He ruled for 82 years and 253 days from 1899 to 1982. He was only four months old, when his father died suddenly while dancing incwala. He was crowned King though his mother held forth for him until he was of age

He died at the age of 83 in 1982. Known by the honorific “Bull of Swazi” by virtue of his numerous progeny, King Sobhuza continued the tribal practice of maintaining many consorts.

According to the Swaziland National Trust Commission, King Sobhuza II married 70 wives, who gave him 210 children between 1920 and 1970. About 180 children survived infancy, and 97 sons and daughters were reported living as of 2000. At his death he had more than 1,000 grandchildren.