This is a list of the longest-reigning monarchs in history, detailing the monarchs and lifelong leaders who have reigned the longest, ranked by length of reign.
The following are the 25 longest-reigning monarchs of states who were internationally recognised as sovereign for most or all of their reign. Byzantine emperors Constantine VIII and Basil II, reigning for 66 years in total (962–1028) and for 65 years in total (960–1025) respectively, are not included, because for part of those periods they reigned only nominally as junior co-emperors alongside senior emperors.
Regencies are not counted against monarchs, hence Louis XIV is listed first among the monarchs of sovereign states despite his mother Anne of Austria being his regent for eight years. A distinction is not made between absolute and constitutional monarchs, hence Elizabeth II is listed second despite being a figurehead her entire reign.
The currently living longest-reigning monarch, Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, is not included on the list because Brunei was not a sovereign state until 1984. Bolkiah will be eligible for inclusion if he is still reigning in 2040 and surpasses Conrad I's independent rule of 56 years, 99 days.
class=unsortable rowspan="2" | Portrait | Name | State | Reign | Duration | class=unsortable rowspan="2" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
From | To | (days)< | --Please read Talk:List_of_longest-reigning_monarchs/Archive_1#Reason_for_including_measurement_in_days for reasons why a days measurement column is included. Any other ideas as to how the problem can be solved are welcome. Thank you.--> | (years, days) | ||||||
1 | Louis XIV | [1] | ||||||||
2 | Elizabeth II | [2] [3] [4] | ||||||||
3 | Rama IX (Bhumibol Adulyadej) | [5] | ||||||||
4 | Johann II | [6] | ||||||||
5 | Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal I | Palenque (Mexico) | [7] [8] | |||||||
6 | Franz Joseph I | [9] | ||||||||
7 | Chan Imix Kʼawiil | Copán (Honduras) | [10] [11] | |||||||
8 | Ferdinand III | [12] | ||||||||
9 | Victoria | [13] | ||||||||
10 | James I | Crown of Aragon | [14] | |||||||
11 | Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) | (1926–1947) (1947–1989) | [15] | |||||||
12 | Kangxi Emperor | [16] | ||||||||
13 | Honoré III | [17] [18] | ||||||||
14 | Itzamnaaj Bahlam III | Yaxchilan (Mexico) | ||||||||
15 | Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Yopaat | Quiriguá (Guatemala) | [19] [20] | |||||||
16 | Qianlong Emperor | [21] | ||||||||
17 | Christian IV | [22] | ||||||||
18 | George III | [23] | ||||||||
19 | Louis XV | [24] | ||||||||
20 | Pedro II | [25] | ||||||||
21 | Al-Mustansir Billah | Fatimid Caliphate (Egypt) | ||||||||
22 | Nicholas I | [26] | ||||||||
23 | Wilhelmina | [27] | ||||||||
24 | James VI | [28] | ||||||||
25 | Conrad I | Burgundy | [29] |
The table below contains 100 monarchs of states that were not independent sovereigns for at least a portion of their reigns.
These monarchs are grouped according to length of reign by year in whole numbers. Within each year-grouping, they appear in historical order. In a given year, there may have been a wide array of actual reign lengths based on days. Thus, this table does not present a precise ranking by length of reign. The list is limited to those that might reasonably be expected to lie within the range of those in the tables above, at minimum 56 years. states were sovereign. Japanese legendary emperors, according to the ancient Japanese calendar, reigned for very long terms of 60–70 years each. The longest ruler of the legendary emperors, Emperor Kōan, was claimed to have reigned for about 101 years. These figures are not included in the table because they are regarded as inaccurate by modern scholars. For those, see Longevity myths. Rulers with both independent and dependent rules are combined.
