Pope Marcellus II (1501-1555) was pope of the Catholic Church for only 22 days from April 9, 1955 to May 1, 1955.

Marcellus II, originally named Marcello Cervini, was born on May 6, 1501 in Montepulciano, Tuscany to Ricardo Cervini. He was made Cardinal in 1539 by Pope Paul III. During the Council of Trent he was elected one of the Presidents. In 1550 he was appointed the title Bibliothecarius Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae and became the first cardinal to be in charge of the Vatican Library. On April 9, 1955 he was made pope of the Catholic Church. Only 22 days later, on May 1, 1955 he died.

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.