List of monarchs by time
A monarch is the head of a monarchy, a form of government in which a state is ruled by an individual who normally rules for life or until abdication, and typically inherits the throne by birth.[1] Monarchs may be autocrats (as in all absolute monarchies)[2] or may be ceremonial figureheads, exercising only limited or no reserve powers at all, with actual authority vested in a legislature and/or executive cabinet (as in many constitutional monarchies).[3] In many cases, a monarch will also be linked with a state religion.[4] Most states only have a single monarch at any given time, although a regent may rule when the monarch is a minor, not present, or otherwise incapable of ruling.[5] Cases in which two monarchs rule simultaneously over a single state, as is the current situation in Andorra, are known as coregencies.[6]
List of rulers
Colors
Current monarchies
| Title | Monarch | Foundation of monarchy |
Since | Length | Ref | Flag | Age of monarchy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Prince | Joan Enric Vives i Sicília | 1278 | 2003 | 19 years, 268 days | [7][8] | 814-815 Years | |
| Emmanuel Macron | 2017 | 5 years, 266 days | |||||
| King | Charles III | 1707 | 2022 | 149 days | [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] |
and more |
315 Years |
| King | Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa | 1783 | 1999 | 23 years, 335 days | [24] | 319 Years | |
| King | Philippe | 1831 | 2013 | 9 years, 198 days | [25][26] | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium | 221 Years |
| Druk Gyalpo | Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck | 1907 | 2006 | 16 years, 51 days | [27] | 115 Years | |
| Sultan | Hassanal Bolkiah | 1363 | 1967 | 55 years, 122 days | [28] | 719 Years | |
| King | Norodom Sihamoni | 68 CE | 2004 | 18 years, 113 days | [29][30] | 1955 Years | |
| Queen | Margrethe II | 710 | 1972 | 51 years, 21 days | [31] | 1313 Years | |
| King | Mswati III | 1750s | 1986 | 36 years, 285 days | [32][33][34] | 222-223 Years | |
| Emperor | Naruhito | 11 February 660 BC (mythical), 2681 years ago. historical origin is disputed. was Emperor Jimmu | 2019 | 3 years, 279 days | .[35][36][37][38] | 2681 Years (Disputed) | |
| King | Abdullah II | 1946 | 1999 | 23 years, 362 days | [39][40] | 76 Years | |
| Emir | Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah | 1752 | 2020 | 2 years, 128 days | [41][42] | ||
| King | Letsie III | 1822 | 1996 | 26 years, 362 days | [45][46] | ||
| Prince | Hans-Adam II | 1608 | 1989 | 33 years, 83 days | [fn 1][47] | ||
| Grand Duke | Henri | 1815 | 2000 | 22 years, 120 days | [49] | ||
| Yang di-Pertuan Agong | Abdullah | 1957 | 2019 | 4 years, 4 days | [50][51] | ||
| Prince | Albert II | 1604 | 2005 | 17 years, 304 days | [52][53] | ||
| King | Mohammed VI | 788 or 1666 | 1999 | 23 years, 198 days | [54][fn 2] | ||
| Willem-Alexander | 1815 | 2013 | 9 years, 282 days | [56] | File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands | ||
| Harald V | 872 | 1991 | 32 years, 20 days | [57][fn 3] | |||
| Sultan | Haitham bin Tariq | 751 | 2020 | 3 years, 26 days | [58] | 1272 Years | |
| Emir | Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani | 1851 | 2013 | 9 years, 226 days | [59] | ||
| King | Salman | 1832 | 2015 | 8 years, 14 days | [fn 4] [61] | ||
| Felipe VI | 1474 or 1475 Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon | 2014 | 8 years, 232 days | [62][fn 5] | |||
| Carl XVI Gustaf | 970 | 1973 | 49 years, 144 days | [64][fn 6] | 1053 Years | ||
| Vajiralongkorn | 1238 | 2016 | 6 years, 116 days | [66] | |||
| Tupou VI | 1845 | 2012 | 10 years, 325 days | [67][68] | 177 Years | ||
| President | Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan | 1971 | 2022 | 268 days | [69][70] | 51 Years | |
| Pope | Pope Leo XIV | 1 AD | 2025 | 80 days | [71] | 2021 Years |
Former monarchies
| Name | Formation | First monarch | Abolition | Flag | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 500s | Charles the Bald France Clovis I Francia |
1870 | [72][73][74] | |
| Saxony | 500s | Hadugato Rudolph I Electorate of Saxony |
1918 | [75] | |
| Germany | 843 | Louis II the German | [76][77] | ||
| Mecklenburg | ? or 1167 | ? and Pribislaus I | [78] | ||
| England | 800s | Alfred the Great | 1707 now UK | [79] | |
| Georgia | 302 BC | Pharnavaz I | 1801 | [80][81] |
Longest-reigning.
