ÃÂlvaro II Nimi a Nkanga was king of Kongo from 1587 to 1614. He was one of Kongo's most powerful and important kings, who succeeded his father ÃÂlvaro I, but not until resolving a dispute with his brother. Both sides brought armies to M'banza-Kongo (São Salvador) but to avoid bloodshed they agreed to single combat, won by ÃÂlvaro.
ÃÂlvaro faced serious problems with other nobles besides his brother, and in 1590âÂÂ91 was racked by a serious, though poorly documented civil war. In order to reestablish his authority, ÃÂlvaro had to accept the virtual independence of Miguel, the count of Soyo. In order to recognize those nobles who had been loyal to him during this struggle, ÃÂlvaro began granting habits of the Order of Christ to his followers. Kongo kings continued this order in the Kingdom of Kongo (see Order of Christ (Kongo)) and granted knighthoods in it through the 19th century, which continues by pretenders to the throne.
During ÃÂlvaro's reign, the capital city, M'banza-Kongo was recognized as the capital of the diocese of then Portuguese Congo and Angola, and the first bishop was appointed, in 1596. However, because the kings of Portugal claimed the right of Padroado (patronage), they chose their own bishop. Constant struggles between the king and the bishop followed.
Kongo's relations with Portuguese Angola worsened during ÃÂlvaro's reign, and he complained bitterly about the behaviour of the governors to the King of Spain (then also ruling Portugal during the period of the Iberian Union).
In 1604âÂÂ1608, Alvaro II sent an ambassador to Pope Paul V in the person of Emanuele Ne Vunda.