Following our report of the first near-linear lanthanide (Ln) complex, [Sm(N-dagger dagger)(2)] (1), herein we present the synthesis of [Ln(N-dagger dagger)(2)] [N-dagger dagger = {N(SiPr3)(2)}; Ln = Eu (2), Tm (3), Yb (4)], thus achieving approximate uniaxial geometries for a series of "traditional" Ln(II) ions. Experimental evidence, together with calculations performed on a model of 4, indicates that dispersion forces are important for stabilization of the near linear geometries of 1-4. The isolation of 3 under a dinitrogen atmosphere is noteworthy, given that "[Tm(N '')(mu-N '')](2)" (N '' = {N(SiMe3)(2)}) has not previously been structurally authenticated and reacts rapidly with N-2(g) to give [{Tm(N '')(2)}(2)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)-N-2)]. Complexes 1-4 have been characterized as appropriate by single crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetic measurements, electrochemistry, multinudear NMR, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and electronic spectroscopy, along with computational methods for 3 and 4. The remarkable geometries of monomeric 1-4 lead to interesting physical properties, which complement and contrast with comparatively well understood dimeric [Ln(N '')(mu-N '')](2) complexes. EPR spectroscopy of 3 shows that the near-linear geometry stabilizes m(J) states with oblate spheroid electron density distributions, validating our previous suggestions. Cyclic voltammetry experiments carried out on 1-4 did not yield Ln(II) reduction potentials, so a reactivity study of 1 was performed with selected substrates in order to benchmark the Sm-III -> Sm-II couple. The separate reactions of 1 with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO), azobenzene, and benzophenone gave crystals of [Sm(N-dagger dagger)(2)(TEMPO)] (5), [Sm(N-dagger dagger)(2)(N2Ph2)] (6); and [Sm(N-dagger dagger){mu-OPhC(C6H5)CPh2O-kappa O,O'](2) (7), respectively. The isolation of 5-7 shows that the Snarl center in 1 is still accessible despite having two bulky N-dagger dagger moieties and that the N-donor atoms are able to deviate further from linearity or ligand scrambling occurs in order to accommodate another ligand in the Sm-III coordination spheres of the products.