Career
Stephen"s father was Častimir, the younger brother of Peter Krešimir IV of Croatia. He was due to succeed Peter Krešimir IV, but was sidelined by the people and clergy in 1075 who instead bestowed the title of king to Demetrius Zvonimir, previously a ban in Slavonia. By the time Dmitar Zvonimir died in 1089, Stephen was old and seriously affected by ill health.
Nevertheless, he assumed the throne after being persuaded by the aristocracy and clergy.
Stephen"s rule was relatively ineffectual and lasted less than two years. He spent most of this time in the tranquility of the monastery of Sv.
Stjepan pod Borovima (Street Stephen beneath the Pines) near Split. Stephen II died peacefully in December 1090, or at the beginning of 1091, without leaving an heir.
War and unrest broke out in Croatia shortly afterward, with the southern nobility electing Petar Svačić as King of Croatia in 1093, immediately entering into conflict with the Hungarian king Ladislaus.
The war culminated in the Battle of Gvozd Mountain in 1097 leading to a personal union of Croatia and Hungary in 1102, ruled by Coloman.