| No. | Title | Image | Monarch | Foundation of monarchy |
Length | Ref | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King | Louis XIV | 500s | 72 years, 110 days | [82] | ||
| 2 | Queen | Elizabeth II | 1707 | 70 years, 214 days | [83][84][85] | ||
| 3 | King | Rama IX | 1238 | 70 years, 126 days | [86] | ||
| 4 | Prince | Johann II | 1608 | 70 years, 91 days | [87] | ||
| 5 | ? | Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal I | ? | 68 years, 33 days | [88][89] | Palenque (Mexico) | |
| 6 | Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary | Franz Joseph I | 1000 or 1270s | 67 years, 355 days | [90] | ||
| 7 | ? | Chan Imix Kʼawiil | ? | 67 years, 130 days | [91][92] | Copán (Honduras) | |
| 8 | King | Ferdinand III | 1800s | 65 years, 90 days | [93] |
Gallery
List Of Monarchs By Time Media
William Howard Taft, the incumbent president in 1912, whose term expired on March 4, 1913
A Punch cartoon by Leonard Raven-Hill, depicting the perceived aggression between Taft and Roosevelt.
Related pages
Notes
- ↑ Formally enthroned on 15 August 1990. Prior to his accession, Hans-Adam had served as prince regent since 26 August 1984.[47] On 15 August 2004, the prince formally appointed his son Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein as regent, in preparation for his succession to the throne, but remained head of state in accordance with the constitution.[48]
- ↑ Coronation took place 30 July 1999.[55]
- ↑ Formally enthroned on 21 January 1991, and consecrated on 23 June 1991. Prior to his accession, Harald had served as prince regent since 1 June 1990.[57]
- ↑ Succession is determined by consensus within the House of Saud as to who will be Crown Prince. This consensus may change depending on the Crown Prince's actions:[60]
- ↑ Succession is based upon male primogeniture. However, Felipe VI currently has no male children.[63]
- ↑ Formally enthroned on 19 September 1973.[65]
References
- ↑ MonarchCollinsDictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition.. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ↑ Herb, Michael. All in the family: absolutism, revolution, and democracy in the Middle East (1999). New York: SUNY Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-7914-4168-8.
- ↑ Spellman, W. M.. Monarchies 1000–2000 (2001). London: Reaktion Books. p. 22–23. ISBN 978-1-86189-087-0.
- ↑ Harris, Nathanial. Systems of Government: Monarchy (2009). London: Evans Brothers. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-237-53932-0.
- ↑ RegentCollinsDictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition.. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ↑ Hindley, Geoffrey. The Royal Families of Europe (2000). London: Constable & Robinson. p. 1–6. ISBN 978-0-7867-0828-4.
- ↑ Recepció de Nadal del copríncep episcopal Joan-Enric Vives (in ca). Portal web del Govern d’Andorra (23 December 2009)Government of Andorra. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ↑ Constitution of Andorra, Ch. 3.
- ↑ Government of the United Kingdom. The King of the Commonwealth. Official website of the British MonarchyThe Royal Household. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ↑ Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, Art. 68.
- ↑ Constitution of Australia, Art. 61.
- ↑ Constitution of the Bahamas, Art. 71.
- ↑ Constitution of Belize, Art. 36.
- ↑ Constitution of Canada, Art. 9.
- ↑ Constitution of Grenada, Art. 57.
- ↑ Constitution of Jamaica, Art. 68.
- ↑ Constitution Act 1986: Part 1.
- ↑ Constitution of Papua New Guinea, Art. 82.
- ↑ Constitution of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Art. 51.
- ↑ Constitution of Saint Lucia, Art. 59.
- ↑ Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Art. 50.
- ↑ Constitution of Solomon Islands, Art. 1.
- ↑ Constitution of Tuvalu, Art. 48.
- ↑ The Kingdom of Bahrain: The Constitutional Changes. The Estimate (22 February 2002)The International Estimate, Inc.. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- ↑ The Belgian MonarchyGovernment of Belgium, Chancellery of the Prime Minister. p. 11. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
- ↑ Herzogliche Hauptverwaltung. The House of Wettin. Das Herzogliche Haus Sachsen-Coburg und GothaThe Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha's Family Foundation. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ↑ Staff writer (15 December 2006). Bhutanese king steps down early. British Broadcasting Corporation. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6184349.stm. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- ↑ Government of Brunei. Prime Minister. The Royal ArkOffice of the Prime Minister. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- ↑ Government of Cambodia. The MonarchyRoyal Embassy of Cambodia in the United Kingdom. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ↑ Corfield, Justin J.. The history of Cambodia (2009)ABC-CLIO. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-313-35722-0.
