Akbar the Great

Born Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, this fellow skipped right past "Akbar the Pretty Good" and "Akbar the Decent" to earn his superlative moniker. He inherited a somewhat shaky kingdom at age 13 and, through military prowess and shrewd diplomacy, turned it into a vast, powerful empire stretching across most of the Indian subcontinent. Clearly, he didn't spend his teenage years glued to a screen.

Akbar was also known for his religious tolerance, which was, let's face it, a rather avant-garde concept for a 16th-century emperor. He abolished the jizya (a tax on non-Muslims) and even hosted interfaith dialogues, apparently believing that understanding other religions might lead to fewer rebellions, or at least more interesting dinner conversations.

His court was a hub for art, culture, and science, often employing a diverse group of scholars and artists. He even created a new syncretic religion called Din-i Ilahi, which, despite his best efforts, didn't quite catch on. It seems even emperors have trouble launching a successful startup faith.