List of shortest-reigning monarchs explained

A monarch is the leader of a monarchy, a position usually intended to last for life or until abdication or deposition. The reigns of some monarchs have been notably short. Many of these monarchs acceded to the throne as a result of being first in an order of succession, while other monarchs claimed the throne as a result of conflict. The authenticity of some monarchs has been disputed, especially those who reigned during conflict. One factor in such debates is whether the monarch held the throne in a symbolic or nominal capacity.

Monarchs who reigned for less than a day

width=100Portraitwidth=140Monarchwidth=120Reignwidth=100Lengthclass=unsortableNotesclass=unsortable width=30Ref.
Louis XIX
King of France
2 August 1830About 20 minutes
Heir-apparent of Charles X, who was forced to abdicate during the July Revolution. His abdication and his father's were announced through the same document, which refers to him as dauphin only. Louis Antoine is said to have been king between his father's signature and his own, but this does not appear to be historically accurate.[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
Luís II
King of Portugal
1 February 1908About 20 minutes
Carlos I was murdered in the Lisbon Regicide; his heir-apparent Prince Luís Filipe was also fatally wounded in the attack. Because Luís Filipe survived his father by about 20 minutes, the Guinness Book of Records identifies him as the second-shortest reigning monarch. However, according to the Portuguese tradition, the new monarch must be proclaimed by the Cortes Gerais; thus, the reign of Luís Filipe is disputed and not officially recognised. His younger brother, Manuel, who survived the attack, became the new king following his acclamation in the Cortes.
[5]
Daughter of Xiaoming
Emperor of Northern Wei
1 April 528Less than a dayProclaimed "Emperor" as an infant by her grandmother, Empress Dowager Hu, who passed her off as male. Later that same day, Hu admitted she was actually female and proclaimed Chinese: [[Yuan Zhao]]|italic=no as emperor. Official historical records never listed her as a legitimate sovereign.[6]
[7]
[8]
Philip
Antipope
31 July 768Less than a dayElected after the death of Pope Paul I. His election was declared invalid, and he was declared guilty of simony; having been stripped of the pontifical garments, he was then personally forced to return to his monastery.[9]
Wanyan Chenglin
Emperor of Jin
9 February 1234Less than a dayEmperor Aizong abdicated in his favor while they were still besieged by the Mongols at Caizhou, then committed suicide by hanging. Killed while leading a charge in the streets of Caizhou[10]
Celestine II
Antipope
13/14 December 1124Less than a dayElected after the death of Pope Callixtus II. Abdicated a couple of hours into his papacy due to factional violence breaking out during the investment ceremony[11]
Michael II
Emperor of Russia
15 March 1917Less than a day
Succeeded after the abdication of Nicholas II. Made his accession conditional on the decision of the Provisional Government, contrary to the wishes of Nicholas, who abdicated without informing either. Numerous questions surround the existence of any "reign", starting with the legality, or lack thereof, of Nicholas's abdication to his brother while bypassing his son Alexei.[12]
Min Shin Saw
King of Burma
1167Less than a daySucceeded after the death of his father Sithu I, who was smothered by his younger son Narathu. Min Shin Saw was assassinated that same night on his brother's order.[13]
Vira Bahu I
King of Polonnaruwa
1196Less than a daySucceeded after the death of his father Nissanka Malla and crowned at night. He was assassinated at dawn by the commander-in-chief Tavuru Senevirat.[14]
Michael
Emperor of Trebizond
30 July 1341Less than a dayAcclaimed emperor after arriving with the intention to marry Irene Palaiologina, who had been overthrown by Anna Anachoutlou while the voyage was underway. He was deposed and imprisoned on that same night by Anna. He recovered the throne in 1344 and reigned for five years.[15]
Soththisena
King of Anuradhapura
(Sinhala Kingdom)
434Less than a dayHe succeeded his father Mahanama as king and was succeeded by his stepsister, Chattagahaka Jantu. According to the Lesser Chronicle (Cūḷavaṃsa) of Sri Lanka, King Soththisena, the shortest reigning king of Sri Lanka, ascended the throne in the morning and was assassinated that evening in a palace conspiracy.[16]

Other monarchs who reigned for less than a week

width=80Portraitwidth=140Monarchwidth=120Reignwidth=80Lengthclass=unsortableNotesclass=unsortable width=30Ref.
Napoleon II
Emperor of the French
4–6 April 1814
2 days
His father Napoleon Bonaparte was declared deposed by the French senate on 4 April 1814, but his formal abdication was not proclaimed until two days later. On 6 April, Napoleon renounced all personal rights to the throne and also those of his descendants. The French Empire was subsequently replaced by the restored Kingdom of France under Louis XVIII.[17]
Louis Philippe II
King of the French
24–26 February 18482 days
His grandfather Louis Philippe I abdicated on 24 February 1848, following the French Revolution of 1848. The Second Republic was proclaimed two days later. He was later recognized by monarchist loyalists as "Louis Philippe II" or "Philip VII".[18] [19]
Khalid bin Barghash
Sultan of Zanzibar
25–27 August 18962 daysSucceeded after the death of his cousin, Hamad bin Thuwaini, who was likely poisoned by Khalid. He was forced to flee during the Anglo-Zanzibar War, which only lasted less than an hour.[20]
Dục Đức
Emperor of Vietnam
20–23 July 18833 daysSucceeded after the death of his uncle and adoptive father, Tự Đức. He was deposed and imprisoned by his regents Nguyễn Văn, Tôn Thất and Tran Tien. He died of starvation three months later.[21]
Xiaowen
King of Qin (China)
250 BC3 daysSucceeded after the death of his father, King Zhaoxiang. It is speculated that he was poisoned by chancellor Lü Buwei.[22]
Inayatullah Khan
King of Afghanistan
14–17 January 19293 daysSucceeded after the abdication and flight of his brother, Amanullah Khan, during the uprising of Habibullāh Kalakāni. Abdicated in favour of Kalakani after he captured Kabul[23]
Dipendra
King of Nepal
1–4 June 20013 daysProclaimed king after the murder of his father Birendra and most of his family in the Nepalese royal massacre, where he also shot himself and was left in a coma. Died of his injuries without regaining consciousness[24]
Stephen (II)
Pope
22 (or 23) – 25 (or 26) March 7523 days
Elected after the death of Pope Zachary. Died of a stroke. His pontificate is ambiguous because he died before his episcopal consecration. Because of this, he was removed from the official List of popes in 1961, and Pope Stephen III was redesignated as Pope Stephen II.[25]
Lê Long Việt
Emperor of Vietnam
10053 daysSucceeded after the death of his father, Lê Đại Hành. Assassinated on orders of his brother Lê Long Đĩnh, who succeeded him.[26]
Lê Quang Trị
Emperor of Vietnam
15163 daysSucceeded at the age of 8 after the murder of Lê Tương Dực. Murdered.[27]
John II
King of Portugal
11–15 November 14774 daysKing of Portugal for a brief period following his father's retirement to a monastery. After he returned, John abdicated. He became the monarch again in 1481.[28]
John I
King of France and Navarre
15–19 November 13164 daysPosthumous child of Louis X; king for the four days he lived.[29]
Crateuas
King of Macedon
399 BC3 / 4 daysSucceeded Archelaus I as king; little is known about him. Some historians believe that Crateuas was one of several conspirators in Archelaus' death and that the claim that Crateuas held the throne after him is an embellishment.[30]
[31]
Mahinda VI
King of Polonnaruwa
11875 daysTook the throne after killing Vijayabahu II. He was killed by Vijayabahu II's sub-king, Nissanka Malla.[32]
Ioan Joldea
Prince of Moldavia
September 15522–8 daysSucceeded after the assassination of Stephen VI by his boyars after a failed invasion of Transylvania. His reign length is disputed.[33]
Baeda Maryam III
Emperor of Ethiopia
April 1826Few daysPlaced on the throne by Dejazmach Haile Maryam, the governor of Semien, but was deposed by Ras Marye of Yejju a few days later, who restored Gigar to the throne.[34]

