king of Macedon (in Greece) from 359 B.C. to 336 B.C. He was part of the Argead Dynasty. Though his son would outshine him, fame-wise, Philip II was an accomplished military commander and ruler.

Philip II Of Macedon @medium/twitter.com

At least, that was the opinion of the Macedonian common people. The Macedonian nobles thought otherwise, and he was assassinated by Pausanias, a young noble with a grudge against Philip II’s father-in-law, in 336 B.C.  

Place of Birth: Newark, New Jersey 
Era: 1756-1836 
Profession: Politician, Lawyer, Duel Enthusiast  
Estimated Net Worth: $36 million* 

Aaron Burr was stout, with a high forehead, long, sloping nose, and graying hair. Though he might not have looked intimidating, Burr has gone down in history as the famous duelist who fatally killed his opponent, Alexander Hamilton, in the early morning of July 11, 1804.

Aaron Burr /commons.wikimedia.org

The lawyer and former vice president of the United States was a longtime rival of Hamilton, but what really set off the dispute was Hamilton trash-talking Burr at a dinner. Before that, Hamilton had defamed Burr’s character during the NY gubernatorial race. The two had long-standing political differences, with the main cause of tension being their opposing views on the electoral college.

Place of Birth: Thetford, UK 
Era: 1737-1809 
Profession: Political Activist, Revolutionary 
Estimated Net Worth: Unknown – Came From Wealth 

Thomas Paine had a long, sloping nose, high forehead, and short chin, and he was often painted wearing the clothing of the nobles during his time period (the late 1700s/early 1800s). Paine was a philosopher, political theorist, and writer. He wrote two influential pamphlets, Common Sense (1776) and Rights of Man (1791), that helped spark the American Revolution.

Thomas Paine ©laufer/stock.adobe.com

His beliefs inspired colonists to declare their independence from Great Britain. As you might have guessed, Paine’s promotion of a free America did not go over well with the Crown, which arrested him for treason and exiled him to America. He died in Greenwich Village, NYC.

Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Era: 1672-1725 
Profession: Former Emperor of Russia 
Estimated Net Worth: $250-300 billion* 

Peter the Great (Пётр Алексе́евич, IPA) ruled All Russia from 1682 until 1725. He was succeeded by Catherine I. Tsar Peter was a major influence in the modernization of Russia. Whether Russia wanted it or not, he was going to bring the Empire into the seventeenth century.

Peter The Great @citycentrechurch/Pinterest

Tsar Peter reduced the autonomy of the Orthodox Church in Russia, and he revamped the Russian Calendar. He appeared young in many pictures, with no wrinkles, a full head of hair, and a full mustache. Tsar Peter went mad near the end of his reign. He had his son tortured to death in 1718 to avoid a power struggle.

Place of Birth: Florence, Italy 
Era: 1449-1492
Profession: Renaissance Patron, Politician 
Estimated Net Worth: $129 billion* 

Lorenzo de Medici had mid-length black hair, a prominent nose, and a narrow face, with dark, deep-set eyes. He looked intense, and that was because he was. The De Medici family was the wealthiest, most influential family in Italy for centuries. Lorenzo, an Italian statesman, was a very powerful Renaissance patron.

Lorenzo De’ Medici @timetravelertours/instagram.com

The Florence native, who nicknamed himself Lorenzo the Magnificent, frequently incurred the wrath of the Holy See. He defied the Pope, and somehow survived the Vatican’s clutches. He was able to change the government in Florence in a way that enhanced and secured his own power. He estimated that his family spent $460 million on charity, taxes, and buildings in Italy.

Place of Birth: The Great Hall, Winchester, UK
Era: 1207-1272
Profession: King of England, Aquitaine, Ireland 
Estimated Net Worth: $20 million* 

King Henry III was just nine years old when he assumed the throne of England, but later depictions of him show a man with a full beard and wrinkled brow. It is fitting, as he was one of the longest-reigning rulers in medieval history. He reigned from 1216 until 1272. He was married to Eleanor of Provence from 1236 to 1272.

King Henry III ©Georgios Kollidas/stock.adobe.com

Henry III issued the Magna Carta, a document that would go on to inspire the Americans’ Declaration of Independence some five-hundred years later. Henry III was succeeded by his son, Edward I, after he died at age sixty-five.