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© Getty Images
0 / 28 Fotos
King James IV and I
- James IV was crowned king of Scotland in 1567, after his mother abdicated the throne. He later became James I of England, after Queen Elizabeth I died.
© Getty Images
1 / 28 Fotos
King James IV and I
- You might recognize his name from the Bible he commissioned in 1604. James reigned for a total of 57 years.
© Getty Images
2 / 28 Fotos
Queen Wilhelmina I of the Netherlands
- Wilhelmina became queen at the age of 10, following her father's death. Her mother acted as her regent until she turned 18. The monarch fled the country during World War II, returning in 1945. In 1948, Wilhelmina I abdicated the throne so her daughter, Juliana, could rule. Wilhelmina's reign lasted 57 years.
© Getty Images
3 / 28 Fotos
Nicholas I
- Nicholas I became the crown prince of Montenegro in 1860. By 1910, he declared himself king of the recently-proclaimed sovereign state. Nicholas I ruled for 58 years.
© Getty Images
4 / 28 Fotos
Pedro II
- Pedro II became (the last) emperor of Brazil when he was five. He was crowned in 1841 and became known as "The Magnanimous." A coup dictated the end of his rule of 58 years.
© Getty Images
5 / 28 Fotos
Queen Elizabeth II
- Elizabeth became queen in 1952, following her father's death. In 2015, she overtook Queen Victoria as Britain's longest-reigning monarch, and became the longest-reigning queen in world history. Her reign lasted seven decades.
© Getty Images
6 / 28 Fotos
Queen Elizabeth II
- Apparently, the late queen wasn't phased. “Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception,” she said at the time.
© Getty Images
7 / 28 Fotos
Louis XV
- Louis XV became the king of France in 1715. He involved the country in a number of wars and his popularity plummeted, eventually triggering the French Revolution. Louis XV reigned for 58 years.
© Getty Images
8 / 28 Fotos
Honoré III
- Prince Honoré III of Monaco became king in 1733, following his father's abdication. He was eventually deposed in 1793, due to the French Revolution. Honoré III's reign lasted 59 years.
© Getty Images
9 / 28 Fotos
King George III of England
- Ascending the throne in 1760, King George III also makes the list of the longest-reigning British monarchs. He became known for having studied science, founding the Royal Academy of Arts, and for his interest in agriculture.
© Getty Images
10 / 28 Fotos
King George III of England
- King George III also went down in history for losing the American Revolution and for struggling with mental health issues. He was king for 59 years.
© Getty Images
11 / 28 Fotos
King Christian IV
- Though the king of Denmark and Norway inherited the crown in 1588, at the age of 11, he was not crowned until he was older, in 1596. He infamously got his country involved in the Thirty Years' War. King Christian IV's reign lasted 59 years.
© Getty Images
12 / 28 Fotos
Qianlong Emperor
- This Chinese emperor ruled from 1735 to 1796. For 60 years, Qianlong expanded the country's territory and sponsored the creation of the famous book collection 'Siku Quanshu.'
© Getty Images
13 / 28 Fotos
Friedrich Günther, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
- Friedrich Günther became prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (an area in Germany) in 1807. Günther ruled for 60 years, until his death in 1867.
© Public Domain
14 / 28 Fotos
Kangxi Emperor
- The second emperor of the Qing Dynasty ruled China for 61 years. Kangxi led the country through a period of prosperity, opening some of China's ports to allow foreign trade, and encouraging education and the arts.
© Getty Images
15 / 28 Fotos
Hirohito
- The 124th Emperor of Japan began his reign in 1926, following his father's death. Hirohito is the longest-reigning monarch in the country's history, at 62 years. His reign lasted until his death in 1989.
© Getty Images
16 / 28 Fotos
James I The Conqueror
- The king of Aragon, also known as "The Conqueror," ruled for 62 years. He famously added the Balearic Islands and Valencia to his kingdom and was known for supporting the arts and education.
