(Encyclopedia) Hiero II, d. c.215 b.c., Greek Sicilian ruler, tyrant of Syracuse (c.270–c.215 b.c.). He showed such ability and distinction after Pyrrhus left Sicily (275 b.c.) that he was made…
(Encyclopedia) Gustavus II (Gustavus Adolphus), 1594–1632, king of Sweden (1611–32), son and successor of Charles IX.
In military organization and strategy, Gustavus was ahead of his time. While…
(Encyclopedia) Andrew II, d. 1235, king of Hungary (1205–35), son of Bela III. He continued his predecessors' policy of transferring crown lands to the magnates, and the lesser nobles forced him to…
(Encyclopedia) Andronicus II (Andronicus Palaeologus)Andronicus IIăndrənīˈkəs [key]Andronicus IIpālēŏlˈəgəs [key], 1258–1332, Byzantine emperor (1282–1328), son and successor of Michael VIII. He…
(Encyclopedia) Antiochus II (Antiochus Theos)Antiochus IIāntīˈəkəs [key]Antiochus IIthēˈŏs [key], d. 247 b.c., king of Syria (261?–247 b.c.), son and successor of Antiochus I. In warfare with…
(Encyclopedia) Humbert II, 1904–83, last king of Italy (1946), son and successor of Victor Emmanuel III. On the abdication (May, 1946) of his father, who was tainted by his long acquiescence (1922–43…
(Encyclopedia) Antigonus II (Antigonus Gonatas)Antigonus IIăntigˈənəs [key]Antigonus IIgōnāˈtəs [key], c.320–239 b.c., king of Macedon, son of Demetrius I. He took the title king on his father's…
(Encyclopedia) Isaac II (Isaac Angelus)Isaac IIănˈjələs [key], d. 1204, Byzantine emperor (1185–95, 1203–4). The great-grandson of Alexius I, he was proclaimed emperor by the mob that had killed the…
(Encyclopedia) Isabella II, 1830–1904, queen of Spain (1833–68), daughter of Ferdinand VII and of Maria Christina. Her uncle, Don Carlos, contested her succession under the Salic law, and thus the…
(Encyclopedia) Justin II, d. 578, Byzantine emperor (565–78), nephew and successor to Justinian I. He allied himself with the Turks and resumed the wars with Persia. During his reign Slavs and Avars…