Other monarchs who reigned for less than a month

width=80Portraitwidth=140Monarchwidth=120Reignwidth=100LengthReason for accessionReason for reign's end
Henry V
King of France
2–9 August 18307 days
Abdications of Charles X and Louis XIX, his grandfather and uncle, during the July RevolutionProclamation hijacked by regent Louis Philippe of Orleans who chose not to announce it as expected. The National Assembly then proclaimed Louis Philippe the King of the French, and Henry marched into exile.
Indra Bhattaraka
King of Eastern Chalukyas
6737 daysMade himself the monarch following the death of his elder brother Jayasimha ISucceeded by his son Vishnuvardhana II, likely abdicated or was deposed
Sigeric
King of the Visigoths
16–22 August 4157 daysAssassination of Ataulf by a former retainer of Sigeric's slain brother, SarusAssassinated and replaced by Ataulf's relative Wallia. Some lists of kings exclude him for considering him a usurper.
Thong Lan
King of Ayutthaya
1388–13897 daysDeath of his father, Borommarachathirat IDeposed and executed by Ramesuan
Zein Pun
King of Martaban
April–May 13307 daysAssassinated King Saw ZeinAssassinated by Sanda Min Hla, widow of Saw Zein
Zimri
King of Israel
885 BC or 876 BC7 daysAssassinated King ElahCommitted suicide while under siege by Omri, who disputed the crown. His name became a byword for traitor.
Muhammad al-Badr
King of Yemen
19–26 September 19628 daysDeath of his father, Ahmad bin YahyaMonarchy abolished, although he would lead the pro-monarchist forces during the North Yemen Civil War, until 1970
Saad
Emir of Kuwait
15–24 January 20069 daysDeath of Jaber IIIDeposed by the National Assembly on the grounds of poor health
Irina Godunova
Tsarina of Russia
17–26 January 15989 days
Proclaimed after the death of her husband and distant cousin Feodor I. Ruled for 9 days as nominal tsar.Abdicated in favour of her brother Boris Godunov. Her reign is sometimes counted as having ended on February 21, when her brother Boris was formally elected tsar by the Boyars.
Jane
Queen of England and Ireland
10–19 July 15539 days
Proclaimed at the Tower of London, per the will of her cousin Edward VIDeposed and executed by Edward's sister, Mary I
Henry II
King of Haiti
8–18 October 182010 days
Suicide of his father, Henry IMurdered before being formally proclaimed. The kingdom was subsequently annexed by the Republic of Haiti.
Igor II
Grand Prince of Kiev
2–13 August 114611 daysDeath of his brother Vsevolod II, announced on 1 August and proclaimed on 2 AugustForced to abdicate and replaced by Iziaslav II
Xuantong
Emperor of Great Qing
1–12 July 191711 daysRestored by monarchist general Zhang Xun; he had last been emperor in 1912.Restoration failed due to lack of support. Later became Emperor of Manchukuo
Urban VII
Pope
15–27 September 159012 daysElected after the death of Sixtus VDied of malaria. Shortest-reigning Pope recognized by the Holy See
Louis II
King of Holland
1–13 July 181013 daysAbdication and flight of Louis I after being pressured by NapoleonKingdom annexed by Napoleon
Eleanor
Queen of Navarre
28 January – 12 February 147914 daysProclaimed following the death of her father, John IIDied
Boniface VI
Pope
April 89615 daysElected after the death of FormosusUnclear; he died of gout or was deposed according to different sources. His election was declared null and void in 898.
Ali Ahmad Khan
Emir of Afghanistan
17 January – 1 February 192915 daysProclaimed Emir in Jalalabad in protest for Inayatullah Khan's abdication on Habibullah KalakaniCaptured and ransomed to Kalakani, who had him executed
Ælfweard
King of Wessex
17 July – 2 August 92416 days
Death of his father, Edward the ElderDied. May have reigned in dispute with his elder brother Æthelstan, who succeeded him
Celestine IV
Pope
25 October – 10 November 124116 daysElected after the death of Gregory IXDied of natural causes
Napoleon II
Emperor of the French
22 June – 7 July 181516 daysAbdication of his father, Napoleon IEmpire abolished, replaced by the Kingdom of France
Shang
Emperor of Tang
8–25 July 71017 daysAssassination of his father, Emperor Zhongzong, by Empress Wei and her daughter Li Guo'er who wanted to use the young Shang as their puppetDeposed; Wei and Li Guo'er were murdered. Most traditional historians did not consider him legitimate and do not include him in the list of emperors of the Tang dynasty, but modern historians usually do.
Anikanga
King of Polonnaruwa
120917 daysAssassinated his son, King Dharmasoka, who was an infantAssassinated by General Vikkantacamunakka, who then surrendered control to former queen Lilavati
Robert I
19 July – 6 August 102718 daysWas given a small state by his brother Richard III, Duke of NormandyDeath of his brother, at which point he became Duke of Normandy and left the title
Sisinnius
Pope
15 January – 4 February 70820 daysElected after the death of John VIIDied, possibly of gout
Theodore II
Pope
December 89720 daysElected after the deposition of RomanusDied
Muawiya II
Caliph of Islam
683–68420 days to 4 monthsDeath of his father, Yazid IDied of disease
Gordian II
Roman Emperor
March – April 23822 daysFather and son co-emperors proclaimed in rebellion against Maximinus Thrax in the so-called Year of the Six EmperorsKilled at the Battle of Carthage
Gordian I
Roman Emperor
Committed suicide upon learning of his son's death
Marcellus II
Pope
9 April – 1 May 155523 daysElected after the death of Julius IIIDied of a stroke
Cem
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
28 May – 20 June 148123 days
Proclaimed himself Sultan in Anatolia after the death of his father, Mehmed IIFled to Mamluk Egypt after being defeated by his brother, Bayezid II
Damasus II
Pope
17 July – 9 August 104824 daysInstalled by Henry III of Germany after deposing Benedict IXDied of malaria or poison
Rǫgnvaldr Óláfsson
King of Mann and the Isles
6–30 May 124924 daysDeath of his brother Haraldr Óláfsson in a shipwreckAssassinated by his cousin and successor, Haraldr Guðrøðarson
Constantine I
Emperor of Russia
1–25 December 182524 days
Proclaimed after the death of his brother, Alexander IRefused to assume the throne because he had secretly renounced all rights in 1823 in order to marry Joanna Grudzińska. His younger brother became Nicholas I.
Zhao Fu
Emperor of Song
26 March 1129 – 20 April 112925 days Ascended the throne after his father, Emperor Gaozong, was forced to abdicated amidst a mutinyForced to abdicate in favour of his father. He is not considered a legitimate emperor by most historians.
Milan Obrenović II
Prince of Serbia
25 June – 8 July 183926 daysAbdication of his father, Miloš Obrenović IDied of tuberculosis
Quintillus
Roman Emperor
270≈27 days[35] [36] Death of his brother, Claudius GothicusAssassinated or committed suicide
Nepotianus
Roman Emperor
3 June – 30 June 35027 daysProclaimed emperor in RomeAssassinated by Magnentius
Pius III
Pope
22 September – 18 October 150327 daysElected after the death of Alexander VIDied of sepsis in a leg wound
Leo XI
Pope
1–27 April 160527 daysElected after the death of Clement VIIIDied
Liu He
Emperor of Han
74 BC27 daysInstalled by regent Huo GuangDeposed by Huo Guang
Taichang
Emperor of Great Ming
28 August – 26 September 162029 daysDeath of his father, the Wanli Emperor.Died of disease
Alexios V
Emperor of Trebizond
April 1460<1 monthDeath of this father, John IV of TrebizondDeposed by his uncle David
Ptolemy XI
Pharaoh of Egypt
80 BC<1 monthInstalled as husband and co-ruler of Berenice IIIMurdered Berenice and was killed by a mob
Praudha Raya
King of Sangama dynasty
1485<1 monthDeposedDeposed by Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya

