Longest Reigning Monarchs: Who’s the longest-reigning monarch in history?

The United Kingdom is commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee this week, marking her 70th year on the throne. When her father, King George VI, died in 1952, she ascended to the throne at the age of 25.

Given her longevity among all royals worldwide, the Platinum Jubilee becomes even more significant. In contemporary history, Queen Elizabeth is the world’s third longest-reigning monarch. She is only two years away from being Europe’s longest-reigning monarch.

The current record-holder for the longest-reigning king is French King Louis XIV, who ruled as an absolute monarch from 1643 to 1715, commencing when he was only four years old.

Based in Versailles, he fought three wars and was a devoted patron of the arts, sponsoring artists such as Molière during an era known as “Le Grand Siècle,” or “the Great Century.”

The next longest-reigning monarch after Louis XIV is Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), who ruled for over 70 years from 1946 until he died in 2016.

Another remarkable long-reigning monarch was Franz Joseph I. From 1848 to 1916, he controlled Austria for almost 68 years, dying in the middle of World War I. During his reign, Austria and Hungary united to form a single empire, and he served as Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.