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The burden of the crown is immense, and these individuals carried it longer than anyone else. From K'inich Janaab Pakal to Basil II to Elizabeth II, discover the monarchs who reigned the longest in history.
1. Sobhuza II
Duration of Rule: 82 Years
In December 1899, the king of Swaziland (now Eswatini), Ngwane V, passed away at the age of 23. His successor was his 4-month-old son, who took the royal name Sobhuza II and ruled until his death in August 1982. However, his reign is complex due to Swaziland’s status as a British Protectorate for much of this period. As historian Bruce Lincoln explains, “he held a position filled with ambiguities and contradictions, interpreted—or rather, constructed—differently by the British and the Swazi. The British viewed Sobhuza as a paramount chief, a title that implied a loss of independent authority ... Conversely, the Swazi saw him as their king (Nkosi) and lion (Ngwenyama), the guardian of tradition and their primary defense against colonial domination.” Lincoln highlights that when the queen regent, Gwamile Mdluli, presented Sobhuza II to the resident commissioner, she declared him “Sobhuza II, the paramount chief of Swaziland and king of the Swazi Nation.” In essence: paramount chief of the land, but king of the people.
2. Louis XIV
Duration of Reign: 72 Years
Born in September 1638, Louis XIV was the son of France’s Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. He ascended to the throne at just 4 years old in May 1643. Known as the Sun King, he escaped Paris during the Fronde civil war, studied ballet, transformed Versailles from a hunting lodge into a grand palace, initiated several wars, and championed the arts. He died in September 1715 and was succeeded by his great-grandson, Louis XV.
3. Johann II
Duration of Reign: 70 years
Johann II, prince of Liechtenstein, was born in 1840 and governed from 1858 until his passing in 1929. A supporter of the arts and sciences, he stood apart from many monarchs by shunning social gatherings and remaining unmarried. After ruling for 70 years and 91 days, he was succeeded by his brother.
4. Bhumibol Adulyadej
Length of Reign: 70 years
Although his formal coronation occurred in 1950, King Bhumibol ascended as the ninth monarch of Thailand’s Chakkri dynasty in 1946 following the death of his brother, Ananda Mahidol. An accession ceremony [PDF] took place, but in Thailand, a king is not considered fully sovereign until consecration. As reported by The New York Times, “Thais viewed this Buddhist king as a paternal figure entirely devoted to their well-being and as a symbol of stability in a nation marked by decades of political upheaval and military coups.” He ruled until his death in 2016 at age 88, becoming Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch.
5. Elizabeth II
Duration of Reign: 70 years
Queen Elizabeth II, who became monarch in 1952 and ruled until her passing in 2022, witnessed the tenure of 15 British prime ministers, 14 U.S. presidents, and 10 Soviet and Russian leaders. In September 2015, she surpassed her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Reflecting on the achievement, QEII remarked that it was “not one to which I have ever aspired,” noting, “Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception.”
6. K'inich Janaab' Pakal
Length of Reign: 68 Years
Referred to as Pakal the Great, this ruler of the Maya city of Palenque assumed the throne at the age of 12, governing from 615 CE until his death in 683. Among his notable accomplishments was initiating the construction of the Temple of Inscriptions, which served as his burial site and was finished by his son and successor, Kan B’alam II.
7. Franz Joseph I
Duration of Reign: 67 years
Franz Joseph, born on August 30, 1830, ascended to the throne of the Austrian Empire on December 2, 1848, at the age of 18. In 1853, he survived an assassination attempt when a tailor tried to stab him in the neck. A woman’s warning cry caused Franz Joseph to turn, minimizing the injury. He continued to rule until his death in 1916.
8. Constantine VIII
Duration of Reign: 66 Years
Born in either 960 or 961, Constantine was appointed co-emperor at approximately one year old. This practice was fairly typical in the Byzantine Empire to secure the succession line—indeed, his older brother Basil (discussed later) had also been named co-emperor. After their father’s death in 963, Basil and Constantine became rulers in title only (which is why many Byzantine king lists exclude them during this period). This continued until 976, when the actual leader—John Tzimiskes—died, allowing the brothers to reclaim power. While historians agree Basil was the dominant ruler (a medieval biographer noted that “Basil always seemed alert, intelligent, and thoughtful; Constantine appeared lazy, indifferent, and indulgent”), his death without an heir in 1025 meant Constantine ruled independently as senior emperor for three years.