Other monarchs who reigned for less than three months

width=80Portraitwidth=140Monarchwidth=120Reignwidth=100LengthReason for accessionReason for reign's end
Shallum
King of Israel
752–745 BC1 monthAssassinated King ZechariahAssassinated and replaced by Menahem
Napoleon I
King of Spain
6 May – 6 June 180831 days
(1 month)
Forced abdications of Charles IV and Ferdinand VII in Bayonne, and their subsequent imprisonment in FranceDesignated his brother Joseph Bonaparte as King of Spain. Usually not counted as a King of Spain unlike his brother
Antipope Victor IV
Pope
March–May 1138≈1 monthProclaimed after the death of Antipope Anacletus IIThrough the influence of Bernard of Clairvaux, he was induced to make his submission to Pope Innocent II. Innocent initially restored him as cardinal of SS. Apostoli, but in the Second Lateran Council of April 1139, all former adherents of Anacletus II were condemned and deposed. He then retired to the priorate of S. Eusebio in Fontanella.
Reccared II
King of the Visigoths
February–March 612≈1 monthDeath of his father, SisebutDied
Charles II
Duke of Parma
April–17 May 1849≈1 monthRestored by Austrian troops after fleeing during the Revolutions of 1848Abdicated in favour of his son, Charles III
Benedict V
Pope
22 May – 23 June 96432 days (1 month, 1 day)Elected after the death of John XIIDeposed by Emperor Otto I
John Paul I
Pope
26 August – 28 September 197833 days (1 month, 2 days)Elected after the death of Paul VIDied of a heart attack
António
King of Portugal
23 July – 25 August 158033 days (1 month, 2 days)
Proclaimed after the death of his uncle Henry due to popular supportForced to abdicate after being defeated by his cousin Philip I. Reigned in the Azores until 1583
Zhongzong
Emperor of Tang
23 January – 26 February 68434 days
(1 month, 3 days)
Death of his father, Emperor GaozongDeposed by his mother, Empress Dowager Wu
Umberto II
King of Italy
9 May – 12 June 194634 days (1 month, 3 days)Abdication of his father, Victor Emmanuel IIIMonarchy abolished after republican victory in the 1946 Italian institutional referendum
Adrian V
Pope
11 July – 18 August 127638 days
(1 month, 7 days)
Elected following the death of Innocent VDied
Salomon III
Emperor of Ethiopia
(Second reign)
16 June – 25 July 179939 daysRestored by Ras Mare'ed and Ras Guebre while Tekle Giyorgis I was campaigning in BegemderDeposed by Dejazmach Gugsa and Dejazmach Alula, who were part of the army that defeated Salomon's supporters
Li Zicheng
Emperor of Great Shun
25 April – 4 June 164440 days
(1 month, 10 days)
Proclaimed himself Emperor after his capture of Beijing and the suicide of the Chongzhen EmperorAbandoned Beijing after his defeat by the Manchus at the Battle of Shanhai Pass. He was killed under unclear circumstances around 1645, likely in battle.
Sweyn Forkbeard
King of England
25 December 1013 – 3 February 101440 days (1 month, 9 days)Declared king after conquering LondonDied
Tirigan
King of Sumer
c. 2050 BC40 daysSucceeded Si'umSumer annexed by Utu-hengal of Uruk
Umor
Khan of Bulgaria
76640 daysLikely elected after the deposition and flight of SabinUnknown. Could have died or been deposed by Toktu
Antipater Etesias
King of Macedon
279 BC45 daysBecame king after the abdication of MeleagerDeposed by Sosthenes
Ala ud-din Sikandar Shah
Tughlaq dynasty
22 January − 8 March 139445 days (1 month and 14 days)Succeeded Muhammad Shah IIIDied of natural causes
Xerxes II
Shah of Persia and Pharaoh of Egypt
424 BC45 days
(1 month, 15 days)
Death of his father, Artaxerxes IAssassinated by Sogdianus, his illegitimate half-brother and successor
Ying Ziying
King of Qin
October–December 207 BC46 daysEnthroned by Zhao Gao after the assassination of Qin Er ShiAssassinated by Xiang Yu
Abd al-Rahman V
Caliph of Cordoba
2 December 1023 – 17 January 102446 days
(1 month, 15 days)
Overthrew Al-Qasim al-Ma'munAssassinated by Muhammad III
Ferdinand VII
King of Spain
19 March – 6 May 180848 days
(1 month, 17 days)
Abdication of his father, Charles IV, as a result of the Mutiny of AranjuezForced to abdicate on his father by Napoleon I, who unbeknownst to Ferdinand, had been forced to abdicate his rights on Napoleon himself on the same day. The abdications were declared null by the Council of Castile on 11 August, recognizing him as king despite being imprisoned by the French at Château de Valençay. Napoleon recognized him on 11 December 1813, by the Treaty of Valençay, and he remained on the throne until his death in 1833.
Sylvester III
Pope
20 January – 10 March 104549 days
(1 month, 19 days)
Elected after a revolt expelled Benedict IX from RomeDeposed by Benedict IX
Saw E
King of Martaban
April–June 133049 daysAssassination of Zein Pun by former queen consort Sanda Min HlaAssassinated by Sanda Min Hla
Magnus the Strong
King of Denmark
15 April – 4 June 113450 days
(1 month, 19 days)
Appointed as co-king of Denmark with his father king Niels as senior king.
Crowned as king of Denmark by Emperor Lothair III 15 April 1134
Killed at the Battle of Fotevik
Benedict IX
Pope
10 March – 1 May 104552 days
(1 month, 22 days)
Recaptured Rome and expelled Sylvester IIIAbdicated on his godfather, Gregory VI, in order to marry his cousin
Ningzong
Khagan and Emperor of Great Yuan
23 October – 14 December 133252 days
(1 month, 22 days)
Elected after the death of his uncle Emperor WenzongDied
Pedro IV
King of Portugal
10 March – 2 May 182653 days
(1 month, 23 days)
Death of his father, John VIAbdicated in favour of his daughter, Maria II, and returned to Brazil where he reigned as Pedro I until 1831.
Charles II
King of Hungary and Croatia
31 December 1385 – 24 February 138655 days
(1 month, 24 days)
Deposed Queen MaryAssassinated by Mary's mother, Elizabeth of Bosnia
Gregory VIII
Pope
21 October – 17 December 118757 days
(1 month, 25 days)
Elected following the death of Urban IIIDied
Feodor II
Tsar of Russia
23 April – 20 June 160558 days
(1 month, 28 days)
Death of his father, Boris IAssassinated by boyars supporting False Dmitry I
Khusrau Khan
Sultan of Delhi
10 July – 5 September 132058 daysAssassination of his homosexual partner and emperor Mubarak ShahAssassinated by Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq who founded the Tughlaq dynasty
Al-Mansur Abu Bakr
Sultan of Egypt and Syria
7 June – 5 August 134159 days
(1 month, 29 days)
Death of his father, An-Nasir MuhammadDeposed and executed
Joachim Ernest
Duke of Anhalt
13 September – 12 November 191860 days
(1 month, 30 days)
Death of his father, EdwardMonarchy abolished
Diadumenian
Roman co-emperor
after 16 May 218 –
after 8 June 218
1–2 monthsMade co-emperor by his father, MacrinusAssassinated after the deposition of Macrinus; he was also declared Enemy of Rome and subjected to Damnatio memoriae.
Herennius Etruscus
Roman co-emperor
May–June 2511–2 monthsMade co-emperor by his father, DeciusKilled at the Battle of Abritus
Edgar II
King of the English
after 14 October 1066 – early December 10661–2 monthsElected by the Witenagemot after Harold II's deathSubmitted to William the Conqueror
Ragibagh Khan
Khagan and Emperor of Great Yuan
October – 14 November 13281–2 monthsInstalled following the death of his father, Yesün TemürDied after a civil war broke out, probably murdered by a rival claimant
David Tiberius
Eastern Roman emperor
September – 5 November 641<2 monthMade co-emperor of his brother Heraclonas by their mother, Empress Martina.Deposed by supporters of Constans II
Yuan Zhao
Emperor of Wei
2 April – May 528<2 monthsProclaimed by Empress Dowager HuDeposed and executed along with Hu. Traditional historians treat him ambiguously, and subsequent Northern Wei emperors never explicitly declared whether he was an emperor or not. He was not given an imperial posthumous name or temple name, but neither was his imperial status declared null.
Leo V
Pope
Late July – mid-September 903<2 monthsElected after the death of Benedict IVDeposed and imprisoned by Christopher, dying in February 904 under unclear circumstances. The Catholic Church considers Christopher an antipope and stretches Leo V's pontificate to the accession of Sergius III in January 904.
Amyntas II
King of Macedon
394/393 BC<2 monthsDeath of his relative Aeropus IIAssassinated and succeeded by Aeropus II's son Pausanias
John IV
Prince of Moldavia
November–December 1577<2 monthsDeposed Peter IVDeposed and executed after an Ottoman-Polish-Wallachian invasion restored Peter IV
Salim II
Sultan of Ndzuwani
February – 2 April 1891[37] <2 monthsSucceeded his father Abdallah IIIUnknown
Peter VII
Prince of Moldavia
August – September/October 1592<2–3 monthsDeposed Alexander VDeposed and mutilated by Aaron I, who then handed him to the Ottomans to be executed
Ciubăr Vodă
Prince of Moldavia
c. December 1448 – January 14492 months
A Croatian-Hungarian aristocrat sent by John Hunyadi to depose Roman II in favor of Peter III, but said to have reigned himself as Prince after Peter III fledUnknown. Alexander II became Prince in February 1449. Some historians believe he merely occupied the country on Hunyadi's behalf and did not actually claim the throne.
Mamia I
King of Imereti
November 1713 – 5 January 17142 monthsRecovered the throne after defeating George VII at the Battle of KutaisiDied
Meleager
King of Macedon
279 BC2 monthsDeath of his brother Ptolemy KeraunosForced to abdicate by his troops
Trịnh Cán
Lord of Tonkin
September–October 1782≈2 monthsDeath of his father, Trịnh SâmForced to abdicate on Trịnh Khải
Gyanendra
King of Nepal
7 November 1950 – 7 January 195161 days
(2 months)
Proclaimed when he was 4 years old by Prime Minister Mohan Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana, in defiance of Gyanendra's grandfather Tribhuvan, who wanted to end the Rana family's hereditary occupation of the government. Afterward, Tribhuvan and most Nepalese royals, including Gyanendra, departed for India.Tribhuvan returned and resumed rule after the Ranas agreed to his terms. Gyanendra would become the last king of Nepal five decades later, after the Nepalese royal massacre.
Ibrahim ibn al-Walid
Caliph of Islam
4 October – 4 December 74461 days
(2 months)
Death of his brother, Yazid IIIAbdicated in favour of Marwan II, who murdered him in 750
Innocent IX
Pope
29 October – 30 December 159162 days
(2 months, 1 days)
Elected after the death of Gregory XIVDied
Didius Julianus
Roman Emperor
28 March – 1 June 19366 days
(2 months, 5 days)
Bought the throne in auction after the assassination of PertinaxDeposed and executed. Also subjected to Damnatio memoriae
Staurakios
Eastern Roman Emperor
26 July – 2 October 81168 days
(2 months, 6 days)
Death of his father, Nikephoros I LogothetesForced to abdicate by Michael I Rangabe
Frederick Charles
King of Finland and Karelia
9 October – 14 December 191866 days
(2 months, 5 days)
Elected by the Parliament of FinlandRenounced the throne without entering the country, which later became a republic
Frederick Christian
Elector of Saxony
5 October – 17 December 176374 days
(2 months, 12 days)
Death of his father, Frederick Augustus IIDied
Muhammad II
Caliph of Cordoba
10 May – 23 July 101074 days
(2 months, 13 days)
Deposed Sulayman ibn al-HakamAssassinated and replaced by Hisham II
Petronius Maximus
Western Roman Emperor
17 March – 31 May 45575 days
(2 months, 14 days)
Elected by the Roman Senate after assassinating Valentinian IIIMurdered by a mob while trying to flee Rome from the impending Vandal attack
Alexios V
Eastern Roman Emperor
27 January – 12 April 120476 days
(2 months, 16 days)
Deposed co-emperors Isaac II and Alexios IVFled Constantinople during the Latin Sack of 1204. Later captured by Crusaders and executed
Edward V
King of England
9 April – 25 June 148377 days
(2 months, 16 days)
Death of his father, Edward IVDeposed and imprisoned by his uncle Richard III, who claimed he was illegitimate. He is presumed murdered in captivity.
Chūkyō
Emperor of Japan
13 May – 29 July 122178 days (2 months, 17 days)Enthroned following the deposition of his father, Emperor Juntoku, in preparation for the Jōkyū WarDue to the Jōkyū War, the imperial court army was defeated by the Kamakura Shogunate army and he was deposed. Not officially recognized as Emperor until 1870 because of doubts raised by his short reign
Tupac Huallpa
Sapa Inca
Began c. 26 July 1533, ended 12–27 October 1533c. 78–93 daysInstalled as puppet Inca by the Spanish after the assassination of AtahualpaDied of disease or poison[38]
Stephen II
Despot of Serbia
1 April – 20 June 145980 days
(2 months, 19 days)
Married a daughter of the late Despot Lazar BrankovićSerbia annexed by the Ottoman Empire. Later became King of Bosnia for two years
Cuitláhuac
Great Speaker of the Triple Alliance
c. 29 June – September 152080 days
(2 months, 19 days)
Elected soon before or after leading a revolt against the Spanish who were holding his brother Moctezuma II hostage in TenochtitlanDied of smallpox
Hongxian
Emperor of China
1 January – 22 March 191681 days
(2 months, 21 days)
Offered the throne after unanimous vote by the Representative AssemblyEmpire abolished after the monarchical restoration proved unexpectedly unpopular. Continued as President of the Republic of China until his death on 6 June
Amanullah Khan
King of Afghanistan
March – 23 May 192983 daysReturned to contest the throne during the Afghan Civil War (1928–1929), in opposition to Habibullah KalakaniFled to British India
Pertinax
Roman Emperor
1 January – 28 March 19386 days
(2 months, 27 days)
Proclaimed after the assassination of CommodusAssassinated by his Praetorian Guards, who then auctioned off the throne to the highest bidder.
Berengaria
Queen of Castile
6 June – 31 August 121786 days
(2 months, 25 days)
Death of her brother, Henry IAbdicated in favour of her son, Ferdinand III
Christian Frederick
King of Norway
17 May – 14 August 181489 days
(2 months, 28 days)
Elected by the Norwegian Constituent AssemblyAbdicated by the Convention of Moss and returned to Denmark, where he became king (as Christian VIII) in 1839. The Crown of Norway was assumed by his rival, Charles XIII of Sweden.
Shajar al-Durr
Sultan of Egypt
2 May – 30 July 125089 days
(2 months 28 days)
Placed on the throne by the Mamluks after the assassination of Turanshah, the last member of the direct male line of the Ayyubid dynasty. Shajar al-Durr was previously the wife of the penultimate sultan As-Salih Ayyub (who died in 1249) and was chosen to provide the Mamluks with a link to the legitimate Ayyubid dynasty.Abdicated in favour of Aybak, her second husband
Philip I
King of Castile
27 June – 25 September 150690 days
(2 months, 29 days)
Recognized as regnant king with equal authority to his wife, Queen Joanna, by the Treaty of VillafáfilaDied of typhoid or poison
Gebre Krestos
Emperor of Ethiopia
24 March – 8 June 18322–3 months (except for a short time during the first reign of Sahle Dengel)Proclaimed emperor by Ras Ali II of YejjuDied, possibly poisoned[39]
Florianus
Roman Emperor
July–September 276<3 monthsProclaimed after the death of his half-brother, TacitusAssassinated by his own troops while campaigning against the rebel Probus
Sinmu
King of Silla
839<3 months Assassinated Minae of SillaDied from disease
Alexander III
Prince of Moldavia
December 1540 – February 1541<3 monthsAssassination of Stephen VDeposed and later assassinated by Peter IV
Alexander V
Prince of Moldavia
June–August 1592<3 monthsAaron I deposed by the Ottoman EmpireDeposed by Peter VII. In November he became the equally brief Prince of Wallachia, as Alexander III.
Alexander II
Prince of Moldavia
February – March or May 14552–4 monthsDeposed Peter AaronDeposed by Peter Aaron and forced into exile, where he died on 25 May 1455
Shihabuddin Omar
Emperor of Khalji dynasty
5 January – April 1316~3 monthsDeposedDeposed by his elder brother Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, later died in exile
Tekle Giyorgis I
Emperor of Ethiopia
(Sixth reign)
24 March – June 1800~3 monthsPlaced on the throne multiple times during the Zemene Mesafint.