© Getty Images
17 / 28 Fotos
Queen Victoria
- The second-longest reigning monarch in British history sat on the throne for 63 years. Queen Victoria's reign went down in history for its progressive changes and inventions.
© Getty Images
18 / 28 Fotos
Basil II
- The co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire reigned for 65 years.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
Constantine VIII
- Constantine VIII (right) ruled the Byzantine Empire with his older brother Basil II. He ruled for an extra year than his brother, for 66 years.
© Getty Images
20 / 28 Fotos
Franz Joseph I
- Franz Joseph became emperor of the Austrian Empire in 1848. He ruled for 67 years, until his death in 1916.
© Getty Images
21 / 28 Fotos
Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal
- This Maya king of Palenque, also known as "Pakal the Great," ruled for 68 years.
© Getty Images
22 / 28 Fotos
Bhumibol Adulyadej
- King Bhumibol Adulyadej remains Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch following 70 years of leading the country. He passed away in 2016.
© Getty Images
23 / 28 Fotos
Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein
- The Prince of Liechtenstein ruled for 70 years, from 1858 until 1929.
© Public Domain
24 / 28 Fotos
Louis XIV
- Louis became king at the age of four in 1643. The King of France and of Navarre, also known as the "Sun King," ruled for 72 years.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Sobhuza II
- Ngwenyama Sobhuza II of Swaziland (now Eswatini) was first the Paramount Chief of the territory and later King of Swaziland.
© Getty Images
26 / 28 Fotos
Sobhuza II
- Sobhuza II ruled until his death, in 1982. His reign lasted for 82 years, making it the longest reign in recorded history. Sources: (Mental Floss) See also: World leaders with the longest reigns
© Getty Images
27 / 28 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 28 Fotos
King James IV and I
- James IV was crowned king of Scotland in 1567, after his mother abdicated the throne. He later became James I of England, after Queen Elizabeth I died.
© Getty Images
1 / 28 Fotos
King James IV and I
- You might recognize his name from the Bible he commissioned in 1604. James reigned for a total of 57 years.
© Getty Images
2 / 28 Fotos
Queen Wilhelmina I of the Netherlands
- Wilhelmina became queen at the age of 10, following her father's death. Her mother acted as her regent until she turned 18. The monarch fled the country during World War II, returning in 1945. In 1948, Wilhelmina I abdicated the throne so her daughter, Juliana, could rule. Wilhelmina's reign lasted 57 years.
© Getty Images
3 / 28 Fotos
Nicholas I
- Nicholas I became the crown prince of Montenegro in 1860. By 1910, he declared himself king of the recently-proclaimed sovereign state. Nicholas I ruled for 58 years.
© Getty Images
4 / 28 Fotos
Pedro II
- Pedro II became (the last) emperor of Brazil when he was five. He was crowned in 1841 and became known as "The Magnanimous." A coup dictated the end of his rule of 58 years.
© Getty Images
5 / 28 Fotos
Queen Elizabeth II
- Elizabeth became queen in 1952, following her father's death. In 2015, she overtook Queen Victoria as Britain's longest-reigning monarch, and became the longest-reigning queen in world history. Her reign lasted seven decades.
© Getty Images
6 / 28 Fotos
Queen Elizabeth II
- Apparently, the late queen wasn't phased. “Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception,” she said at the time.
© Getty Images
7 / 28 Fotos
Louis XV
- Louis XV became the king of France in 1715. He involved the country in a number of wars and his popularity plummeted, eventually triggering the French Revolution. Louis XV reigned for 58 years.
© Getty Images
8 / 28 Fotos
Honoré III
- Prince Honoré III of Monaco became king in 1733, following his father's abdication. He was eventually deposed in 1793, due to the French Revolution. Honoré III's reign lasted 59 years.
© Getty Images
9 / 28 Fotos
King George III of England
- Ascending the throne in 1760, King George III also makes the list of the longest-reigning British monarchs. He became known for having studied science, founding the Royal Academy of Arts, and for his interest in agriculture.