9. Basil II
Length of Reign: 65 Years
Basil II, born in 957 or 958, was crowned co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 960 and, alongside his brother, assumed full control in 976 at around 18 years old. As emperor, Basil expanded the Byzantine Empire through warfare and maintained its financial strength. However, similar to Constantine, there is debate about Basil’s reign length. Historian Robert Bartlett states in Blood Royal: Dynastic Politics in Medieval Europe, “Romanos II crowned his young son Basil on 22 April 960, Easter day. Since Basil died on 15 December 1025, he technically reigned for over 65 years. However, modern historians typically date his reign from 976 to 1025, beginning after the death of his co-emperor and guardian, John Tzimiskes, the true ruler.”
10. Victoria
Duration of Reign: 63 years
Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent was fifth in succession at birth, but after the deaths of her father, grandfather, most uncles, and several cousins, she became Queen Victoria. At just 18, she ascended the throne in 1837 and ruled for nearly 64 years. She endured multiple assassination attempts, popularized the white wedding dress, and became so iconic that her name defined the Victorian era. Her reign concluded with her death in 1901, and she remains the second-longest reigning monarch in British history.
11. James I
Length of Reign: 62 Years
James I, the king of Aragon, also known as James the Conqueror, expanded his kingdom by adding the Balearic Islands and Valencia during his reign, which began in 1213. He introduced significant maritime laws and championed arts and education. As Henry John Chaytor noted in A History of Aragon and Catalonia, “the University of Montpellier flourished due to his patronage; he established a studium in Valencia in 1245 and secured papal privileges from Pope Innocent IV ... Architecture and art also thrived, with the cathedral of Lérida constructed and consecrated during his rule.” He passed away in 1276.
12. Hirohito
Duration of Reign: 62 Years
Born in 1901 to future emperor Yoshihito, Michinomiya Hirohito made history even before his ascension: he became the first Japanese crown prince to travel to Europe in 1921. That same year, he assumed the role of regent for his ailing father. In 1926, following Yoshihito’s death, Hirohito became the 124th emperor of Japan, adopting the reign name Showa, meaning “enlightened harmony” or “enlightened peace.” (Japanese emperors are traditionally named after their reign posthumously, which is why Hirohito is often called Emperor Showa.)
During World War II, Japan allied with Nazi Germany. After the Allied victory, Hirohito broke tradition by delivering a radio address announcing Japan’s surrender. Later, he defied convention again by traveling to Europe and briefly visiting the United States, where he met Richard Nixon—becoming, in Nixon’s words, “the first reigning monarch of Japan in your long history to step on foreign soil.” He also authored several books on marine biology, one of his great passions.
Hirohito passed away in 1989 and remains Japan’s longest-serving monarch.
13. Kangxi Emperor
Duration of Reign: 61 Years
The second ruler of China’s Qing Dynasty, Kangxi (born Xuanye), ascended the throne at around 7 years old following his father’s death from smallpox. Due to his young age, his father’s advisors acted as regents until Kangxi assumed full control in his teenage years. During his reign, he expanded China’s territory, embarked on several southern tours, and opened ports to foreign trade. A supporter of the arts, he also promoted education. Kangxi died in 1722; Britannica notes, “Kangxi is regarded as one of the most capable rulers in Chinese history. His 61-year reign laid the groundwork for prolonged political stability and economic growth in China.”
14. Qianlong Emperor
Duration of Reign: 60 Years
The grandson of Kangxi, Qianlong Emperor (born Hongli), ruled almost as long as his grandfather: he began his reign in 1735 at the age of 24 and continued until 1796. During his rule, he expanded China’s borders and commissioned the Sikuquanshu or Siku Quanshu, an extensive compilation of Chinese literature. A patron of the arts, he was also a poet and calligrapher. The Qianlong Emperor passed away in 1799.
15. Friedrich Günther
Length of Reign: 60 Years
Friedrich Günther became the prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (a region in modern-day Thuringia, Germany) in 1807 at the age of 13, succeeding his deceased father. His mother served as regent until he reached 21. He ruled until his death in 1867.
16. Christian IV
Duration of Reign: 59 Years
This king of Denmark and Norway officially took the throne after his father’s death in 1588, but due to his age of just 11, a council of regents governed until Christian was crowned in 1596. His reign saw the construction of numerous towns and landmarks, though he also led Denmark into the disastrous Thirty Years War and lost an eye in a naval battle against Sweden. Married twice, he fathered over 20 children with five women. He died in 1648 and was succeeded by his son, Frederik III.
17. George III
Length of Reign: 59 Years
Before Elizabeth II and Victoria, Britain’s longest-serving monarch was King George III, who became king in 1760. He was the first monarch to study science, maintained a vast library accessible to scholars, established the Royal Academy of Arts, and had a keen interest in agriculture (earning the nickname “Farmer George” on some estates). However, George III is most remembered for losing the American Revolution and his struggles with mental illness, historically attributed to porphyria but a 2017 PLOS ONE study suggested was acute mania. He became “permanently deranged,” as noted by the British monarchy’s website, in 1810, leading his eldest son to act as prince regent until George III’s death in January 1820.
