Frederik II (1534-1588) was a King of Denmark and Norway.

Frederik II was born on July 1, 1534 in Haderslev, Denmark to Christian III and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. He helped conquer the peasant republic of Dithmarschen in 1559. Later that year he succeeded his father as King of Denmark and Norway. In 1563 he broke out into war with Sweden over supremacy in the Baltic, which became the Seven Year's War in the North. The signed a peace treaty in 1570. He rebuilt Kronborg Castle between 1574 and 1585, founded Frederikstad in 1567, and was king during a time of great growth in Danish history. He died on April 4, 1588.

Philip II (1527-1598) was King of Spain and, as Philip I, king of Portugal from 1580.

Philip II was born in Valladolid, Spain on May 21, 1527 to Charles V and Infanta Isabella. As a child he was trained by his father to take over the Holy Roman Empire. He became the Duke of Milan in 1540 and after marrying Mary I of England he recieved the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily in 1554. In 1555 his father resigned the Netherlands to him and in 1556 the kingdoms of Spain and the Spanish Empire. However, many in fear of his increasing power and zealousness for Catholicism, rebelled against him, such as the Netherlands. He tried conquering England through the Spanish Armada, but was defeated. He was able, however to win the war against the Ottoman Empire. During his lifetime he was married 4 times. He died in El Escorial on September 13, 1598 of cancer.