Historical Who Am I Riddles

[Kilo11]

I took some time to do proper digging, and I feel like Giulio Andreotti is a good fit.

[Abdülmecid I]

Finally, we have a winner! It's indeed Giulio Andreotti, who served multiple times as minister for culture, defense, environment, budget, foreign affairs, finance, treasury, budget, interior, industry and of course as Prime-Minister of the Italian Republic. As his stabbing of a fellow boy's eye indicated, Andreotti proved to be quite a controversial figure. With links to the mafia, he has been accused of being implicated in the disappearances of many of his potential enemies, like the journalist Carmine Pecorelli and of course his colleague, Prime-Minister Aldo Moro, found dead inside a car's trunk. Lovely chap, overall.

[Septentrionalis]

An excellent but hard riddle. I went through a lot of organized crime figures but didn't have the good sense to understand that a politician would fit the description better.

[Søren]

A great riddle, I was sort of on the right track but was looking for someone more overtly dictatorial. I can see how well it fits though now.

[Kilo11]

I did a cheaty thing, and just checked which Italians had been PM three times. While doing so, I was very surprised to see how many Italian leaders have had many terms in office, and how often they were non-consecutive terms. Italy is weird. Anyway, onto the next one.

They came to our shores, men of iron and stone.
No heart in their breasts, they would take what we owned,
but respite we had, for my beloved did strike
A treaty with them, that we'd keep what we liked.
Yet no sooner was my consort laid down in a tomb,
And the demons again let their greed grow and bloom.

They thought they could take us.
They thought we were weak.
They never imagined the havoc we'd wreak.

When my lover was given to eternal sleep
A will was read out, but its terms didn't keep.
And to drive matters home, harms were strung on like pearls;
A lash for my back, a prick for my girls.
Then they said, "Submit, this is ours." What gall!
The demons never knew how far they could fall.

They thought they could take us.
They thought we were weak.
They never imagined the havoc we'd wreak.

First came their veterans, old warriors of might.
They fought long and hard, but all did we smite.
Then on went the sack, through town and country until
The enemy was caught with his back to a hill.
He turned to face us, his eyes full of hate
And to our surprise, he made us meet fate.

And now at last we are taken.
Perhaps we are weak.
But still they'll remember the cost of their pique.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

Boudica?

[Kilo11]

The mouse-man has it. The floor is now his.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

A king I was for seven years
And a duke for near five decades
Considered good by most my peers
And I've mastered many trades

Made a count when I was eight
Duke by marriage at age ten
For my next title not long did I wait
At twenty one made duke again

Then one more year, and one more duchy
But that title was usurped
Thrown into prison, a subject quite touchy
But my title was confirmed

More years had passed, more titles came
By a foreign queen named heir in name
And upon her death to her lands I sailed
But there by a claimant I was assailed

Foreign rebels tried to grant me a crown
But by now I was old and frail
So I sent my son into that town
But poison ended that tale

Many lands and titles can I claim
But, pray tell, what is my name?

[Septentrionalis]

There are some things that match with William IV of Britain, but I don't think it is him. A difficult riddle.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

It is indeed not William, allow me to provide a hint:
His duchy titles were in a different kingdom than the one he would be king of, and different still than the kingdom he sent his son to claim.
Also, this may not have been clear, but by "by a claimant i was assailed" is meant to mean that he lost that kingdom.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

Another hint to speed things along
This time provided in the form of a song:

My sister had married my victorious liege,
But that didn't help when I was under siege
Supported my king against the invaders,
But he never bothered to reward me with favours

Though later in my reign
I had more than one suzerain
I remained always loyal
To my original royal

And though the order I founded sounds quite like a meme
It, nonetheless, was held in high esteem

[Septentrionalis]

No, I cannot solve this riddle.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

No, I cannot solve this riddle.

I believe in you! You can do it!
Do I need to give another hint so soon after the last?
Here's a small, but significant, one: His daughter was quite fond of red roses.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

New hint since you guys are taking a while:

[Turkafinwë]

It is our good friend Good King René I of Naples that you speak of

[nhytgbvfeco2]

It is indeed Rene the good, king of Naples, almost king of Catalonia (and claimed king of Jerusalem), duke of Provence, Anjou, Bar and Lorraine. Brother-in-law and to and vassal of king Charles the Victorious of France, as well vassal as of the Holy Roman Emperor. Father to Margaret, queen of England and prominent member of the Lancastrian faction of the war of the roses. Founder of the order of the Croissant.
Well done! Your turn

[Septentrionalis]

I was getting so close and turned around at the last moment. :facepalm:

Nice job, Turkafindëm!

[Turkafinwë]

Here it is then.

Hailing from consecrated ground I made my way into the arts
Primitive they named me though I revolutionized the craft
Courts and nobles were no stranger to me and the good took great delight in my makings
In the city named for bridges and it's rich waters I settled
There I achieved my apex in service to the Lord

Who am I?

[nhytgbvfeco2]

You're Van Eyck, good sir.

[Turkafinwë]

Indeed I am Jan Van Eyck. Born in the Diocese of Liège I went to paint for Philip the Good of Burgundy. I was a member of what they called the Flemish Primitives. Living in Bruges I made my greatest masterpieces of the Lamb of God and Virgin and Child with Canon van der Paele which you still can see to this day.

The floor is yours.