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 William the Conqueror