Other monarchs who reigned for less than six months

PortraitMonarchReignLengthReason for accessionReason for reign's end
Jehoahaz
King of Judah
609 BC3 monthsJosiah killed at the Battle of MegiddoDeposed and imprisoned by Necho II
Vikramabahu II
King of Polonnaruwa
11963 monthsAssassination of his nephew Vira Bahu IAssassinated by his nephew Chodaganga I
Min Hla
King of Ava
August–November 14253 monthsAssassination of his father, Thihathu of AvaAssassinated by his stepmother, Shin Bo-Me
George VIII
King of Imereti
17163 monthsDeposed George VII with Ottoman supportFled back to Guria
Sriranga II
King of Aravidu dynasty
1614~4 monthsDeposedDeposed and killed by Jagga Raya, a noble
Otho
Roman Emperor
15 January – 16 April 6991 days
(3 months, 1 day)
Proclaimed after the assassination of Galba.Committed suicide after the Battle of Bedriacum.
Murad V
Ottoman Sultan and Caliph
30 May – 31 August 187693 days
(3 months, 1 day)
Deposition of his uncle, AbdulazizDeposed during the Great Eastern Crisis
Napoleon I
Emperor of the French
20 March – 22 June 181594 days
(3 months, 2 days)
Returned to ParisAbdicated in favour of Napoleon II
Sunjong
King of Goryeo
2 September – 5 December 108395 days
(3 months, 3 days)
Death of his fatherDied
Maria I
Queen of Brazil
16 December 1815 – 20 March 181695 days
(3 months, 4 days)
Brazil raised to a kingdomDied
Mustafa I
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
22 November 1617 – 26 February 161896 days
(3 months, 4 days)
Death of his brother, Ahmed IDeposed in favor of his nephew, Osman II. He reigned again for fifteen months after the assassination of Osman II in 1622, before he was deposed again.
Louis VII
Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
25 April – 31 August 167896 days
(3 months, 6 days)
Death of his father, Louis VIDied of an infection
Dulce
Queen of León
23 September – 30 December 123097 days
(3 months, 7 days)
Proclaimed as co-monarchs following the death of their father Alfonso IXRenounced their rights to the throne following the Treaty of Benavente, accepting their brother Ferdinand III as sole monarch
Sancha
Queen of León
Jeconiah
King of Judah
9 December 598 BC – 15/16 March 597 BC97 days
(3 months, 7 days)
Death of his father Jehoiakim at the Siege of JerusalemDeposed and exiled to Babylon
Frederick III
German Emperor and King of Prussia
9 March – 15 June 188898 days
(3 months, 6 days)
Death of his father, Wilhelm IDied of laryngeal cancer
Pupienus
Roman Emperor
April – July 23899 daysCo-emperors proclaimed by the Roman Senate in rebellion against Maximinus Thrax after the deaths of Gordian I and Gordian II, in the Year of the Six EmperorsAssassinated by the Praetorian Guard. They were succeeded by Gordian III, grandson of Gordian I.
Balbinus
Roman Emperor
Charles II
Duke of Parma
31 December 1847 – 19 April 1848110 days
(3 months, 19 days)
Proclaimed after the death of Marie Louise of ParmaFled the country and abdicated in favour of his son, Charles III
Ibrahim Pasha
Wali of Egypt
20 July – 10 November 1848113 days
(3 months, 21 days)
Succeeded his father Muhammad Ali after he was deemed incapable due to senilityDied of exhaustion after travelling to Constantinople to be confirmed in office
Mindaugas II
King of Lithuania
11 July – 2 November 1918114 days
(3 months, 22 days)
Accepted the throne after election by the Council of LithuaniaMonarchy "suspended" by the council. Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic declared a month later
Olybrius
Western Roman Emperor
11 July 472 – 2 November 472114 days
(3 months, 22 days)
Installed by Ricimer after the assassination of AnthemiusDied of dropsy
Sima Lun
Emperor of Jin
3 February – 31 May 301117 days (3 months, 28 days)
Deposed his great-nephew Emperor HuiForced to return the throne to Emperor Hui, and committed suicide shortly afterwards. Many historians do not consider him a legitimate emperor.
Aemilianus
Roman Emperor
June–September 2533–4 monthsProclaimed in rebellion against Trebonianus Gallus and VolusianusAssassinated by his own troops
Ansprand
King of the Lombards
March–June 7123–4 monthsDeposed Aripert IIDied
Solamish
Sultan of Egypt and Syria
August–November 1279<4 monthsPlaced on the throne after his older brother Barakah was deposed by powerful emirsDeposed by his regent Qalawun, who took over as sultan
Renseneb
Pharaoh of Egypt
1777 BC4 monthsSucceeded Khaankhre SobekhotepUnknown. Could have been deposed by Hor
Philip IV
King of Macedon
May – September 297 BC4 monthsDeath of his father, CassanderDied of disease
Sivali
Queen of Anuradhapura
354 monthsDeath of her brother ChulabhayaDeposed by her cousin Ilanaga
Christopher
Pope
October 903 – January 9044 months
Deposed and imprisoned Leo VDeposed by Sergius III. Though counted as legitimate for most of history, he was removed from the Annuario Pontificio in the mid-20th century and is considered an antipope by the modern Catholic Church.
Susenyos II
Emperor of Ethiopia
August – 15 December 17704 monthsElected by a principal council in Gondar after Tekle Haymanot II and Ras Mikael Sehul left for TigrayFled after Ras Mikael Sehul returned to Gondar and restored Tekle Haymanot II
Stephen VIII
Prince of Moldavia
24 April – August 15954–5 monthsDeposed Aaron IDeposed by Jeremy I, with Polish support. Stephen tried to recover the throne in December, but he was defeated at the Battle of Suceava, captured, and impaled.
Michael I
Prince of Moldavia
May–September 16004–5 monthsInvaded Moldavia and deposed Jeremy I, who fled to PolandReturned to Wallachia after defeat in the Battle of Mirăslău. Jeremy I was restored.
Andreyas
Emperor of Ethiopia
1429–March 14304–6 monthsSucceeded his father Yeshaq IDied at a young age
Wazir Ali Khan
Nawab of Awadh
21 September 1797 – 21 January 1798122 days
(4 months)
Death of his uncle and adoptive father, Asaf-ud-DaulaDeposed by the East India Company
Hiệp Hòa
Emperor of Đại Nam
30 July – 29 November 1883122 days
(3 months, 30 days)
Deposition of his nephew, Dục ĐứcDeposed and forced to commit suicide
Nepherites II
Pharaoh of Egypt
mid-late 380 BC4 monthsDeath of his father, HakorDeposed and likely killed by Nectanebo I
Khande Rao Holkar II
Maharaja of Indore
13 November 1843 – 17 March 1844125 days
(4 months, 4 days)
Death of his cousin and adoptive father, Hari Rao HolkarDied suddenly
Abd al-Malik Imad ad-Dawla
King of Zaragoza
24 January – 31 May 1110127 days
(4 months, 7 days)
Death of his father, Al-Musta'in II, at the Battle of ValtierraDeposed by the Almoravids. Fled to Rueda de Jalón, where he ruled as a vassal of Alfonso I of Aragon until his death in 1130
Faisal I
King of Syria
8 March – 14 July 1920128 days
(4 months, 6 days)
Crowned by the Syrian CongressSurrendered to a French ultimatum and was expelled to Mandatory Iraq, where he was made King in 1921 and reigned until his death in 1933. The Arab Kingdom of Syria was abolished on July 25, 1920, and replaced with the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon.
Michael V
Eastern Roman Emperor
13 December 1041 – 21 April 1042129 days
(4 months, 8 days)
Death of his adoptive father, Michael IVDeposed by Zoë and Theodora III
Wenzong
Khagan and Emperor of Great Yuan
16 October 1328 – 26 February 1329133 days
(4 months, 10 days)
Installed following the death of Yesün Temür KhanAbdicated in favour of his brother Emperor|-| | Charles IV
King of Naples| 22 February – 7 July 1495| 135 days
(4 months, 14 days)| Crowned after conquering the city of Naples| Left Italy after defeat in the First Italian War|-| | Liu Bian
Emperor of Han| 15 May – 28 September 189| 136 days
(4 months, 13 days)| Death of his father, Emperor Ling| Deposed and replaced by his younger half-brother, Emperor XianMingzong
Alexander Hangerli
Prince of Moldavia
7 March – 24 July 1807139 days
(4 months, 17 days)
Appointed by Selim IIIDeposed and replaced by Scarlat Callimachi
Yonas
Emperor of Ethiopia
18 August 1797 – 4 January 1798140 days
(4 months, 18 days)
Proclaimed Emperor by Ras Isra'el of BegemderDeposed by Gugsa of Yejju
Hisamuddin of Selangor
King of Malaysia
14 April – 1 September 1960140 days
(4 months, 18 days)
Elected after the death of Abdul Rahman of Negeri SembilanDied of illness
Ntare V
King of Burundi
8 July – 28 November 1966143 days
(4 months, 20 days)
Deposed his father, Mwambutsa IVDeposed by Prime Minister Michel Micombero, who became the dictatorial first president of Burundi
Edward
Duke of Anhalt
21 April – 13 September 1918145 days
(4 months, 23 days)
Death of his brother, Frederick IIDied
Chong
Emperor of Han
20 September 144 – 15 February 145148 days
(4 months, 26 days)
Death of his father, Emperor ShunDied
John V
Eastern Roman Emperor
17 September 1390 – 16 February 1391152 days
(4 months, 30 days)
Recovered the throne from his grandson, John VII, who had deposed him months beforeDied
Hostilian
Roman co-emperor
July–November 251<5 monthsMade co-emperor by Trebonianus Gallus after the death of Hostilian's father and brother at the Battle of AbritusDied from plague or poison
Peter Aaron
Prince of Moldavia
October 1451 – February 1452<5 monthsAssassinated Bogdan IIDeposed by Alexander II
İsa
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
January – May 14033–5 months
Defeated by his brother Mehmed I at the Battle of UlubadStrangled in September 1403
Ælfwynn
Lady of Mercia
12 June – December 9185 monthsDeath of her mother, ÆthelflædAbdicated in favour of her uncle Edward I
Eraric
King of the Ostrogoths
5415 monthsElected after the murder of IldibadAssassinated by Totila's followers
Valagamba
King of Anuradhapura
103 BC5 monthsAscended the throne following the assassination of his brother Khallata NagaDeposed by Pulahatta. He regained the throne in 88 BC.
Abd al-Rahman IV
Caliph of Cordoba
29 April – September 1018Around 5 monthsProclaimed Caliph after Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir's assassinationAssassinated. Title disputed with Al-Qasim al-Ma'mun
Innocent V
Pope
21 January – 22 June 1276153 days
(5 months, 1 day)
Elected following the death of Gregory XDied
John VII
Eastern Roman Emperor
14 April – 17 September 1390156 days
(5 months, 3 days)
Deposed his grandfather, John VRestoration of John V
Sonni Baru
King of Songhai
6 November 1492 – 12 April 1493158 daysSucceeded his father Sonni AliFled after being defeated at the Battle of Anfao
Celestine V
Pope
5 July – 13 December 1294161 days
(5 months, 8 days)
Elected following an interregnumResigned
Roman II
Prince of Moldavia
15 September 1447 – 23 February 1448161 days
(5 months, 8 days)
Assassinated his uncle, Stephen II, who had previously deposed and blinded Roman's father, Iliaş. He was co-prince with his other uncle Peter III.Fled to Poland where he died in July 1448. Thereafter Peter III ruled in solitary.
Yohannes II
Emperor of Ethiopia
7 May – 18 October 1769165 days
(5 months, 12 days)
Summoned by Ras Mikael Sehul after the murder of his great-nephew Iyoas IPoisoned on the orders of Ras Mikael Sehul[40]
Lê Túc Tông
Emperor of Đại Việt
17 July – 30 December 1504166 days
(5 months, 13 days)
Death of his father, Lê Hiến TôngDied of illness
Al-Mustansir
Caliph of Cairo
13 June – 28 November 1261168 days
(5 months, 15 days)
Proclaimed Caliph in Egypt after the Mongols sacked Baghdad and killed his nephew, Caliph Al-Musta'sim, in 1258Killed in an ambush near Hit while trying to reconquer Iraq
Abu Bakr Shah
Tughlaq dynasty
15 March 1389 – 30 August 1390168 days
(5 months, 15 days)
Succeeded Tughluq KhanDeposed and imprisoned by Muhammad Shah III
Tughluq Khan
Tughlaq dynasty
20 September 1388 – 14 March 1389168 days
(5 months, 18 days)
Succeeded Firoz Shah TughlaqAssassinanted shortly after his victory against Muhammad Shah III
Álvaro V
Manikongo
27 February – 14 August 1636170 days
(5 months, 20 days)
Poisoned Álvaro IVPoisoned
Yazid III
Caliph of Islam
17 April – 3/4 October 744171–172 days
(5 months, 17–18 days)
Likely assassinated his cousin, Al-Walid IIDied of a brain tumor
Charles I
King of Norway
20 November 1449 – 13 May 1450174 days
(5 months, 22 days)
Elected in Trondheim by a portion of the Norwegian Council, in defiance of Christian I of Denmark who had been elected by the other partRenounced his claim to Norway and recognized Christian I. He continued ruling as King of Sweden until he was also replaced there in 1457 by Christian I, and took exile in Poland.
Charles VIII
King of Sweden
9 August 1464 – 30 January 1465174 days
(5 months, 21 days)
Returned from exile during a rebellion against Christian IExiled again after defeat by Christian I's regent in Sweden, Archbishop Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna. He recovered the throne for a third time in 1467 and reigned until his death in 1470.
Gong
Emperor of Sui
18 December 617 – 12 June 618176 days
(5 months, 25 days)
Installed as a puppet emperor by Li YuanDeposed by Li Yuan, who established the Tang dynasty and later had Emperor Gong murdered
Al-Muntasir
Caliph of Islam
11 December 861 – 7 June 862178 days
(5 months, 24 days)
Assassination of his father, Al-MutawakkilDied of disease
Isaac II
Eastern Roman Emperor
1 August 1203 – 27/28 January 1204179 days
(5 months, 26–27 days)
Restored to the throne after the flight of his brother Alexios III, who had imprisoned and blinded him in 1195Deposed by Alexios V. Isaac II died soon afterwards under unclear, but possibly natural circumstances. Alexios IV was strangled on February 8.
Alexios IV
Eastern Roman Emperor
Proclaimed co-emperor with his father because of his deteriorated mental and physical state; he ruled alone in practice.
Heraclonas
Eastern Roman Emperor
May – October/November 641<6 monthsDeath of his father, Heraclius IDeposed, mutilated, and exiled to Rhodes by Constans II

