(Encyclopedia) Basil II, c.958–1025, Byzantine emperor (976–1025), surnamed Bulgaroktonos [Bulgar slayer]. With his brother, Constantine VIII, he nominally succeeded his father, Romanus II, in 963,…
(Encyclopedia) Sobhuza IISobhuza IIsōb&oomacr;ˈzə [key], 1899–1982, king of Swaziland (now Eswatini; 1921–82). He became paramount chief of the Swazi in 1921, after a 22-year regency, and was…
(Encyclopedia) Sigismund II or Sigismund Augustus, 1520–72, king of Poland (1548–72). Crowned in 1530 to assure his succession, he assumed the royal functions at the death of his father, Sigismund I…
(Encyclopedia) Pedro II (Dom Pedro II de Alcântara), 1825–91, emperor of Brazil (1831–89). At the age of five, he succeeded under a regency when his father, Pedro I, abdicated. He was declared of age…
(Encyclopedia) Pepi IIPepi IIpāˈpē [key], d. c.2185 b.c., king of ancient Egypt, of the VI dynasty. His reign (c.2275–c.2185 b.c.) is the longest recorded in history. It was successful because the…
(Encyclopedia) Rudolf II, 1552–1612, Holy Roman emperor (1576–1612), king of Bohemia (1575–1611) and of Hungary (1572–1608), son and successor of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II. Acceding to the…
(Encyclopedia) Uladislaus IIUladislaus II&oomacr;ˌläˈdĭslous [key], Hung. Ulászló II, c.1456–1516, king of Hungary (1490–1516) and, as Ladislaus II, king of Bohemia (1471–1516); son of Casimir IV…
(Encyclopedia) Thutmose IIThutmose IIthŭtˈmōz, tŭtˈ– [key] or Thothmes IIThothmes IIthŏthˈmēz, tōtˈmĕs [key], reigned c.1495–1490 b.c., king of ancient Egypt, fourth ruler of the XVIII dynasty and…
(Encyclopedia) Theodosius II, 401–50, Roman emperor of the East (408–50), son and successor of Arcadius. He preferred the study of theology and astronomy to public affairs, which he left to the…
(Encyclopedia) Ramses IIRamses IIrămˈsēz [key], Rameses II, or Ramesses IIRamesses IIboth: rămˈəsēzˌ [key], d. 1225 b.c., king of ancient Egypt, of the XIX dynasty. The son of Seti I, Ramses was not…
