Leading Figures in History

Discover the people who shaped our world — from rulers and scientists to artists and activists.

39103 persons found

Abu Bakr

Rashidun caliph from 632 to 634

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

b. 1971

Leader of the Islamic State from 2013 to 2019

Abu Bakr al-Razi

b. 865

10th-century Iranian physician and polymath

Abu Daoud

Palestinian militant, teacher and lawyer (1937–2010)

Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Muhammad

b. 906

Amir of the Saffarid dynasty from 923 to 963

Abu l-Hasan Ali I

b. 1688

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

Jordanian jihadist (1966–2006)

Abu Nidal

Palestinian militant (1937–2002)

Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan

b. 1305

Ruler of the Mongol Ilkhanate from 1316 to 1335

Abu Sayyaf

b. 1958

Jihadist militant group in the Philippines

Abu Taghlib

Emir of Mosul from 967 to 978

Abu Yazid

Kharijite Berber leader (c. 873–947)

Abu'l-Hasan Ali ibn al-Furat

Abbasid vizier and official (855–924)

Abu'l-Qasim Ali ibn al-Hasan al-Kalbi

10th century Islamic ruler of Sicily

Abubaker Kaki Khamis

b. 1989

Sudanese runner (born 1989)

Abul Fazl

Mughal grand vizier from 1579 to 1602

Abul Hasan Jashori

Bangladeshi Islamic scholar (1918–1993)

Abulfaz Elchibey

b. 1938

President of Azerbaijan from 1992 to 1993

Abune Paulos

Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church from 1992 to 2012

Ace Bailey

b. 1903

Canadian ice hockey player (1903–1992)

Ace Darling

b. 1975

American professional wrestler (born 1974)

Ace Frehley

b. 1951

American guitarist (1951–2025)

Acharya Bhikshu

b. 1726

Indian Jain spiritual leader (1726–1803)

Achille Compagnoni

Italian mountaineer and skier (1914–2009)