Over the last 3000 years, the great 'sun kings' of history have dazzled the world with their ability to build empires and rule them absolutely, but equally with their shows of excess and opulence. Experts in the public display of power, they have identified their own authority as the basis of their country's grandeur. From Ramses II raising the temples and statues of 13th-century BC Egypt, and Charlemagne reviving Roman imperial glory for 9th-century Europe, to Peter the Great's transformation of Russia into a western power, and Napoleon's parcelling of Europe for his family, The Sun Kings examines the lives and achievements of 50 magnificent rulers, whilst also providing a fascinating study of the changing role of kingship. The sun kings' lifestyles, palaces, art, dress and other totems of their success are brought to life with lavish colour illustrations. The following rulers are included: Ramses II; Roger II; Louis XIV; Solomon; Suryavarman II; Kangxi; Nebuchadnezzar II; The Knights Templar; Peter the Great; Darius I; Eleanor of Aquitaine; Frederick II; Croesus, King of Lydia; Kublai Khan; Maria-Theresa; Alexander the Great; Baybars I; Catherine the Great; Shi Huangdi; Pope Alexander VI; Napoleon; Augustus; Lorenzo de Medici; Leopold II; Constantine I; Montezuma II; Ludwig II; Al-Mansur; Henry VIII; Mohammad Reza Shah; Kammu; Charles V; Pahlavi; Charlemagne; Suleyman I; Bokassa I; Abd-ar-rahman III; Akbar; Fahd ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz; Basil II ('the Bulgar-Slayer'); Gustavus Adolphus; al-Sa'ud; Otto III; Charles I; and, William the Conqueror.