Liliuokalani vs Oscar II

Liliuokalani composed the song 'Aloha Oe' while still a princess. The song became a symbol of Hawaiian culture and identity, and is one of the most famous Hawaiian songs worldwide.

Liliuokalani became Queen of Hawaii on 29 January 1891, following the death of her brother King Kalakaua. She was the first and only queen regnant of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Liliuokalani attempted to replace the Bayonet Constitution of 1887 with a new constitution that would restore power to the monarchy and native Hawaiians. This move triggered a coup by American and European businessmen, who overthrew the monarchy.

On 17 January 1893, a group of American and European businessmen, supported by U.S. Minister John L. Stevens and U.S. Marines, overthrew Liliuokalani. She yielded under protest to avoid bloodshed, ending the Hawaiian monarchy.

In 1895, Liliuokalani was implicated in a failed counter-rebellion by royalists seeking to restore the monarchy. She was arrested, tried for treason, and forced to abdicate. She was imprisoned in Iolani Palace for eight months.

Oscar II was a noted patron of the arts and sciences. He supported the Swedish Academy, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and various cultural institutions. He also personally funded expeditions, such as the Vega Expedition, which completed the first navigation of the Northeast Passage.

Oscar II oversaw a major reform of the Swedish military, introducing universal conscription and modernizing the army and navy. This was in response to the changing geopolitical situation in Europe and aimed at maintaining Sweden's neutrality and defense capabilities.

Oscar II was the last king of the united kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. After a political crisis, the Norwegian parliament unilaterally declared the dissolution of the union. Oscar II accepted the separation peacefully, abdicating his claim to the Norwegian throne and recognizing Norway's independence.