Other monarchs who reigned for a year or less

PortraitMonarchReignLengthReason for accessionReason for reign's end
Sarwe Iyasus
Emperor of Ethiopia
14334–8 monthsSucceeded his father Takla MaryamDied of Bubonic Plague
Zechariah
King of Israel
753–752 or 746–745 BC6 monthsDeath of his father, Jeroboam IIAssassinated by his captain Shallum, who succeeded him.
Mark
King of Makuria
c. 7476 monthsCrowned by the former king Zachary I after the deposition and exile of AbrahamAssassinated by Abraham's supporters
Kamarnava II
Eastern Ganga dynasty
10156 monthsSucceeded Vajrahasta IVfate unknown, succeeded by Gundama II
Amda Seyon II
Emperor of Ethiopia
14946 monthsSucceeded his father EskenderDied at the age of 7, succeeded by his uncle Na'od
Shivaji IV
Kolhapur State
July 2, 1821-Jan 03, 18226 monthsSucceeded Sambhaji IIISucceeded by Shahaji
Vallabharaja
King of Gurjara
c. 10086 monthsCrowned after his father Chamundaraja retiredDied of smallpox while on campaign
Stephen VII
Prince of Moldavia
8 August 1563 – January 15646 monthsDeposed and assassinated John IIFled to Poland after the Ottomans refused to recognize him and restored Alexander IV, the prince before John II
Wu Sangui
Emperor of Great Zhou
March–August 16786 monthsRebelled against the Qing dynasty and proclaimed himself Emperor in HengyangDied
Hasan ibn Ali
Caliph of Islam
6616–7 monthsElected after the death of his father, AliAbdicated in favor of Muawiyah I
Amha Selassie
Emperor of Ethiopia
12 September 1974 – 12 March 1975181 days
(6 months)
Proclaimed by the Derg while he was receiving medical treatment in Switzerland, following the deposition of his father Haile Selassie. He did not accept this proclamation as legitimate and did not return to Ethiopia.Monarchy abolished
Shunzong
Emperor of Tang
28 February – 28 August 805182 days
(6 months)
Death of his father, Emperor DezongAbdicated in favour of his son Emperor Xianzong
Mingzong
Khagan and Emperor of Great Yuan
27 February – 30 August 1329183 days
(6 months, 3 days)
Abdication of his brother Emperor WenzongDied, possibly poisoned. Emperor Wenzong was restored to the throne.
Peter III
Emperor of All Russia
5 January – 9 July 1762185 days
(6 months, 4 days)
Death of his aunt, Elizabeth IDeposed and possibly assassinated by his wife, Catherine II
Kale Kye-Taung Nyo
King of Ava
9 November 1425 – 16 May 1426188 days
(6 months, 7 days)
Deposed his nephew, Min HlaDeposed by Mohnyin Thado
Henry VI
King of England
3 October 1470 – 11 April 1471191 days
(6 months, 9 days)
Restored after Edward IV's flight during the 1470 Lincolnshire RebellionDeposed by Edward IV after recapturing London and probably assassinated
Dafydd ap Gruffudd
Prince of Gwynedd and Wales
11 December 1282 – 22 June 1283193 days
(6 months, 11 days)
Death of his brother, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, at the Battle of Orewin BridgeCaptured in battle by Edward I of England, who had him hanged, drawn, and quartered on 3 October
William I
Prince of Albania
21 February – 3 September 1914194 days
(6 months, 11 days)
Formally offered the throne by Albanian notables after being chosen for the position by the European Great PowersFled to Italy amidst unrest related to the outbreak of World War I.
Jamshid bin Abdullah
Sultan of Zanzibar
1 July 1963 – 12 January 1964195 days
(6 months, 11 days)
Death of his father, Abdullah bin KhalifaMonarchy abolished
Sogdianus
Shah of Persia and Pharaoh of Egypt
424–423 BC6 months, 15 daysProclaimed himself after the death of his father Artaxerxes I, in defiance of the legitimate heir, his half-brother Xerxes II, whom he later had assassinatedAssassinated by his other half-brother, Darius II
Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor
King of Malaysia
31 January 2024 – presentElected for the period 2024–2029Currently reigning
Jean Casimir-Perier
Co-Prince of Andorra
27 June 1894 – 16 January 1895203 days
(6 months, 20 days)
Became Prince of Andorra as President of FranceResigned
Constantius III
Western Roman Emperor
8 February – 2 September 421206 days
(6 months, 23 days)
Made co-emperor by HonoriusDied
Al-Qasim al-Ma'mun
Caliph of Cordoba
12 February – 9 September 1023209 days
(6 months, 26 days)
Flight of Yahya al-Mu'tali from CordobaDeposed and imprisoned
Duncan II
King of Scots
May – 12 November 1094<7 monthsCrowned at Scone as a puppet of William the Conqueror, in rebellion against Donald III who retained control of the Scottish HighlandsKilled in battle or assassinated after defeat
Alexander II
Prince of Moldavia
February – 12 October 1449<7 monthsDeposed Peter IIIDeposed by Bogdan II. Recovered the throne in 1452
Peter Aaron

