"Who was the first Roman emperor? What country had Andriantsimitoviaminandriana as its king? Who succeeded Harald Bluetooth? From Horus Aha, first king of Egypt, to Abd Allah II, present king of Jordan, this compact and useful reference book charts five millennia of kings, queens, emperors, empresses, regencies, joint reigns, abdications, depositions, interregna, foreign rule, mandates, protectorates, and dynastic unions. First published in hardback in 1989 and subsequently translated into Hungarian, German, Japanese, and Polish, the text has now been updated in its English version to take into account changes over the last thirteen years." "Chronological tables show the names and dates of rulers and their family relationships. Supplementary notes deal with chronological problems, calendars and dating systems, margins of error for uncertain dates, and names and titles. Additional material includes bibliographies listing the most important sources and a comprehensive index. Broad coverage, scholarly approach, and clear presentation make this work ideal for professionals and amateurs alike."--Jacket.