18. Honoré III
Duration of Reign: 59 Years
Prince Honoré III of Monaco took the throne in 1733 at the age of 14 following his father’s abdication. He ruled for nearly six decades until he was overthrown in 1793 during the French Revolution. He passed away in 1795.
19. Louis XV
Duration of Reign: 58 Years
When Louis XV was born at Versailles in 1710, no one expected him to become king. However, the deaths of his grandfather, father, and two older brothers (all named Louis) made him heir apparent as a toddler. After his great-grandfather, the “Sun King” Louis XIV, died in 1715, Louis XV ascended the throne, with the duke of Orléans acting as regent. By age 10, he began attending cabinet meetings. As an adult, he showed little interest in governance, preferring botany and women (including mistresses like Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry). Once called “Louis the Beloved,” his involvement in costly wars diminished his popularity and contributed to the French Revolution. Louis XV died in 1774 after 58 years of rule.
20. Pedro II
Length of Reign: 58 Years
Born Dom Pedro de Alcântara in 1825, Pedro II became Brazil’s second—and last—emperor at age 5 after his father abdicated to return to Portugal and support his daughter’s claim to the throne. A regency governed Brazil until 1840, when Pedro II was deemed ready to rule; he was crowned in 1841. Known as “the Magnanimous,” he was widely popular, bringing stability, expanding Brazil’s territory, and improving infrastructure. His reign ended in 1889 when a coup forced him to abdicate, and he was exiled.
21. Ludovico I
Duration of Reign: 58 Years
Ludovico I served as the marquess of Saluzzo, located in modern-day Piedmont, Italy, beginning in 1416 at the age of 11. He ruled until his death at 70 in 1475.
22. Nicholas I
Length of Reign: 58 Years
Nicholas I ascended as crown prince of Montenegro after his uncle, Danilo II, was assassinated in 1860. During his reign, Montenegro’s territory doubled, and it gained sovereignty. In 1900, he declared himself “Royal Highness,” and in 1905, under public pressure, introduced a constitution. He proclaimed himself king in 1910. Nicholas I involved Montenegro in the Balkan War and World War I before being exiled in 1916 and deposed in 1918 after 58 years of rule. He passed away in France in 1921.
23. Honoré I
Duration of Reign: 58 Years
Honoré I’s lengthy reign began when he was just 9 months old, following the assassination of his father, Lucien Grimaldi, in 1523. His uncle Augustin acted as regent initially, and after his death, another relative, Etienne, took over. Honoré I reportedly left governance to Etienne until his death in 1561. During his rule, Honoré I hosted Pope Paul III in Monaco and participated in several battles. He died in 1581 and was succeeded by his son, Charles.
24. Wilhelmina I
Duration of Reign: 57 Years
Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria ascended as Wilhelmina I, queen of the Netherlands, after her father’s death in 1890. Since she was only 10, her mother served as regent until her official inauguration in 1898. She maintained Dutch neutrality during World War I but fled to England after Germany’s invasion in 1940. From there, she ruled in exile, enduring the Blitz and addressing her people through Radio Oranje broadcasts. She returned to the Netherlands in 1945 and abdicated in 1948 in favor of her daughter, Juliana. Wilhelmina I passed away in 1962 [PDF].
25. James VI (and I)
Length of Reign: 57 Years
James VI was just over a year old when he became king of Scots in 1567 after his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate. Regents governed until he reached his teens. In 1603, he also became James I of England following Queen Elizabeth I’s death, uniting the crowns. He later declared himself king of Great Britain. James moved south and returned to Scotland only once. In 1604, he commissioned the Bible named after him. He died in 1625.
Honorable Mention: Phiops II
Per Guinness World Records, “The longest documented reign of any monarch belongs to Phiops II (also called Pepi II or Neferkare), a pharaoh of ancient Egypt’s 6th Dynasty.” The 3rd century BCE historian Manetho provides more detail, claiming that “Phiôps ... began ruling at age 6 and continued until he was 100”—over a decade longer than Sobhuza.
However, how credible is this account? Most modern historians find it unreliable. In 1988, Johns Hopkins egyptologist Hans Goedicke noted that, aside from a potentially misread number in a decree, independent evidence points to a 64-year reign, with a scribe possibly mistaking a 60 for a 90. Even so, 64 years would surpass Victoria’s reign.
Austin Thompson contributed to this story.