Prince of Moldavia
August 1454 – February 1455<7 monthsDeposed Alexander IIDeposed by Alexander II
Bardiya
Shah of Persia and Pharaoh of Egypt
early 522 BC – September 522 BC7 monthsRebelled in the Zagros Mountains against Cambyses II, then in Egypt, some time before Cambyses' deathAssassinated by nobles led by Darius I, who claimed he was not the real Bardiya (brother of Cambyses) but a royal impostor
Pilaya Mara
King of Anuradhapura
91–90 BC7 monthsAssassinated King Panya MaraMurdered by his chief minister, Dathika
Lilavati
Queen of Polonnaruwa
1211–12127 monthsRestored after deposition of LokissaraDeposed by Parakrama Pandyan II
Tarabya
King of Ava
April 1400 – before 25 November 14007 monthsDeath of his father Swa Saw KeAssassinated by his former tutor Thihapate of Tagaung after he became insane
Nedjemibre
Pharaoh of Egypt
c. 1780 BC or 1736 BC>7 monthsSucceeded Sewadjkare IPossibly deposed by Khaankhre Sobekhotep
Lulach
King of Scots and Mormaer of Moray
15 August 1057 – 17 March 1058214 days
(7 months, 2 days)
Death of his stepfather Macbeth at the Battle of LumphananAssassinated by Malcolm III
Paul Deschanel
Co-Prince of Andorra
18 February 1920 – 21 September 1920216 days
(7 months, 3 days)
Became Prince of Andorra as President of FranceResigned
Frederik X
King of Denmark
14 January 2024 – presentBecame king upon the abdication of his mother, Margrethe II.Currently reigning
Shang
Emperor of Han
13 February – 21 September 106220 days
(7 months, 8 days)
Death of his father, Emperor HeDied
Galba
Roman Emperor
8 June 68 – 15 January 69221 days
(7 months, 7 days)
Proclaimed in rebellion against Nero, who committed suicideAssassinated by Otho in vengeance for adopting Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus as his heir instead of him
Edmund II
King of the English
23 April – 30 November 1016221 days
(7 months, 7 days)
Elected in London by part of the Witenagemot after the death of his father, Æthelred the Unready; another part elected King Cnut of Denmark in Southampton.Died, possibly assassinated, after agreeing to divide the kingdom with Cnut. Thereafter Cnut reigned over the whole of England.
Yahya al-Mu'tali
Caliph of Cordoba
9 November 1025 – 19 June 1026222 days
(7 months, 10 days)
Reconquered Cordoba from Muhammad IIIDeposed in absentia by Hisham III. Became king of Malaga where he reigned until 1035
Guttorm
King of Norway
2 January – 11 August 1204222 days
(7 months, 9 days)
Death of his uncle, Haakon IIIDied of illness
Kōbun
Emperor of Japan
9 January – 21 August 672226 days
(7 months, 13 days)
Death of his father, Emperor TenjiCommitted suicide after being deposed by his uncle, Emperor Tenmu. Only counted officially and given a posthumous name after 1870
Louis I
King of Spain
15 January – 31 August 1724229 days
(7 months, 16 days)
Abdication of his father, Philip VDied of smallpox. Philip V regained the throne and reigned until his own death in 1746.
Jovian
Roman Emperor
27 June 363 – 17 February 364232 days
(7 months, 19 days)
Elected after the death of Julian in the Battle of SamarraDied in his sleep, possibly suffocated by a defective brazier
Sulayman ibn al-Hakam
Caliph of Cordoba
8 November 1009 – 2 June 1010236 days
(7 months, 24 days)
Declared Caliph after taking Cordoba from Muhammad II and freeing, but declining to reinstall former Caliph Hisham IIDeposed by Muhammad II. Recovered the throne in 1013 and reigned for three years
Stephen IX
Pope
3 August 1057 – 29 March 1058238 days
(7 months, 26 days)
Elected after the death of Victor IIDied
Kiến Phúc
Emperor of Đại Nam
1 December 1883 – 31 July 1884243 days
(7 months, 30 days)
Deposition of his adoptive great uncle, Hiệp HòaDied of illness or poison
Theodore I
King of Corsica
12 March – 11 November 1736244 days
(7 months, 30 days)
Elected king by Corsican rebels against the Republic of GenoaLeft Corsica in a failed bid to get foreign support
Alfonso III
Duke of Modena and Reggio
11 December 1628 – July 1629<8 monthsDeath of his father, CesareAbdicated in favor of his son to become a monk
Phelles
King of Tyre
879 BC8 monthsAssassinated his brother AstarymusAssassinated by Ithobaal I
Ulpia Severina
Roman Empress
270 8 monthsAssassination of her husband, Aurelian. Only woman to have ruled the Roman Empire in her own rightElection of Tacitus
Tacitus
Roman Emperor
25 September 275 – June 2768 monthsElected by the Roman Senate after the assassination of AurelianDied of fever while returning from a military campaign in Gaul
Manava
King of Gauda
625–6268 monthsDeath of his father, ShashankaKingdom conquered and divided between Harsha and Bhaskaravarman
Abd al-Wahid I
Caliph of the Almohad Empire
February–September 12248 monthsElected after the death of his grand-nephew, Yusuf IIAssassinated
George I
Prince of Moldavia
November 1399 – June 14008 monthsSucceeded his brother Stephen I while he was ill but still aliveDeposed and imprisoned after invasion by Mircea I of Wallachia, who installed George's exiled half-brother, Alexander I
Amda Iyasus
Emperor of Ethiopia
1433–14348 monthsSucceeded his brother Sarwe IyasusUnknown fate
Baeda Maryam II
Emperor of Ethiopia
15 April – December 17958 monthsMade emperor by Dejazmach Wolde Gabriel while Tekle Giyorgis I was absent from GondarDeposed by Ras Aligaz and Tekle Giyorgis I restored
Ferdinand IV
Grand Duke of Tuscany
21 July 1859 – 22 March 1860245 days
(8 months, 1 day)
Abdication of his father, Leopold II, after their flight in the Second Italian War of IndependenceTuscany annexed by the Kingdom of Italy
Lê Nghi Dân
Emperor of Đại Việt
3 October 1459 – 6 June 1460247 days
(8 months, 3 days)
Assassinated his half-brother, Lê Nhân TôngDeposed in favor of his other half-brother Lê Thánh Tông. He was exiled to Lạng Sơn and died shortly after.
Mishal
Emir of Kuwait
16 December 2023 – presentBecame emir after the death of his half-brother Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahCurrently reigning
Vitellius
Roman Emperor
16 April – 22 December 69250 days
(8 months, 6 days)
Proclaimed in rebellion against GalbaAssassinated
Jianwen
Emperor of Jin
6 January – 12 September 372250 days
(8 months, 6 days)
Installed by general Huan WenDied of illness
Injong
King of Joseon
29 November 1544 – 8 August 1545252 days
(8 months, 9 days)
Death of his father, JungjongPossibly poisoned by his step-mother Queen Munjeong so his half-brother Myeongjong would become king
Francis (III) Erdmann
Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
20 November 1665 – 30 July 1666253 days (8 months, 10 days)Death of his father Julius (I) HenryDied
John XXI
Pope
8 September 1276 – 20 May 1277255 days (8 months, 12 days)Elected following the death of Adrian VDied after apartment collapsed
Tewodros I
Emperor of Ethiopia
12 October 1413 – 23 June 1414255 days (8 months, 12 days)Succeeded his father Dawit IDied in battle against the Adal Sultanate
Muhammad II
Caliph of Cordoba
15 February – 1 November 1009259 days
(8 months, 17 days)
Overthrew Hisham II and his prime minister Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo, who tried to make Hisham name him his heirDeposed by Sulayman ibn al-Hakam
Benedict XI
Pope
22 October 1303 – 7 July 1304259 days
(8 months, 16 days)
Elected after the death of Boniface VIIIDied
Hongxi
Emperor of Great Ming
7 September 1424 – 29 May 1425264 days
(8 months, 22 days)
Death of his father, the Yongle EmperorDied
Sancho II
King of León
12 January – 6 October 1072268 days
(8 months, 24 days)
Deposed and imprisoned his brother, Alfonso VIKilled at the Siege of Zamora
Albert V
Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
29 December 1468 – 24 September 1469271 days
(8 months, 26 days)
Was given Anhalt-Bernburg to ruleDied of old age
Matilda
Lady of the English
2 February – c. 1 November 1141c. 272 days
(8 months, 28 days)
Captured her cousin Stephen, King of England, at the Battle of LincolnStephen exchanged (behind her back and against her will) for her half-brother Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, who was captured at the Rout of Winchester. She was called Lady of the English and not Queen because she was never crowned despite planning to this end.
William III
King of Sicily
February–October 1194<9 monthsDeath of his father, TancredDeposed by his uncle, Henry I
Claudine
Lady of Monaco
July 1457 – 16 March 1458<9 monthsDeath of her father, Catalan Grimaldi. As she was only six years old, her grandmother Pomellina Fregoso was named regent in her father's will.Pomellina was deposed after trying to murder Lamberto Grimaldi, Claudine's cousin and bethrothed. Lamberto then assumed the position of Lord of Monaco in detriment of his future wife.
Mamia I
King of Imereti
October 1711 – June 1712<9 monthsDeposed George VII, who fled to KartliFled to Kartli himself after being defeated by George VII at the Battle of Chkhari
Benedict IX
Pope
November 1047 – July 10489 monthsReturned to Rome after the death of Clement IIExpelled by the troops of Henry III of Germany, who imposed Damasus II
Uthman ibn Abi-Bakr
King of Valencia
1085–10869 months[41] Death of his father, Abu-Bakr ibn Abd-al-AzizDeposed by Yahya al-Qadir
Gavril Radomir
Emperor of Bulgaria
6 October 1014 – August 10159 monthsDeath of his father SamuelMurdered by his cousin Ivan Vladislav
Chodaganga
King of Polonnaruwa
1196–11979 monthsAssassinated Vikramabahu IIDeposed and blinded by General Tavuru Senevirat who handed power to Queen Lilavati, widow of Parakramabahu I
Lokissara
King of Polonnaruwa
1210–12119 monthsInvaded Sri Lanka with a Tamil army from the continent, deposing LilavatiDeposed by General Parakrama, who restored Lilavati
Tekle Haymanot II
Emperor of Ethiopia
(First Reign)
18 October 1769 – August 17709 monthsSucceeded his father Yohannes IIDeposed when he left Gondar for Tigray
Az-Zahir
Caliph of Islam
5 October 1225 – 10 July 1226278 days
(9 months, 5 days)
Death of his father, An-NasirDied of natural causes
Harold II
King of the English
5 January – 14 October 1066282 days
(9 months, 9 days)
Elected by the Witenagemot at the suggestion of the dying king Edward the ConfessorKilled at the Battle of Hastings
Clement II
Pope
25 December 1046 – 9 October 1047288 days
(9 months, 14 days)
Elected at the request of Henry III of Germany, following the depositions of competing popes Benedict IX, Sylvester III, and Gregory VIPoisoned with lead sugar, either accidentally or intentionally
Christian II
King of Sweden
1 November 1520 – 23 August 1521295 days
(9 months, 22 days)
Conquered Sweden, which had been in rebellion against the Kalmar Union for seven yearsDeposed by the rebel "Protector of the Realm" Gustav Vasa, who was elected King Gustav I in 1523
Vetranio
Western Roman Emperor
1 March – 25 December 350299 days
(9 months, 24 days)
Made co-emperor of Constantius II after the assassination of ConstansDeposed by Constantius II, who became single emperor
Habibullah Kalakani
Emir of Afghanistan
14 December 1928 – 13 October 1929303 days
(9 months, 29 days)
Abdication of Inayatullah KhanDeposed and executed by Mohammed Nadir Shah
Aaron I
Prince of Moldavia
September 1591 – before 20 June 1592<10 monthsDesignated by the Ottomans after the abdication of Peter VIDeposed by the Ottomans and replaced with Alexander V
Agustín I
Emperor of Mexico
19 May 1822 – 19 March 1823304 days
(10 months)
Elected by the Congress of Mexico after Ferdinand VII of Spain refused the position for himself and any of his relativesAbdicated. The monarchy was abolished shortly after.
Leo II
Eastern Roman Emperor
18 January – November 47410 monthsMade augustus (co-emperor) by his grandfather, Leo IDied
Carus
Roman Emperor
c. September 282 – c. July 283Around 10 monthsEither assassinated Probus, or was proclaimed after such assassinationAllegedly struck by lightning while campaigning against the Sassanids
Muhammad XII
Emir of Granada
June 1482 – 20 April 1483Around 10 monthsRebelled against his father, Muley Hacén, seizing Granada and Almería. His father successfully defended and retained Málaga.Captured at the Battle of Lucena during an incursion in Castilian territory. Liberated by the Christians in order to fuel inter-Muslim conflict, he titled himself Emir again in 1487 and reigned until 1492.
Simon I
Prince of Wallachia
October 1600 – 3 July 1601Around 10 monthsAssassination of Michael IIDeposed by Radu IX
Ismail II
Emir of Granada
23 August 1359 – 24 June or 13 July 1360306–325 days
(10 months, 1–19 days)
Deposed and exiled his brother, Muhammad V, to North AfricaDeposed and assassinated by his brother-in-law, Muhammad VI
Martin II
King of Sicily
25 July 1409 – 31 May 1410310 days
(10 months, 6 days)
Death of his son Martin IDied
Zhao Bing
Emperor of Song
10 May 1278 – 19 March 1279313 days
(10 months, 9 days)
Death of his half-brother Emperor DuanzongMurdered by his chancellor Lu Xiufu during the Battle of Yamen
Romulus Augustus
Western Roman Emperor
31 October 475 – 4 September 476309 days
(10 months, 4 days)
Installed in Ravenna by his father, General Orestes, after rebelling against Julius Nepos. The latter fled to Dalmatia and continued ruling there as Western Roman emperor until 480.Deposed by Odoacer, who sent the imperial insignia to Constantinople and titled himself King of Italy
Antipope Alexander V
Pope
26 June 1409 – 3 May 1410311 days
(10 months, 7 days)
Elected in opposition to the Roman pope Gregory XII and the Avignon pope Benedict XIIIDied suddenly
Louise Hippolyte
Princess of Monaco
20 February – 29 December 1731312 days
(10 months, 9 days)
Death of her father, Anthony IDied of smallpox
Narawara
King of Burma
14 April 1672 – 27 February 1673319 days
(10 months, 13 days)
Death of his father, Pye MinDied
Edward VIII
King of the United Kingdom, the British Dominions, and Emperor of India
20 January – 11 December 1936326 days
(10 months, 21 days)
Death of his father, George VAbdicated in favour of his brother George VI in order to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite
Fuad II
King of Egypt and the Sudan
26 July 1952 – 18 June 1953327 days
(10 months, 23 days)
Abdication of his father, Farouk IMonarchy abolished
Paul Doumer
Co-Prince of Andorra
13 June 1931 – 7 May 1932329 days
(10 months, 24 days)
Became Prince of Andorra as President of FranceAssassinated
Jovan Nenad
Tsar of Bačka
29 August 1526 – 26 July 1527331 days
(10 months, 28 days)
Carved a Serbian kingdom in southern Hungary after the death of Louis II in the Battle of Mohacs, refusing to recognize John Zapolya as King of Hungary and collaborating with the HabsburgsAssassinated after failing to link with the Habsburgs
Baldwin I
Latin Emperor of Constantinople
16 May 1204 – 14 April 1205333 days
(10 months, 29 days)
Elected by the Crusaders after the Sack of ConstantinopleCaptured by Kaloyan of Bulgaria at the Battle of Adrianople. Later died in prison
Al-Muhtadi
Caliph of Islam
21/22 July 869 – 21 June 870334–335 days
(11 months)
Assassination of his cousin, Al-Mu'tazzAssassinated
Marwan I
Caliph of Islam
June 684 – April/May 68511–12 monthsElected after the death of Muawiya IIDied
Alexander III
Prince of Wallachia
Began August–November 1592, ended 2–12 September 159311–14 monthsSucceeded Stephen IDeposed by Michael II and exiled to Constantinople, where he was accused of conspiracy and executed in 1597
Dmitry I
Tsar of Russia
10 June 1605 – 17 May 1606341 days
(11 months, 7 days)
Deposition of Feodor IIAssassinated
Richard III
Duke of Normandy
28 August 1026 – 6 August 1027343 days
(11 months, 9 days)
Death of his father Richard IIDied of illness
Napoleon I
Emperor of Elba
11 April 1814 – 20 March 1815343 days
(11 months, 9 days)
Title created by the Treaty of FontainebleauFled to France
Moshoeshoe II
King of Lesotho (second reign)
25 January 1995 – 15 January 1996355 days
(11 months, 21 days)
Reinstated as king in the place of his son Letsie IIIDied in a car accident
Alfonso II
King of Naples
25 January 1494 – 23 January 1495363 days
(11 months, 29 days)
Death of his father, Ferdinand IAbdicated in favour of his son, Ferdinand II
Christian (I)
Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
16 November 1863 – 15 November 1864364 days
(11 months, 30 days)
Became King of Denmark as Christian IX and Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg upon the death of Frederick VIISaxe-Lauenburg came under the control of Austria and Prussia in 1864.
Charles III
Duke of Parma
19 April 1848 – April 1849Around 12 monthsAbdication of his father, Charles II, after both fled during the Revolutions of 1848Father restored by Austrian troops
Simon I
Prince of Wallachia
August 1601 – August 1602Around 12 monthsDeposed Radu IXDeposed by Radu X
Michael VI
Eastern Roman Emperor
31 August 1056 – 31 August 1057365 days
(12 months)
Succeeded Theodora III after being chosen by her as successor, shortly before her deathAbdicated in favour of Isaac I and became a monk
Elizabeth II
Queen of Tanganyika
9 December 1961 – 9 December 1962365 days
(12 months)
Gained independence within the Commonwealth of Nations and shared a monarch with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and certain other sovereign statesRepublic proclaimed
Elizabeth II
Queen of Uganda
9 October 1962 – 9 October 1963365 days
(12 months)
Elizabeth II
Queen of Kenya
12 December 1963 – 12 December 1964366 days
(12 months)