class=unsortable rowspan="2" | Portrait | Name | Country | Reign | Duration (approx. years) | class=unsortable rowspan=2 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
from | width=130 | to | ||||||
Min Hti[84] | (Myanmar) | 1374 | 95 years | |||||
Pepi II Neferkare | 94 years | |||||||
Taejo | (Korea) | 93 years | [85] | |||||
Nintoku | (Kofun period) | 86 years | [86] | |||||
Abd al-Muttalib | (Mecca, Saudi Arabia) | 81 years | [87] | |||||
Ermanaric | (Ukraine) | 80 years | [88] | |||||
Hanayos | (Thailand) | [89] | ||||||
Jangsu | (Korea) | 79 years | [90] | |||||
Sigismondo III | Este and San Martino in Rio (Holy Roman Empire) | [91] | ||||||
An Dương Vương | (Vietnam) | 78 years | ||||||
Abu'l-Jaysh Ishaq ibn Ibrahim | (Yemen) | 77 years | [92] | |||||
Azmat Tallah Khan | Rajouri (Mughal Empire) | [93] | ||||||
Mirian III | (Georgia) | [94] | ||||||
Raisingh Deo | Patna (Mughal Empire, later Maratha Empire) | [95] | ||||||
Jadunath Singh Mangaraj | (Mughal Empire) | 76 years | [96] | |||||
John Philip I | Stadion (Holy Roman Empire) | [97] | ||||||
Mulla Ismail | Dir (Mughal Empire) | [98] | ||||||
William I the Elder | Sayn-Wittgenstein (Holy Roman Empire) | [99] | ||||||
Raja Abhiram Singh | Saraikela (Maratha Empire, later British East India Company) | 75 years | [100] | |||||
Sauromaces I | (Georgia) | [101] | ||||||
Tai Wu | (China) | [102] | ||||||
Vakhtang I Gorgasali | (Georgia) | [103] | ||||||
Uthiyan Cheralathan | (India) | [104] | ||||||
Johann III | Sponheim-Starkenburg (Holy Roman Empire) | 74 years | [105] | |||||
Yo-Tha | (Thailand) | |||||||
Afonso I Henriques | County of Portugal (1112–1139) (1139-1185) | 73 years | [106] [107] | |||||
Deria Hassan | Isaaq Sultanate (British Somaliland from 1884) | [108] | ||||||
Gangesvara Anantvarman Chodaganga Deva | (India) | [109] | ||||||
Tezozomoc | (Mexico) | [110] | ||||||
Grigor II | Syunik (Armenia) | 72 years | [111] | |||||
Raja Sang Tawal (Abdullah) | (Malaysia) | [112] | ||||||
Arwa al-Sulayhi | (Yemen) | 71 years | ||||||
Heinrich VIII the Noble | Fürstenberg-Wolfach (Holy Roman Empire) | Late | [113] | |||||
Ngawang Tashi Drakpa | Phagmodrupa dynasty of Tibet (China) | [114] | ||||||
Huan | State of Qi (China) | 70 years | [115] | |||||
Aarberg (Holy Roman Empire) | ||||||||
John Ulrich | Stadion (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Muhtarram Shah Kator I | Chitral (Mughal Empire) | [116] | ||||||
Niandfo | (Nigeria) | [117] | ||||||
Pandukabhaya | Kingdom of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) | [118] | ||||||
Shapur II | (Iran) | [119] | ||||||
Tshudpud Namgyal | Kingdom of Sikkim | [120] | ||||||
Gerlach IV | Isenburg-Grenzau (1220-1258) Isenburg-Limburg (1258-1289) (Holy Roman Empire) | 69 years | [121] | |||||
Henry VI | County of Gorizia (Holy Roman Empire) | [122] | ||||||
Jai Chandra Katoch | Lambagraon-Kangra (British Raj) | [123] | ||||||
Simon I | County of Lippe (Holy Roman Empire) | [124] | ||||||
Alberto Azzo II | Margraviate of Milan and Este (Holy Roman Empire) | 68 years | ||||||
Bernard | Strzelce, Niemodlin, and South Poland (Holy Roman Empire) | [125] | ||||||
Bhagirathi Birabara Harichandan | Talcher State (Maratha Empire, later British East India Company) | [126] | ||||||
Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II | (Malaysia) | [127] | ||||||
Hkun Ti | Mongpawn (Myanmar) | [128] | ||||||
Louis II | Stadion (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Malojirao III | Mudhol State (Maratha Empire) | [129] | ||||||
Eberhard II | Arenberg (Holy Roman Empire) | 67 years | [130] | |||||
Gopal Singha Dev II | Mallabhum State | |||||||
Osman Mahamuud/ Uthman III ibn Mahmud | Majeerteen Sultanate (Italian Somaliland from 1889) | [131] | ||||||
Maha Singh | Jhabua State (Mughal Empire) | [132] [133] | ||||||
Sultan Abdul Kadir Moh Aidid | Sultanate of Gowa (Dutch East Indies) | [134] | ||||||
Mahmud Iskandar Shah | (Malaysia) | [135] | ||||||
Eberhard I | Katzenelnbogen Junior (Holy Roman Empire) | 66 years | [136] | |||||
Jing | Song State (China) | [137] | ||||||
Otto I | Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg (Holy Roman Empire) | [138] | ||||||
Ramesses II | 31 May [139] | Late July or Early August | ||||||
Robert I | Duchy of Bar (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Togbi Amedor Kpegla I | Anlo Ewe (Ghana) | [140] | ||||||
