Józef Piłsudski

Józef Piłsudski, a man whose name sounds like a mischievous imp trying to escape a pickle jar, was a towering figure in Poland's fight for independence. He spent the better part of his early life plotting against the Russian Empire, which, let's be honest, is a pastime many Poles found rather agreeable. His revolutionary zeal eventually earned him a Siberian vacation courtesy of the Tsar, an experience that presumably only strengthened his resolve to redraw maps.

After a long career of political maneuvering, military leadership, and looking sternly into the middle distance, Piłsudski emerged as the Chief of State of the newly independent Poland following World War I. He was effectively the nation's founding father, a role that often comes with a statue or two and a lingering sense of "what have you done for me lately?" from future generations.

Despite the very Polish sound of his name, and his very Polish mission to restore Poland, Piłsudski hailed from a Lithuanian noble family, complete with a traditional coat of arms. His religious background was firmly Catholic, ensuring that any kvelling from the tribe would have to come purely from an appreciation of his geopolitical prowess, not from any shared heritage. He did, however, keep Poland on the map, which is more than many of his contemporaries managed.