Other monarchs who may have reigned for less than a year

The following monarchs may also have reigned for less than a year, but only an approximate length of reign is known.

PortraitMonarchReignReason for accessionReason for reign's end
5–70 unnamed rulers
Pharaohs of Egypt
(Seventh Dynasty)
c. 2181 BC
(70–75 days total)
End of the Sixth DynastyBeginning of the Eighth Dynasty. The existence of the Seventh Dynasty is questioned due to poor and imprecise records. Some believe it fictional, a metaphor for a chaotic interregnum between the Sixth and Eighth Dynasties; others, that the Seventh Dynasty really existed but its pharaohs were included in the Eighth Dynasty by mistake.
Neferkare Pepiseneb
Pharaoh of Egypt
2181–2170 BCSucceeded NeferkahorSucceeded by Neferkamin Anu after a reign of one year or more. Only attested in the Abydos King List and possibly the Turin King List (as Neferkare Khered Seneb)
Sewadjkare I
Pharaoh of Egypt
c. 1781 BC or 1737 BCSucceeded SehetepibreSucceeded by Nedjemibre. Only known from the Turin King List, which originally included his reign duration but is illegible due to damage
Pausanias
King of Macedon
394/393 – 393/392 BCBecame king after Amyntas II was assassinated Assassinated by a distant cousin, Amyntas III
Cleopatra IV
Pharaoh of Egypt
28 June 116 BC – 115 BCDeath of her father, Ptolemy VIII. Reigned alongside her brother and husband, Ptolemy IXPushed out of joint rule by her mother, Cleopatra III
Zhao Jiande
King of Nanyue
112–111 BCAssassination of Zhao XingAssassinated, Nanyue annexed by the Han Dynasty
Antiochus XI
King of Syria
94–93 BCProclaimed himself king after his brother Seleucus VI was killed fighting against their cousin Antiochus XDied in battle against Antiochus X
Arsaces
King of Pontus
37–36 BCDeath of his brother DariusDied
Sundara Satakarni
Satavahana Dynasty
76-77 (~1 year)Succeeeded Purindrsena
Chakora Svatikarna
Satavahana Dynasty
77-78 (~6 months)Succeeeded Sundara SatakarniDied in battle Saka-Satavahana Wars
Liu Yi
Emperor of Han
125Elected to succeed the late Emperor AnDied of illness
Adur Narseh
Shah of Persia
209Death of his father, Hormizd IIAssassinated and replaced with Shapur II. His reign is questioned by some historians because he is mentioned in Greek sources but not in Persian ones.
Gongsun Yuan
King of Yan
237–238Rebelled against Cao WeiDeposed and executed by Wei, along with his family
Vithimiris/Vinitharius
King of the Goths
c. 376Suicide of Ermanaric when faced by Alan and Hunnic invasions Killed in battle with the Huns
Ellac
King of the Huns
453–454Death of his father, AttilaKilled at the Battle of Nedao
Ildibad
King of the Ostrogoths
540–541Elected after Witiges was taken prisoner to Constantinople by the ByzantinesMurdered by his bodyguard
John
King of the Moors and Romans
545–546Elected after the death of Stotzas in the Battle of ThaciaArrested by the Byzantines and crucified in Constantinople
Teia
King of the Ostrogoths
Began July 552, ended October 552 – early 553Elected after the death of Totila in the Battle of TaginaeKilled at the Battle of Mons Lactarius
Seaxburh
Queen of Wessex
672–674Succeeded her husband, Cenwalh of Wessex, after his death. Only woman included in the list of kings of WessexDied. The throne was inherited by either Cenfus or his son Æscwine, who were distant relatives of her husband.
Roderic
King of the Visigoths
710/711–711/712Seized the throne by force, either assassinating Wittiza or in the aftermath of Wittiza's death by other causesKilled at the Battle of Guadalete
Sigeberht
King of Wessex
756–757Succeeded Cuthred, a distant relativeDeposed by Cynewulf and later assassinated
Sabin
Khan of Bulgaria
765–766Assassination of TeletsDeposed, fled to Constantinople
Toktu
Khan of Bulgaria
766–767Succeeded Umor, possibly after deposing himAssassinated while trying to flee from a revolt
Pagan
Khan of Bulgaria
767–768Elected after the deposition or assassination of Toktu.Deposed and assassinated.
Dae Won-ui
King of Balhae
c. 793 – November 793Death of his father MunAssassinated on the order of his nephew Seong by the ministers
Seong
King of Balhae
November 793 – mid 794Assassinated his uncle Dae Won-uiDeposed and assassinated by his uncle Gang
Anulo
King of Denmark
812Death of King Hemming. Anulo and his followers claimed him to be the rightful new king of Denmark.Killed in battle fought against another claimant for the kingship of Denmark (the party of Anulo won the battle, and Anulo's brothers became new joint kings of Denmark)
Sigfred
King of Denmark
812Death of King Hemming. Sigfred and his followers claimed him to be the rightful new king of Denmark.Killed in battle fought against another claimant for the kingship of Denmark
Gan
King of Balhae
817–818Death of his father HuiAssassinated by his uncle Seon
Nepotian
King of Asturias
842Succeeded his childless "kinsman", Alfonso II, whom he had served as count of the palaceDeposed by Alfonso's second degree cousin, Ramiro I
Fruela
King of Asturias
866Seized the throne by force in the aftermath of Ordoño I's deathAssassinated after some months and replaced with Ordoño's son, Alfonso III. Called "The Usurper" to distinguish from Fruela I and Fruela II
Jeonggang
King of Silla
886–887Death of his brother, HeongangDied
Alfonso Fróilaz
King of Leon
July 925 – late 925Death of his father, Fruela IIDeposed by his cousins Sancho Ordóñez, Alfonso IV, and Ramiro II, who then fought among themselves. Fróilaz allied with Alfonso IV and may have been rewarded with a sub-kingdom in the northeast until both were removed by Ramiro II in 932.
Arinjaya Chola
Chola dynasty
957-958 CESucceeded Gandaraditya CholaDied in a war in Arrur, succeeded by Parantaka Chola II
Bezprym
Duke of Poland
1031 – spring? 1032Flight of his brother Mieszko II to Bohemia during a period of German and Kievan invasionsAssassinated. Duchy divided between his brothers Mieszko and Otto and cousin Dytryk
Abd Allah ibn al-Hakam al-Tujibi
King of Zaragoza
1039Assassinated his cousin, Al-Mundhir ibn YahyaDeposed by Al-Musta'in I
Eric and Eric
Kings of Sweden
1066–1067Death of Stenkil. Each claimed the throne for himself and fought the other.Killed in battle in quick succession. The throne went to Stenkil's son, Halsten.
Ragnvald Knaphövde
King of Sweden
late 1120sElected in Östergötland after the death of IngeAssassinated by the Geats, who had elected Magnus I
David V
King of Georgia
c. 1154–1155Deposed his father, Demetrius IUnclear, but likely assassinated. His reign is given different lengths in different chronicles: from one to six months, to even two years.
Magnus II
King of Sweden
1160–1161Assassinated Eric IXKilled in battle with Eric IX's son, Charles VII
Parakrama Pandyan I
Pandya dynasty
1161-1162Executed by Parakramabahu ISucceeded by Vira Pandya III
Jaya Harivarman II
King of Champa
1166–1167Succeeded Jaya Harivarman ISucceeded by Jaya Indravarman IV
Vijayabahu II
King of Polonnaruwa
1186–1187Death of his uncle, Parakramabahu IAssassinated by Mahinda VI
Suryajayavarman
King of Champa
1190–1191Installed by the Khmer after they invaded and deposed Jaya Indravarman IVFled to Cambodia during the revolt of Vidyanandana, leaving the capital Vijaya to Jaya Indravarman V
Jaya Indravarman V
King of Champa
1191–1192Flight of SuryajayavarmanAssassinated by Vidyanandana
Dharmasoka
King of Polonnaruwa
1208–1209Succeeded KalyanavatiAssassinated by Anikanga
Lilavati
Queen of Polonnaruwa
1209–1210Assassination of Anikanga by General Vikkantacamunakka, who surrendered control to LilavatiDeposed by Lokissara
Peter I
Latin Emperor of Constantinople
1216–1217Elected after the death of his brother-in-law, Henry ICaptured during a failed campaign against the Despotate of Epirus; he died in prison in 1219.
Lý Chiêu Hoàng
Empress of Đại Việt
October 1224 – October/November 1225Abdication of her father, Lý Huệ Tông, who retired to become a Buddhist monk.Forced to abdicate in favour of her husband, Trần Thái Tông. She was the only empress regnant in the history of Vietnam.
Ermengol IX
Count of Urgell
1243Death of his father, Ponce IDied, reasons unknown
Haraldr Guðrøðarson
King of Mann and the Isles
1249–1250Assassinated his cousin Rǫgnvaldr ÓláfssonDeposed and exiled to Norway by Haakon IV, who probably also installed Rǫgnvaldr's brother Magnús Óláfsson as king
Tsenfa Arad
Emperor of Ethiopia
1294–1295Five sons of Yagbe'u Seyon reigned consecutively after him for one year each, possibly as a result of dynastic confusion.[42] Throne seized by their uncle Wedem Arad
Hezba Asagad
Emperor of Ethiopia
1295–1296
Qedma Asagad
Emperor of Ethiopia
1296–1297
Jan Asagad
Emperor of Ethiopia
1297–1298
Saba Asagad
Emperor of Ethiopia
1298–1299
Simon II
Lord of Lippe
10 August 1344 – Late 1344Death of his father Simon IDied likely of age related causes
Albert III
Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
1359 – c. 1 August 1359Died
Balc
Prince of Moldavia
1359 or 1364Death of his father, SasDeposed by Bogdan I
Peter I
Prince of Moldavia
1367 – July 1368Death of his grandfather, Bogdan IDeposed by his uncle, Lațcu
Dương Nhật Lễ
Emperor of Đại Việt
1369–1370Death of his uncle, Trần Dụ TôngDeposed by his father-in-law, Trần Nghệ Tông
Al-Musta'sim
Caliph of Cairo
1377Deposition of Al-Mutawakkil IDeposed by Al-Mutawakkil I. He became Caliph a second time in 1386–1389.
Yusuf II
Emir of Granada
1391–1392Death of his father, Muhammad VPossibly assassinated by his son, Muhammad VII
Hồ Quý Ly
Emperor of Đại Ngu
28 February 1400 – 1401Deposed his grandson, Trần Thiếu ĐếAbdicated in favour of his son, Hồ Hán Thương
Virupaksha Raya
Emperor of Vijayanagara
1404-1405Death of Harihara IIKilled by his own sons
Ramachandra Raya
Emperor of Vijayanagara
1422Death of Deva Raya ISucceeded by Veera Vijaya Bukka Raya
Muhammad IX
Emir of Granada
1430–1431Deposed and assassinated Muhammad VIII, who had deposed him earlierDeposed by Yusuf IV
Yusuf IV
Emir of Granada
1 January 1432 – c. 1432Deposed Muhammad IXDeposed by Muhammad IX
Peter III
Prince of Moldavia
May 1444 – 1445Made co-prince by his half-brother Stephen II after he deposed his other brother and previous co-prince, Iliaș, who had been imposed by the PolesUnknown. He became co-prince again in 1447, this time with his nephew Roman II, a son of Iliaș.
<--Portrait-->Yusuf V
Emir of Granada
1445–1446Deposed his nephew Muhammad XDeposed by Muhammad X
1462Deposed his brother Abu Nasr Sa'dDeposed by Abu Nasr Sa'd
Muhammad XI
Emir of Granada
1453–1454Death of Muhammad IXDeposed by Abu Nasr Sa'd and assassinated by Sa'd's son, Muley Hacén
Praudha Raya
Emperor of Vijayanagara
1485Succeeded Virupaksha Raya IIDeposed by Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya
Thimma Bhupala
Emperor of Vijayanagara
1491 (~2 months)Death of Saluva Narasimha Deva RayaAssassinated by an unknown Sangama dynasty commander
Al-Mustamsik
Caliph of Cairo
1516–1517Deposed his son Al-Mutawakkil III, who had previously deposed him in 1508Abdicated in favor of Al-Mutawakkil III
Al-Mutawakkil III
Caliph of Cairo
1517Abdication of his fatherCaptured by Selim I and deported to Constantinople, where he surrendered the title to Selim (according to later tradition)
Tupac Amaru I
Sapa Inca
1571 – 24 September 1572Death of his brother Titu Cusi YupanquiExecuted by the Spanish
Mạc Toàn
Emperor of Đại Việt
1592–1593Capture and assassination of his father Mạc Mậu Hợp by the Abdicated in favour of Mạc Kính Chỉ
Mạc Kính Chỉ
Emperor of Đại Việt
1592–1593Abdication of Mạc ToànAssassinated by the Trịnh lords
Karposh
King of Kumanovo
October? – November? 1689 Recognized as King by the Habsburgs while in rebellion against the Ottoman EmpireCaptured and executed by the Ottomans
Mamia I
King of Imereti
1701Installed as puppet king by his father-in-law Giorgi Abashidze, following the assassination of Simon IAbdicated in favour of Abashidze, who became King George VI of Imereti, and returned to Guria where he continued ruling as Prince
Abdullah I
King of Iraq
8 March 1920 – c. 1920Proclaimed by the Congress of IraqRefused the position. Became Emir of Transjordan in 1921 and King of Jordan in 1946