Zhao Tuo | [141] | |||||||
Catherine De' Medici | Auvergne (France) | 65 years | [142] | |||||
Haydar Mohammad Khan Bahadur | Pathari State | [143] | ||||||
Matilda I | Nevers (France) | |||||||
Raja Miyan Syed Nuruddin Ali | Tarakote Raj | [144] | ||||||
Raja Raj Ram Singh I | [145] | |||||||
Nandivarman II | (India) | [146] | ||||||
Pharnavaz I | (Georgia) | [147] [148] | ||||||
Zhao | Song State (China) | [149] | ||||||
Albert V | Anhalt-Dessau (Holy Roman Empire) | 64 years | ||||||
Amoghavarsha | (India) | [150] | ||||||
Henry VI | Henneberg-Aschach-Römhild (Holy Roman Empire) | [151] | ||||||
Udai Chand | Beja | [152] | ||||||
Zhuang I | State of Qi (China) | [153] | ||||||
Andrew I | Vitré (France) | 63 years | ||||||
Bagauda/Yakano | Kingdom of Kano (Nigeria) | 998/999 | 1063/1064 | |||||
Fahrettin Behramşah | (Turkey) | [154] | ||||||
Ganapati Deva | (India) | |||||||
Mahmud III | [155] | |||||||
Zombré | (Nigeria) | |||||||
Pradip Shah | (Maratha Empire) | [156] | ||||||
Raja Rampalji Bahadur | Kutlehar State (British Raj) | [157] | ||||||
Sripurusha | (India) | [158] | ||||||
Vijaya Sena | (India) | [159] | ||||||
Abdul Jalilul Akbar | 62 years | |||||||
Bhola Bhima II | (India) | |||||||
Charles | Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn-Altenkirchen (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Georg II | Montfort-Pfannberg (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Gopal Lal | [160] | |||||||
Henry I | Isenburg-Grenzau (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Kaloji I Panchanji | Dhrol (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
King Oldman | (Nicaragua and Honduras) | |||||||
Madhaba Rautara | (India) | |||||||
Oubri | (Nigeria) | |||||||
Prithvi Shah | (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
Askia Hanga the Great | (Niger) | 61 years | ||||||
Bhavsinhji I Ratanji | Bhavnagar State (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
Chera Udaya Martanda Varma | (India) | |||||||
Cleomenes II | (Greece) | |||||||
Donnchadh MacMurrough Kavanagh | (Ireland) | |||||||
Francis William | Salm-Reifferscheid-Bedbur (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Hyeokgeose Geoseogan | (Korea) | |||||||
Leon II | (767-778), (778-828) | |||||||
Peter II | Urgell (Catalonia, Spain) | |||||||
Orontes III | ||||||||
Otto I | Solms-Braunfels (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Rao Shri Vijayraj Singh | (India) | |||||||
Ravi Varma Chera | (India) | |||||||
Winnemar | Manderscheid (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Adesida I | Kingdom of Akure (Nigeria) | 60 years | ||||||
Aescwine | Kingdom of Essex (England) | |||||||
Ali ibn Dawud I | Kilwa Sultanate (Tanzania) | |||||||
Avinita | (India) | |||||||
Cleopatra II | ||||||||
Cynan Garwyn | (Wales) | |||||||
Kotokuhene Nana Attafua | (Ghana) | |||||||
Padam Singh Bundela | Jigni State (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
Friedrich I | Salm-Blankenburg (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Friedrich II | County of Castell (Holy Roman Empire) | [161] | ||||||
Gerhard I | Schwarzburg–Hallermund (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Gopinath Birabara Harichandan | Talcher State (India) | |||||||
Gusti Ngurah Agung II | Tabanan (Dutch East Indies) | Mid | ||||||
Heinrich II | Salm-Blankenburg (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Hiero II | (Sicily, Italy) | |||||||
Henry I | Isenburg-Cleeberg (Holy Roman Empire) | 1167 | 1227 | |||||
Khingila | (India) | |||||||
Kilhan | Dhundhar (India) | |||||||
Krishna Chandra Mardraj Harichandan[162] | Nilagiri State | |||||||
Ludwig | Salm-Blankenburg (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Mayadunne | (Sri Lanka) | |||||||
Mölambo | (Nigeria) | |||||||
Mutasiva | (Sri Lanka) | |||||||
Pawl | (Wales) | |||||||
Phromkuman | (Thailand) | |||||||
Pravarsena I the Great | (India) | |||||||
Sophie | County of Bar (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Sri Pravarasena II | (India) | |||||||
Vanaraja | (India) | |||||||
Vanghoji II Rao | Phaltan State (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
Bhaskara Ravi Manukuladithya | (India) | 59 years | ||||||
Kulashekara Alupendra I | ||||||||
Bu Jiang | (China) | |||||||
David I Anhoghin | (Armenia) | |||||||
