Leaders of Holy Roman empire states dominate the global top 10 but the longest-ever ruler was King Sobhuza II of Swaziland, at 82 years and 253 days

The Queen may have overtaken Victoria’s reign of 63 years and 216 days, but she ranks just 48th in the league table of longest verifiable rulers.



Facebook Twitter Pinterest In this short video we examine the Queen’s reign in numbers and see how in 63 years she has remained an ever-present figure in an ever-changing worl

King Sobhuza II of Swaziland, who spent 82 years 253 days on the throne of the small southern African kingdom, claims top spot.



He owes this auspicious historical footnote to the unfortunate demise of his father, King Ngwane V, aged 23, while dancing. The son was just four months old when he became king.



During his long reign Sobhuza’s commendable commitment to continuing the dynasty resulted in a conservative estimate that he had about 210 children, of which 180 survived infancy, from at least 70 wives. By the time of his death in 1982 he had more than 1,000 grandchildren.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Queen’s coronation

Bernard “the Bellicose”, more formally known as Bernard VII of Lippe, enjoyed 81 years and 234 days, dominated by bloody feuds, as head of his sovereign state, created within the Holy Roman empire in central Europe. The longest-ever ruling European nobleman, he died in 1511.

Four of the top 10 places are claimed by rulers of Holy Roman empire states, but one notable exception is Bhagvat Singh Sahib, in eighth position, who notched up 74 years and 87 days as maharaja of Gondal state in India. A doctor who studied medicine at Edinburgh University, he abolished taxes as well as purdah for women and introduced compulsory education for all girls.

He celebrated his golden jubilee by donating his weight in gold to charity. He died in 1944, having earned a reputation as one of the most progressive monarchs in Indian history.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest King Louis XIV of France Photograph: Rex Shutterstock

The longest reign of any monarch of a large country in European history belongs to Louis XIV of France – or Louis the Great, or, indeed, the Sun King. His reign of 72 years and 110 days, from 1643 to 1715, was marked by almost constant warfare. It places him in 12th position, a modest slot for an absolute monarch who believed his power came directly from God.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) of Thailand Photograph: Sipa/Rex Shutterstock

The only living monarch to out-reign the Queen is Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) of Thailand, who at 87 is two years younger than her. According to Forbes, he is also the world’s richest member of a royal family, with a fortune estimated in 2010 at $30bn, though apparently the assets are owned by the crown as an institution, not by Adulyadej as an individual.



His name means “Strength of the land, incomparable power”. He was born in the US and his birth certificate has him registered, according to reports, as Baby Songkia, an interim measure while his parents waited for uncle Rama VII to choose something auspicious-sounding.

Like the Queen, he did not expect to rule, but his older brother died from gunshot wounds in circumstances that are not entirely clear. At first it was claimed he had accidentally shot himself but two palace aides were later convicted of regicide, and executed.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Franz Joseph I, emperor of Austria, and king of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia Photograph: Alamy

Family tragedy also touched the life of Franz Joseph I, emperor of Austria, and king of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, who ruled from 1848 until 1916 and is placed 32nd.



A triple tragedy, in fact. His younger brother Maximilian, at the behest of Napoleon III, declared himself monarch of the second Mexican empire, but was executed by republicans. His son and heir, Rudolf, shot himself and his young mistress in a murder-suicide. His wife, Empress Elisabeth, would then be assassinated by an Italian anarchist in Geneva, who, having missed a chance to assassinate the duke of Orleans, wanted to kill the very next member of royalty he came across. It happened to be Elisabeth, whom he promptly stabbed.



Only one woman outranks the Queen now that she has surpassed Victoria. The formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the wealthiest, most powerful and, therefore, most eligible women in western Europe in the middle ages, is 34th.



Technically, she was not a monarch, but as duchess of Aquitaine, in France, she ruled for 67 years. She married Louis VII of France but 15 years later, in 1152, having produced two daughters but no son, the marriage was annulled. Within weeks, she was married to the duke of Normandy, later Henry II, producing in rapid succession five sons, of which three would be kings, and three daughters.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Eleanor of Aquitane Photograph: Alamy

Henry rewarded her with imprisonment, when she supported a revolt against him by their son, also Henry. Another son, Richard I, released her. By the time she died, aged 81, she had outlived all her sons except for King John, of Magna Carta fame.

There are others reputed to have ruled for extraordinarily long periods. The pharaoh Pepi II Nerferkare, of ancient Egypt, ruled for 94 years, or 112 years, according to some clearly disputed and unverifiable accounts that have been largely dismissed.

The Persian king Shapur II, the 10th king of the Sasanian empire, was reportedly the youngest king ever, crowned in utero – the crown was placed upon his mother’s belly in 309. He went on to rule for 70 years.