- ↑ Government of Denmark. Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark. The Danish MonarchyRoyal Court of Denmark. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ↑ Marwick, Brian Allan. The Swazi: an ethnographic account of the natives of the Swaziland Protectorate (1940)Cambridge University Press. p. 5–75.
- ↑ Rubin, N.N.. The Swazi Law of Succession: A Restatement. Journal of African Law 9 (2) (28 July 2009)Cambridge University Press. p. 90–113. doi:10.1017/S0021855300001108.
- ↑ Simelane, H.S.. Encyclopedia of African history 3 (2005)Fitzroy Dearborn. p. 1528–30.
- ↑ Government of Japan (7 December 2007). "National Day of Japan to be celebrated". Press release. http://www.pk.emb-japan.go.jp/PRESS/Press%202007/JPNEMPAK%2007-041,%20NATIONAL%20DAY%20OF%20JAPAN%20TO%20BE%20CELEBRATED.htm. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ↑ Skya, Walter. Japan's holy war: the ideology of radical Shintō ultranationalism (2009)Duke University Press. p. 291. ISBN 978-0-8223-4423-0.
- ↑ National Committee of Japanese Historians. Historical studies in Japan VII (1990)Brill Publishers. p. 151. ISBN 978-4-634-65040-4.
- ↑ Seagrave, Sterling. The Yamato Dynasty: The Secret History of Japan's Imperial Family (2001)Broadway Books. p. 4–10. ISBN 978-0-7679-0497-1.
- ↑ Government of Jordan. His Majesty King Abdullah II. Abdullah II Official WebsiteThe Royal Hashemite Court. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- ↑ Government of Jordan. The Hashemites: Introduction. Office of King Hussein IThe Royal Hashemite Court. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ↑ Constitution of Kuwait, Art. 4.
- ↑ Cordesman, Anthony H. Gulf military forces in an era of asymmetric wars 2 (2007)Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-275-99250-7.: "The royal family, Al Sabah, has two branches—Al Jaber and Al Salem—and has traditionally alternated in ruling Kuwait. This tradition, however, has changed following the death of Jaber Al Sabah [1977–2006]."
- ↑ Political Risk Yearbook, 1998 (1998)Political Risk Services. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-85271-371-3.: "The two branches of the Al-Sabah family, the Jabers and the Salems, have traditionally alternated their rule, one providing the emir and the other the crown prince (also serving as prime minister)
- ↑ Government of Kuwait. H.H. Amir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahDiwan of the Almiri Court. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ↑ Government of Lesotho. His Majesty King Letsie III. The Lesotho Monarchy. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ↑ Olivier, J. Basotho in Lesotho. Sesotho OnlineSesotho Online. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 Government of Liechtenstein. Prince Hans-Adam II. Portal of the Principality of LiechtensteinGovernment Spokesperson’s Office. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ↑ Image Liechtenstein. The Principality of LiechtensteinPortal of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ↑ Government of Luxembourg. Grand Duke HenriPress and Information Service. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ↑ National Library of Malaysia. Election of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan AgongGovernment of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ↑ National Library of Malaysia. Yang di-Pertuan Agong XIVGovernment of Malaysia. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- ↑ Agence France-Presse (20 November 2005). Prince Albert's Monaco enthronement complete. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/11/20/1510663.htm. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ↑ Biography (2011)Prince's Palace of Monaco. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ↑ Laurenson, John (11 March 2006). The most powerful man in Morocco. British Broadcasting Corporation. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4794188.stm. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ↑ Staff writers (24 July 1999). Mohammed VI takes Moroccan throne. British Broadcasting Corporation. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/402712.stm. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ↑ Government of the Netherlands. Zijne Majesteit Koning Willem-Alexander (in nl). The Dutch Royal HouseGovernment Information Service. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 Government of Norway. His Majesty King Harald. Official website of the Royal House of NorwayRoyal Court of Norway. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ↑ Nyrop, Richard F. Area Handbook for the Persian Gulf States (2008)Wildside Press LLC. p. 341. ISBN 978-1-4344-6210-7.
