Do You Know the World’s Longest-Serving Monarchs?

Bhumibol Adulyadej was king of Thailand for more than 70 years, until his death in 2016 at age 88. A constitutional monarch, Adulyadej had little official power, but helped restore the prestige of the monarchy with frequent public appearances. He mediated disputes during decades of upheaval and military dictatorships. Then, in the 1990s, he helped usher in a new democratic era for the Thai people.

K'inich Janaab' Pakal was king of the Maya city-state of Palenque, in modern-day southern Mexico, for 68 years, from the age of 12 until his death in 683 BCE. He greatly expanded Palenque’s power, and made the city into an awe-inspiring site, building ball courts, a palace, and a series of temples, including the massive Temple of the Inscriptions, a Maya burial pyramid.

Pedro II inherited the throne in 1831 at age five, and was crowned emperor 10 years later. His early reign was incredibly popular. He strengthened Brazil’s economy, supported progressive reforms, and increased civil rights. But clashes with the military and internal disputes over the abolition of slavery weakened his power, and Pedro was forced to abdicate after 49 years, during a coup in 1889.

Johann became prince of the microstate of Liechtenstein (located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland) in 1858, and reigned for over 70 years. Johan was extremely shy, never married, and avoided the social occasions and pomp and circumstance favored by many of his fellow rulers. But he was a noted patron of the arts and introduced Lichtenstein’s first constitution in 1862.

Russia’s first czar, Ivan IV, was also its longest-ruling. Ivan inherited the throne in 1533 at age three, and his difficult upbringing in the ruthless Russian court left deep psychological wounds. Ivan centralized the Russian state and conquered vast territory from neighboring states. But the final years of his five-decade reign were marked by a violent purge of the Russian nobility.

Hirohito came to the throne in 1926 and ruled for 62 years during the most tumultuous era in modern Japanese history. Historians remain divided on the role played by Hirohito in Japan’s aggressive military expansion and during World War II. Following Japan’s surrender in 1945, Hirohito was stripped of most of his powers when Japan became a constitutional monarchy, but he remained on the throne until his death in 1989.

James VI became king of Scotland in 1567 at age one, after the abdication of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots. When his cousin Elizabeth I died childless in 1603, the English throne passed to James, and he became James I of England. He continued to serve as king of Scotland, which he ruled for a total of 57 years, longer than any Scottish monarch. Though James struggled to reconcile religious differences within his realm, he also commissioned the King James Bible and encouraged a flourishing of art and literature.

Franz Joseph I became emperor of Austria in 1848 at age 18, ruling a vast swath of central Europe for 68 years. In 1867, to appease Hungarian pressure for greater autonomy, he created the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, which he led until 1916. Franz Joseph’s harsh response to the assassination of his nephew and heir Franz Ferdinand precipitated World War I, and the collapse of the empire in 1918.

Louis XIV spent 72 years and 110 days on the French throne until his death in 1715, making him the current record-holder for the longest-serving French monarch in history. Ruling as an “absolute” monarch, Louis was deeply involved in foreign affairs and transformed France’s military and economic systems. During his long reign, the royal court at Versailles became the envy of Europe, and France became a cultural powerhouse.

Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. In 2015, she surpassed her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria (who ruled for 63 years), as Britain’s longest-ruling monarch. In 2022, Elizabeth celebrated her Platinum Jubilee; during her 70 years on the throne, she’s had 14 prime ministers and met 13 of the last 14 U.S. Presidents.