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Famous Teens in History

Jun 19, 2008

It's an adult's world. They make the decisions, create the laws, make the money, and have all of the freedoms, but that hasn't always been the case. We're taking a look back through history to discover the most powerful, influential, and important teenagers of all time!

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great was one of the most successful military commanders in history. He was best know for conquering pretty much all of the world known to the ancient Greeks including Syria, part of India, Egypt, and way more around 300 BC. Alexander was the son of King Philip II of Macedon. By the time he was 16 Alexander had founded his first colony and named it Alexandroupolis.

Pope John XII

While modern-day popes are well known for being oldies, John XII was only 18 when his papacy began in the year 955. Unfortunately, Pope John XII was known for being quite immoral and generally brought shame to the papacy. It is rumored that he was killed by the husband of a woman he was having an affair with.

Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley is the acclaimed British author who wrote Frankenstein in 1818 when she was only 19 years old! The book was first published anonymously and it was generally assumed to be written by her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, until it was published under her own name in 1831.

Joan of Arc

It wasn't easy being a girl in the 1400s, but Joan of Arc didn't let that stop her from becoming a national heroine in France (and, later, a saint). Joan was a peasant girl who led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War after claiming to have visions from God. She was later captured by the English and executed for heresy, all before the age of 20. About 500 years later she was made a saint by Pope Benedict XV.

King Tutankhamun

King Tutankhamun (popularly referred to as King Tut) was an Egyptian between 1333 BC - 1324 BC. It's thought that King Tut was only eight or nine years old when he became a pharaoh and died before he was 19. His tomb in the Valley of the Kings is the most complete ancient Egyptian tomb ever found.

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