- ↑ Thafer, Dania (14 October 2021). Qatar's first elected parliament may have more power than other Persian Gulf legislatures. Here's why.. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/10/14/qatars-first-elected-parliament-may-have-more-power-than-other-persian-gulf-legislatures-heres-why/. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ↑ Cordesman, Anthony H. Saudi Arabia: national security in a troubled region (2009)ABC-CLIO. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-313-38076-1. "In October 2006, King Abdullah issued a new succession law that amended the 1992 Basic Law and formalized the process by creating the Allegiance Commission. The new law both defines how a king will choose among possible candidates and provides a formal way for developing a consensus to choose the king's successor. The Allegiance Commission will select a king and crown prince upon the death or incapacitation of either. This commission expands the role of the ruling family in the selection process. ... It is composed of some 35 sons and grandsons of the late founder of the Kingdom, Abd al-Aziz al-Saud, who will vote in secret ballots on who could and could not be eligible to be future kings and crown princes."
- ↑ "Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies". BBC News. 23 January 2015. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30945324. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ↑ The Royal Household of His Majesty the King. His Majesty the King Juan Carlos. The Royal Household of His Majesty the King. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
- ↑ Cahn, Lauren. The Stunning Transformation Of Princess Leonor, The Future Queen Of Spain (in en-US). TheList.com (2022-07-08). Retrieved 2022-08-02.
- ↑ Government of Sweden. H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf (in sv). Sveriges KungahusInformation and Press Department. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ↑ Government of Sweden. Kungl Maj:ts kungörelse (1973:702) (19 September 1973)Department of Justice. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
- ↑ The Illustrious Chakri FamilyMahidol University. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ↑ Government of Tonga. Geneology of King Tupou VI (28 July 2008)Office of the Lord Chamberlain. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ↑ Government of Tonga. Tu'i KanokupoluPalace Office. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- ↑ Shoup, John A. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab States Today: A-J (2009)Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 323. ISBN 978-0-313-34444-2.. "The Al Nahyan ... are a branch of the Al Bu Falah tribe of the Bani Yas confederation, and although they have been a small section of the tribe, the Al Nahyan have traditionally provided the paramount shaykh for the confederation."
- ↑ President Sheikh Khalifa dies aged 73 (in en). The National (13 May 2022). Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ↑ 'Peace be with you all,' Pope Leo XIV says in first speech (in en-GB). www.bbc.com (2025-05-08). Retrieved 2025-07-27.
- ↑ Rolf Grosse. Du royaume franc aux origines de la France et de l'Allemagne 800–1214 (2014)Presses Universitaires du Septentrion. p. 50–52.
- ↑ Lohrmann, Dietrich. Trois Palais Royaux de la Vallée de l'Oise d'après les travaux des érudits mauristes: Compiègne, Choisy-au-Bac et Quierzy. Francia 4 (1976). p. 124–129.
- ↑ Geneviève Bührer-Thierry. La France avant la France, (481–888) (2010). Paris: Belin. p. 412.
- ↑ Information in English language - Saxony during the Weimar Republic 1918-1933. www.sachsen.de. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ↑ Ludwig der Deutsche. Neue Deutsche Biographie.
- ↑ Louis III. Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- ↑ "Von der Reformation..."
- ↑ Edward 'The Elder' (r. 899–924). royal.gov.uk (2016-01-12). Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ↑ Commander of the Royal House of Georgia Archived 2023-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, The Royal House of Georgia.
- ↑ The Royal House of Georgia.
- ↑ BBC – History – Historic Figures: Louis XIV (1638–1715) (in en-GB). www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II has died, Buckingham Palace announces" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2022-09-08. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61585886. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
- ↑ Her Majesty the Queen. The Royal Family (29 December 2015). Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ↑ Waites, Rosie (2012-02-06). "The moment a princess became a queen" (in en-GB). BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16795006. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
- ↑ Crossette, Barbara (2016-10-13). "Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88, People's King of Thailand, Dies After 7-Decade Reign" (in en-US). The New York Times. . https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/14/world/asia/thai-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-dies.html. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ↑ Biographies of the Princes and Princesses. House of Liechtenstein.
- ↑ Pharo, Lars Kirkhusmo. The Ritual Practice of Time: Philosophy and Sociopolitics of Mesoamerican Calendars (2013)Brill. p. 92. ISBN 9789004252363.
- ↑ K'inich Janaab' Pakal I (Great-Sun-Shield), King of Palenque, depicted on an incense burner. museums.gov.il. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ↑ Franz Joseph | emperor of Austria-Hungary (in en). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ↑ Looper, Matthew G.. Lightning Warrior: Maya Art and Kingship at Quirigua (2003)University of Texas Press. p. 211. ISBN 9780292705562.
- ↑ Newsome, Elizabeth A.. Trees of Paradise and Pillars of the World (2001)University of Texas Press. p. 65. ISBN 9780292755727.
- ↑ Term details (in en-GB). British Museum. Retrieved 2020-04-12.