© Getty Images
10 / 28 Fotos
King George III of England
- King George III also went down in history for losing the American Revolution and for struggling with mental health issues. He was king for 59 years.
© Getty Images
11 / 28 Fotos
King Christian IV
- Though the king of Denmark and Norway inherited the crown in 1588, at the age of 11, he was not crowned until he was older, in 1596. He infamously got his country involved in the Thirty Years' War. King Christian IV's reign lasted 59 years.
© Getty Images
12 / 28 Fotos
Qianlong Emperor
- This Chinese emperor ruled from 1735 to 1796. For 60 years, Qianlong expanded the country's territory and sponsored the creation of the famous book collection 'Siku Quanshu.'
© Getty Images
13 / 28 Fotos
Friedrich Günther, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
- Friedrich Günther became prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (an area in Germany) in 1807. Günther ruled for 60 years, until his death in 1867.
© Public Domain
14 / 28 Fotos
Kangxi Emperor
- The second emperor of the Qing Dynasty ruled China for 61 years. Kangxi led the country through a period of prosperity, opening some of China's ports to allow foreign trade, and encouraging education and the arts.
© Getty Images
15 / 28 Fotos
Hirohito
- The 124th Emperor of Japan began his reign in 1926, following his father's death. Hirohito is the longest-reigning monarch in the country's history, at 62 years. His reign lasted until his death in 1989.
© Getty Images
16 / 28 Fotos
James I The Conqueror
- The king of Aragon, also known as "The Conqueror," ruled for 62 years. He famously added the Balearic Islands and Valencia to his kingdom and was known for supporting the arts and education.
© Getty Images
17 / 28 Fotos
Queen Victoria
- The second-longest reigning monarch in British history sat on the throne for 63 years. Queen Victoria's reign went down in history for its progressive changes and inventions.
© Getty Images
18 / 28 Fotos
Basil II
- The co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire reigned for 65 years.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
Constantine VIII
- Constantine VIII (right) ruled the Byzantine Empire with his older brother Basil II. He ruled for an extra year than his brother, for 66 years.
© Getty Images
20 / 28 Fotos
Franz Joseph I
- Franz Joseph became emperor of the Austrian Empire in 1848. He ruled for 67 years, until his death in 1916.
© Getty Images
21 / 28 Fotos
Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal
- This Maya king of Palenque, also known as "Pakal the Great," ruled for 68 years.
© Getty Images
22 / 28 Fotos
Bhumibol Adulyadej
- King Bhumibol Adulyadej remains Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch following 70 years of leading the country. He passed away in 2016.
© Getty Images
23 / 28 Fotos
Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein
- The Prince of Liechtenstein ruled for 70 years, from 1858 until 1929.
© Public Domain
24 / 28 Fotos
Louis XIV
- Louis became king at the age of four in 1643. The King of France and of Navarre, also known as the "Sun King," ruled for 72 years.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Sobhuza II
- Ngwenyama Sobhuza II of Swaziland (now Eswatini) was first the Paramount Chief of the territory and later King of Swaziland.
© Getty Images
26 / 28 Fotos
Sobhuza II
- Sobhuza II ruled until his death, in 1982. His reign lasted for 82 years, making it the longest reign in recorded history. Sources: (Mental Floss) See also: World leaders with the longest reigns
© Getty Images
27 / 28 Fotos
The longest-reigning monarchs in history
Queen Elizabeth, one of the longest reigning monarchs in history, was 70 years on the throne
© Getty Images
In 2015, Queen Elizabeth II became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. When she passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, she had just celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. Astonishingly, there are still other monarchs who have had longer reigns throughout history. While the average life expectancy was considerably lower in the past, many kings, queens, and emperors managed to reign for several decades. Some have even ruled for over 80 years!
Curious to find out which monarchs held their crowns the longest? Then click on!
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