Mary II

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Empress Mary II
mary2.jpg
Born
1915
Died
1981
Reign
1969 - 1981
Notable
Second child of Mary I to ascend the throne

Empress Mary II was the second child of Empress Mary I and the sister of Emperor Joshua II. Knowing that her older brother was slated to ascend the throne, the young Princess Mary followed her interests in the arts - primarily painting - and the sciences - primarily astronomy - rather than following court politics.

In 1934, she married a young graduate student in physics, Michael Viesnieks, who went on to earn a doctorate. Princess Mary and Dr. Viesnieks had two children, David and Michelle. The family was content to live a fairly normal life. However, as her brother grew older without marrying and without producing an heir, Mary and her husband began to worry about the implications.

Those worries were realized in 1969 when Emperor Joshua II died at 63. At the age of 54, with her children already grown, Princess Mary ascended the throne as Empress Mary II.

Mary II reigned quietly over a prosperous and peaceful Empire until her death in 1981 at 66. She was succeeded by her son, David III.