City founders

Alexander III of Macedon, most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to the throne in 336 BC at the age of 20, and spent most of his reign conducting a lengthy military campaign throughout Asia and Egypt. By the age of 30, he had created one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered to be one of history's greatest and most successful military commanders.

Roman emperor from 306 to 337 and first to convert to Christianity (272–337)

founder of the Achaemenid Empire (559–529 BC)

Vespasian (; ; 17 November 9 AD – 23 June 79) was Roman emperor from 69 to 79. The last emperor to reign in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the empire for 27 years. His fiscal reforms and consolidation of the empire brought political stability and an extensive building program.

The fourth and greatest Achaemenid emperor (522–486 BC)

Akhenaten (pronounced ), also spelled Akhenaton, Echnaton, and Khuenaten ( ʾŪḫə-nə-yātəy, , meaning 'Effective for the Aten'), was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh reigning or 1351–1334 BC, the tenth ruler of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Originally named Amenhotep IV (, meaning "Amun is satisfied", Hellenized as Amenophis IV), in the fifth year of his reign he adopted the name "Akhenaten".

Shah of Iran (r. 1736–47) and founder of the Afsharid dynasty

general of Alexander and founder of the Seleucid dynasty

King of Sweden from 1523 to 1560

founder of the Sassanid Empire (224–242)

king of Iberia and Colchis

Shahanshah of the Sasanian Empire from 531 to 579

second Sassanid emperor (241–272)

The tenth Sasanian emperor (309–379)

British statesman who founded Singapore (1781-1826)

King of Norway from 1046 to 1066

final Emir of Córdoba (r. 912–929); founder and 1st Caliph of Córdoba (r. 929–961)

Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Shewa (1844-1913)

Arab military commander and governor (c.573–664)

King of Siam (1737–1809)

Abū Jaʿfar ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad al-Manṣūr (; ‎; 714 – 6 October 775) usually known simply as by his laqab al-Manṣūr () was the second Abbasid caliph, reigning from 754 to 775 succeeding his brother al-Saffah (). He founded the 'Round City' of Madinat al-Salam, which was to become the core of imperial Baghdad.

Umayyad caliph

Founder of the Suri Empire in India (1472-1545)

Gediminas ( – December 1341) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death in 1341. Gediminas is traditionally considered to have been the founder of Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania (see: Iron Wolf legend). During his reign, he brought under his rule lands streching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. The Gediminids dynasty he founded and which is named after him came to rule over Poland, Hungary and Bohemia.

1st shogun of the Kamakura shogunate (1147–1199)

Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Rashīd (; October 796 – 5 January 842), better known by his regnal name al-Muʿtaṣim biʾllāh (, ), was the eighth Abbasid caliph, ruling from 833 until his death in 842. When al-Ma'mun died unexpectedly on campaign in August 833, al-Mu'tasim was thus well placed to succeed him, with the support of the powerful chief , Ahmad ibn Abi Duwad, he continued to implement the rationalist Islamic doctrine of Mu'tazilism and implementing policy.

Muslim general (c. 595 – 674)

The third Sasanian emperor (270–271)

The 18th Sasanian Emperor (459–484)

Sasanian King of Kings (488–531)

Dutch colonial governor (1619–1677)

Umayyad governor and viceroy (c.661-714)

King of Sicily from 1258 to 1266

missionary to Greenland, Lutheran pastor (1686-1758)

Leader of the Almoravid dynasty (r. 1061–1106), founder of Marrakech and a key figure in consolidating power in southern Morocco before expanding into Al-Andalus.

The 16th Sassanid Emperor (438–457)

Umayyad Hijazi general and governor (695–715)

King of Urartu

Emperor of Japan

Carthaginian military leader and politician (c. 270–221 BC)

Enmerkar () was an ancient Sumerian ruler to whom the construction of the city of Uruk and a 420-year reign was attributed. According to literary sources, he led various campaigns against the land of Aratta.

Jarl and ruler of Sweden (c.1210–1266)

Prince of Galicia (1201-1264)

Isma'ili Imam and Fatimid Caliph from 909 to 934

Emir of Córdoba from 852 to 886

King of Iberia (440-502)

King of Pergamon

4th Caliph of the Fatimid dynasty (r. 953–975)

Arab Muslim general (died 683)

British writer, founder of the garden city movement (1850–1928)

Emir of Egypt and Syria from 868 to 884

Idrisid ruler (r. 788–791)

Frankish bishop

Fatimid ruler from 946 to 953 and 13th Ismaili Imam

pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush (1803–1880)

South African politician (1819–1901)

Sultan of Morocco from 803 to 828

10th-century Fatimid military officer

Spanish conquistador

Sultan of Morocco (1710–1790)