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shortest reign of a monarch . Guinness World Records.
  2. Book: Guinness Book of World Records . 1975 . . 978-0-8069-0012-4 . 377 . The shortest recorded reign was that of the Dauphin Louis Antoine, who was technically King Louis XIX of France for the 15 minutes between the signature of Charles X (1757–1836) and his own signature to the act of abdication..
  3. Book: Blanc, Louis . France Under Louis Philippe . 1848 . 214 . Walter Kelly . Louis Blanc.
  4. Pinoteau . Hervé . Hervé Pinoteau . 1982 . Notes de vexillologie royale française . Hidalguía. La revista de genealogía, nobleza y armas . Madrid . 361–362 . LOUIS ANTOINE, montrant ainsi qu'il ne se considérait point roi Louis XIX entre le moment où son père avait signé CHARLES et celui où il avait mis son propre nom. Ceci dit pour corriger les auteurs qui sont nombreux à dire que l'on eut quelques minutes durant un roi Louis XIX en 1830. . 172–173.
  5. Book: Nowell, Charles E. . Portugal . Prentice-Hall . 1973 . 9780136869153 . 133.
  6. Book of Wei, chapter 9.
  7. https://sinocal.sinica.edu.tw/ Sinica calendar converter.
  8. Web site: 2013-07-16 . zh:历史上短命的皇帝有哪些 . Short-lived emperors in history . http://cul.shangdu.com/yeshi/20130716/315_5820728_1.shtml . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233733/http://cul.shangdu.com/yeshi/20130716/315_5820728_1.shtml . 2013-12-02 . 2013-11-17 . Shangdu.com . Henan Culture Web (河南文化网) . zh.
  9. Book: J.N.D Kelly & M.J. Walsh . A Dictionary of Popes . . 2010 . 9780199295814 . 92.
  10. Book: Tan Koon San . Dynastic China: An Elementary History . The Other Press . 2014 . 9789839541885 . 261.
  11. name=Pham>Pham, John-Peter. Heirs of the Fisherman: Behind the Scenes of Papal Death and Succession, Oxford University Press, 2004
  12. Web site: The Abdication of Nicholas II: 100 Years Later . 30 January 2018 . The Russian Legitimist.
  13. [Damrong Rajanubhab]
  14. Book: Obeyesekere, Donald . Outlines of Ceylon history . 1999 . 9788120613638 . 176. Asian Educational Services .
  15. Book: Miller, William . Trebizond: The last Greek Empire of the Byzantine Era: 1204-1461 . Argonaut . 1969 . Chicago . 50 . 1926.
  16. Book: Dhammakitti . Cūḷavaṃsa . Sumangala . Tibbotuvāve . 1998 . Geiger . Wilhelm . 4th-18th Century CE.
  17. Book: Prutsch, M. . Making Sense of Constitutional Monarchism in Post-Napoleonic France and Germany . Springer . 2012 . 9781137291653 . 15.
  18. Book: Holoman, D. Kern . The Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire, 1828-1967 . . 2004 . 9780520236646 . 184.
  19. Web site: Louis Philippe . Encyclopædia Britannica.
  20. Book: Panton, Kenneth J. . Historical Dictionary of the British Empire . . 2015 . 9780810875241 . 578–579.
  21. Book: Guillaume, Marie-Christine . La Terre du Dragon: Références culturelles sur le Vietnam . Publibook . 2004 . 9782748316476 . 2 . Paris . 47 . fr.
  22. Book: John S. Major, Constance A. Cook . Ancient China: A History . . 2016 . 9781317503668 . 182.
  23. Book: Baumer, Christoph . History of Central Asia, 4 volume set . . 2018 . 9781838608675 . 366 . Christoph Baumer.
  24. Book: Osmańczyk, Edmund . Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: N to S . . 2003 . 9780415939232 . New York . 1545 . Edmund Osmańczyk.
  25. Web site: Stephen (II) . Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  26. Book: Anderson, James . The Rebel Den of Nung Trí Cao . . 2012 . 9780295800776 . Singapore . 56.
  27. Book: Taylor, K. W. . A History of the Vietnamese . . 2013 . 9781107244351 . 650.
  28. Web site: Biografia de Juan II de Portugal . 2022-05-12 . www.biografiasyvidas.com.
  29. Web site: John I . Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  30. Book: N. C. L . Hammond . G. T. . Griffith . A History of Macedonia: 550–336 B.C . . 1972 . 9780198148142 . 167.
  31. Carney, E. (2015) King and Court in Ancient Macedonia: Rivalry, Treason and Conspiracy. ISD LLC.
  32. Book: K. R. . Hall . J. K. . Whitmore . Explorations in Early Southeast Asian History . . 1976 . 9780891480112 . 284.
  33. Dănuț Zuzeac (2016). "Cea mai scurtă domnie din Evul Mediu. Cum a ajuns un boier să stea pe tronul Moldovei doar câteva zile". Adevărul
  34. Book: Wallis Budge, E. A. . E. A. Wallis Budge . A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia. 1928. 1970. Anthropological Publications. Oosterhout, the Netherlands. 481. Budge considers him the son of Iyasus and brother of Iyoas.
  35. Book: Peachin, Michael . Roman Imperial Titulature and Chronology, A.D. 235–284 . Gieben . 1990 . 90-5063-034-0 . Amsterdam . 43.
  36. Web site: Banchich . Thomas . 1999 . Quintillus (270 A.D) . De Imperatoribus Romanis. Sources give him a reign-length of 17 days, 20 days, 77 days and "a few months". The claim that he ruled for 17 days is probably a mistake.
  37. Book: Stewart, John. African States and Rulers. McFarland. 2005. 0-7864-2562-8. London. 19–20.
  38. Seaman, R.M. (2013) Conflict in the Early Americas: An Encyclopedia of the Spanish Empire's Aztec, Incan, and Mayan Conquests. ABC-CLIO, 485 pages.
  39. Book: Wallis Budge, E. A. . A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia. 1928. 1970. Anthropological Publications. Oosterhout, the Netherlands. 481.
  40. Book: Wallis Budge, E. A. . A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia. 1928. 1970. Anthropological Publications. Oosterhout, the Netherlands. 469.
  41. https://www.condadodecastilla.es/personajes/utman-ben-abu-bakr-rey-de-la-taifa-de-valencia/ [Valencia, ¿? – ¿?, d. 1086] 'Utmán ben Abū Bakr Muḥammad ben ʿAbd al-‘Azíz.
  42. Taddesse Tamrat, Church and State in Ethiopia (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), p. 72.