1221-1285
Anne of Austria, queen consort of France, was married to the 14-year-old Louis XIII and later mothered Louis XIV.
1601-1666
1932-
1892-1975
Cristóbal Balenciaga was a Spanish-French fashion designer and the leading couturier of Spain in the 1920s-30s. He moved to Paris during the Spanish Civil War.
1895-1972
Javier Bardem is a Spanish actor, and the first Spaniard to be nominated for an Oscar. He played lead roles in Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Eat, Pray, Love.
1969-
1872-1956
1328-1423
Richard Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet of the United States, the first Latino and openly gay-identified person to hold the position.
1968-
1900-1983
Explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca spent eight years in the Gulf region of present-day Texas and was treasurer to the Spanish expedition under de Narváez.
-1490
1938-
Opera singer José Carreras is a leading tenor who has performed around the world. He helped popularize opera by performing as part of The Three Tenors.
1946-
Hernán Cortés, marqués del Valle de Oaxaca, was a Spanish conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire and won Mexico for the crown of Spain.
1485-1547
Spanish actress Penelope Cruz is known for her roles in such films as Vanilla Sky, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
1974-
Salvador Dali is best known for his long surrealist painting career.
1904-1989
1485-1541
One of Spain's most famous writers, Miguel de Cervantes created one of the world's greatest literary masterpieces, Don Quixote, in the early 1600s.
1547-1616
The expedition team of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado discovered the Grand Canyon and many other famous landmarks.
1510-1554
Sometimes called the father of modern art, Spanish artist Francisco de Goya painted royal portraits as well as more subversive works in late 1700s and early 1800s.
1746-1828
1600-1681
1474-1566
While searching for the mythical fountain of youth, Juan Ponce de León founded the oldest settlement in Puerto Rico and discovered Florida.
1460-1521
1923-
Conquistador Juan de Oñate established the colony of New Mexico for Spain. During his governorship, he vainly sought the mythical riches of North America.
1550-1630
Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquests of Central America and Peru and discovered the Mississippi River.
1500-1542
Priest Tomas De Torquemada became notorious for his cruelty while serving as Inquisitor General during the Spanish Inquisition.
1420-1498
1864-1936
1598-1664
1941-
El Greco was a Greek artist whose painting and sculpture helped define the Spanish Renaissance and influence various movements to come.
1541-1614
Soccer player Cesc Fàbregas has starred for the Arsenal and FC Barcelona clubs and led Spain to multiple championships in international competition.
1987-
Isabella Farnese was the Queen consort of Spain, wife of Philip V of Spain. She exerted tremendous influence of Spain's foreign policy and expansion.
1692-1766
1452-1516
John Galliano is a British fashion designer who served as head designer of the French haute couture houses Givenchy (1995-1996) and Christian Dior (1996-2011).
1960-
Federico García Lorca is considered one of Spain's greatest poets and dramatists. One of his most successful poetry collections was The Gypsy Ballads.
1898-1936
Spanish professional basketball player Pau Gasol is a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was Spain's flag bearer during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
1980-
Antoni Gaudí was a Barcelona-based Spanish architect whose free-flowing works were greatly influenced by nature.
1852-1926
American film actress Rita Hayworth is best known for her stunning explosive sexual charisma on screen in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
1918-1987
1895-1989
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish singer known for several hit songs, including "Bailamos," "Rhythm Divine," "Be With You," "Escape" and "Hero." He is the son of Spanish singer Julio Iglesias.
1975-
1943-
James I was a Spanish king best known for fighting the Moors during his reign from 1213-'76. He is also known as James I the Conqueror and James I of Aragon.
1208-1276
Professional soccer player Kaká helped São Paulo take home the World Cup title in 2002. He later lead Milan to Champions League and Club World Cup titles.
1982-
1936-
Catalan painter Joan Miró combined abstract art with Surrealist fantasy to create his lithographs, murals, tapestries, and sculptures for public spaces.
1893-1983
Antonio Molina was a Spanish singer and actor best known for his films such as El pescador de coplas (1953) and Esa voz es una mina (1955).
1928-1992
1618-1682
Spanish-born Rafael Nadal is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional tennis players of all time, completing the career Grand Slam by age 24, the youngest in history to achieve the feat.
1986-
Explorer and conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
1475-1519
Of Spanish descent, the devout, learned Catherine of Aragon was the 16th-century Queen of England due to her marriage to Henry VIII.
1485-1536
St. John of the Cross was a Spanish poet whose work is considered the summit of mystical Spanish literature. He was glorified as a saint in 1726 by Pope Bendict XIII.
1542-1591
1895-1974
1334-1369
King Philip II of Spain, also known as Philip the Prudent, ruled one of the world's largest empires. The Philippines are named after him.
1527-1598
1605-1665
Spanish expatriate Pablo Picasso was one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century, as well as the co-creator of Cubism.
1881-1973
Spanish explorer and conquistador Francisco Pizarro helped Vasco Núñez de Balboa discover the Pacific Ocean, and after conquering Peru, founded its capital city, Lima.
1476-1541
1502-1548
Santiago Ramón y Cajal was a Spanish histologist and professor whose work led to the discovery of neurons.
1852-1934
1861-1896
1932-
1893-1987
Spanish missionary Juniper Serra established his first U.S. mission in 1769. He built eight more California missions over the next thirteen years.
1713-1784
Diego Velázquez was a renowned Spanish painter and portraitist, and an icon of Western art.
1599-1660
1465-1524
America was named after Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine navigator and explorer who played a prominent role in exploring the New World.
1454-1512
1506-1552
1817-1893