Kulottunga I | Eastern Chalukyas, then Cholas | |||||||
Eberhard IV | Werdenberg-Trochtelfingen (Holy Roman Empire) | Winter | ||||||
Harisingh Vidyadhara | Dhenkanal State (India) | |||||||
Himiko | (Japan) | |||||||
Hu | State of Chen (China) | |||||||
Isenburg-Covern (Holy Roman Empire) | ||||||||
John the Magnificent | Poitou (France) | |||||||
Mohan Singh | Rajgarh (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
Muhammad Bayazid Khan Bahadur | Jagir of Maler (1600–1657) Malerkotla (1657–1659) (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
Nawab Asad Ali Khan | Basoda State | |||||||
Raja Alhad Singh | Pratihar Rajputs of Nagod State (Maratha Empire) | |||||||
Konrad I the Scheerer | Tübingen (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Otto I | Salm-Kyrburg (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Raja Adesinhji I | Bhaderwah (Maratha Empire) | |||||||
Renaud II, Count of Orange | Principality of Orange (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Sri Tegin Shah | (Afghanistan) | Autumn | ||||||
William III | County of Toulouse (France) | |||||||
William IV | Jülich (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Wu Ding | Shang dynasty (China) | 59 years | ||||||
Gomani II Phillip | (Malawi) | 58 years | ||||||
Guled Abdi | (Somaliland) | |||||||
Harald I Fairhair | ||||||||
Henry II | Baden-Hachberg (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Henry II | Isenburg-Grenzau (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Henry IV | Henneberg-Schleusingen (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Mwezi IV Gisabo | ||||||||
Nan | (China) | |||||||
Rudolf II | Sargans-Werdenberg (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Nedum Cheralathan | (India) | |||||||
Jadumani Rautara | Chikiti-Eastern Ganga (Mughal Empire) | Winter | ||||||
Jayaba Mukne | (India) | |||||||
Jit Sen | Suket (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
Muhammad Shafi Ud-Din II | (Borneo) | |||||||
Mulraj II | Jaisalmer (Maratha Empire, later British East India Company) | |||||||
Rajapala | (India) | |||||||
Ramasimhadeva | (India) | 1227 | 1285 | |||||
Rawat Shri Suraj Mal Sahib | (India) | |||||||
Rudolph I | Saxe-Wittenberg (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Tuoba Liwei/Emperor Shenyuan | (China) | |||||||
Yusa | Kingdom of Kano (Nigeria) | 1136 | 1194 | |||||
Balabhadra Rautara | (India) | 57 years | ||||||
Bajradhar Narendra | Ranpur (India) | |||||||
Bernhard I | Bentheim-Bentheim (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Qara Yuluk Uthman Beg | Aq Qoyunlu (Iran) | |||||||
Birakesari Deva I Bhagirathi Deva | Khurda Kingdom (Maratha Empire) | |||||||
Deria Sugulle Ainanshe | (Somaliland) | |||||||
Jaswant Singh | Nabha (British East India Company) | |||||||
Jing | (China) | |||||||
John II | Auxerre (France) | |||||||
Pharasmanes I the Great | (Georgia) | |||||||
Prithvi Chand | Baghal State (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
Kori | (Nigeria) | |||||||
Mithridates VI | (Turkey) | |||||||
Nasir al-Din Muhammad | ||||||||
Maredudd ap Tewdws | Kingdom of Dyfed (Wales) | |||||||
Sargon | (Iraq) | |||||||
Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Sharqi | (United Arab Emirates) | |||||||
Sourigna Vongsa | (Laos) | |||||||
Orontes I | ||||||||
Vseslav II Bryachislavich | (Belarus) | |||||||
Yi Hham Hka | (Myanmar) | |||||||
Zhaoxiang | (China) | |||||||
Abas I | (Armenia) | 56 Years | ||||||
Bhup Singh | Nalagarh State (Maratha Empire) | |||||||
Eberhard III | Nordgau (Holy Roman Empire) | |||||||
Genghis Khan | (1171–1206) (1206–1227) | |||||||
Gruffudd ap Cynan | (Wales) | |||||||
Idris Ibn Abi Bakr | (Sudan) | |||||||
Mun | (Korea) | |||||||
Nripati Beta I Garuda | (India) | |||||||
Prithvisimhji Gajsinhji | Danta State (Mughal Empire) | |||||||
Qasim Yaqut Khan | Jafarabad State (Mughal Empire) | 1678 | 1734 | |||||
Sartanji II Vikmatji | Porbandar State (British India) | |||||||
Sultan Mustafa | Kota Pinang (Dutch Indonesia from 1816) | |||||||
Theodoric III | County of Montbéliard (Holy Roman Empire) |
Book: . 1997 . Chronologie des Pharaonischen Ägypten . Mainz am Rhein . Philipp von Zabern . 9783805323109.
. George Coedès. Walter F. Vella. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. 1968. University of Hawaii Press. 978-0-8248-0368-1.