Despite living in a nationalistic epoch, French poet, novelist, and dramatist Victor Hugo (1802-85) promoted the theory of the ‘United States of Europe’ in his writings. Some ideas from his political speeches materialised in the 20th century, such as monetary union or the disappearance of national borders within the Schengen area. A supporter of republicanism, he believed in the freedom of art and society.
Any Germans born in 2005 will have known only one Chancellor - Angela Merkel (born 1954). The Christian Democrat and former chemistry scientist was raised behind the Berlin Wall in East Germany. As Europe’s longest serving leader, she has taken a leading role in addressing its current challenges. She was awarded the Charlemagne Prize in 2008 for her work to unite Europe. She is affectionately known as 'Mutti’.
Formed in Stockholm in 1972, ABBA have sold millions of disco records worldwide. The synth-heavy four-piece won Eurovision in 1974 with their song Waterloo. Named after the two singer/composer couples - Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid - the pop maximalists dominated the charts in the 1970s and 80s, and provided the inspiration for the Mamma Mia! musical and subsequent film.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (born 1985) is recognised as one of the best - and most charitable - footballers of his era. The Real Madrid striker is a five-time Fifa Ballon d'Or winner, with major trophies from the English Premier League with Manchester United - the club he joined when he was 17 years old - and the Champions League, of which he is an all-time top scorer.
With his own fashioned spyglass, the ‘father of modern science’ Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) discovered Jupiter’s four largest moons, spots on the sun, and mountains on the moon. For his promotion of the Copernican model of heliocentrism, the Italian polymath, who lived in Pisa and Padua, was imprisoned by the Roman Inquisition for heresy.
Often referred to as ‘the man who invented the 20th century’, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), a European engineer and physicist, revolutionised the form in which electricity is delivered to consumers. His invention resulted in the rapid development of industry and laid the groundwork for the modernisation of power systems. Tesla even experimented with wireless technologies, building one of the first wirelessly-controlled boats.
A Catholic nun with Albanian roots, Mother Teresa (1910-97, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu) founded one of the biggest female congregations in the world, with 4,500 sisters doing charity work in 133 countries. Supporting the sick and poor, she claimed that ‘by her calling’ she ‘belongs to the world’. For her charity work she was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher, Voltaire (1694-1778) advocated not only the freedom of religion and speech, but also the separation of church and state. The author of Treatise on Tolerance and supporter of civil liberties, he criticised religious dogma and the French institutions of his day. His heritage is still part of the European intellectual richness and cultural diversity.
The name ‘George Orwell’ (1903-50) has become synonymous with politically oppressive or dystopian events, largely as a result of his novels 1984 and Animal Farm. Writing under a pseudonym, Eric Arthur Blair also wrote memoirs of his travels around Europe. Born in British India, he lived in Paris, fought in the Spanish civil war, and was pro-’European unity’.
‘In the beginning was the word…’ Little is known of German inventor Johannes Gutenberg (1398-1468), who ushered in a revolution with his movable printing press. By cutting letters into wood, and printing them onto molten metal squares, the businessman paved the way for mass book production. His Gutenberg Bible was printed in 1456; just 49 copies survive today.
