Danish queen abdicates: Which monarchs remained on the throne the longest?

The Queen of Denmark abdicated
The last queen of Europe
Endless reigns
Louis XIV (France, 72 years from 1643 to 1715)
Elizabeth II (United Kingdom, 70 years from 1952 to 2022)
Rama IX (Thailand, 70 years from 1946 to 2016)
Johann II (Liechtenstein, 70 years from 1858 to 1929)
Franz Joseph I (Austria, 67 years from 1848 to 1916)
Victoria (United Kingdom, 63 years from 1837 to 1901)
Hirohito (Japan, 62 years from 1926 to 1989)
Kangxi (China, 61 years from 1661 to 1722)
Qianlong (China, 60 years from 1735 to 1796)
Christian IV (Denmark, 59 years from 1588 to 1648)
Hassanal Bolkiah (Brunei, 56 years since 1967)
Moulay Ismaïl (Morocco, 55 years from 1672 to 1727)
Frederick III (Holy Roman Empire, 53 years from 1440 to 1493)
Louis XV (France, 51 years old from 1715 to 1774)
Carl XVI Gustaf (Sweden, 50 years since 1973)
Qaboos ibn Saïd (Oman, 49 years from 1970 to 2020)
Malietoa Tanumafili II (Samoa, 45 years from 1962 to 2007)
Elizabeth I (England, 44 years from 1558 to 1603)
Francis I (Holy Roman Empire/Austria, 42 years from 1792 to 1835)
The Queen of Denmark abdicated

Aged 83 and suffering from several health problems, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicates at the start of 2024. Her son Frederik succeeds her.

The last queen of Europe

Crowned in 1972, the last queen of Europe reigned for more than half a century. This woman with an original personality herself created the illustrations for the Danish edition of 'Lord of the Rings' in the 1970s.

Endless reigns

But her reign was not as long as that of Elizabeth II of England, who died in September 2022 after 70 years on the throne. Discover in pictures our selection of monarchs with endless reigns!

Louis XIV (France, 72 years from 1643 to 1715)

Although he did not really exercise power until he came of age, the Sun King officially reigned for 72 years, from the age of 5 to his death in 1715. It was a period of magnificence for the Court of Versailles and military successes for France.

Elizabeth II (United Kingdom, 70 years from 1952 to 2022)

Louis XIV is closely followed by Elizabeth II, who has single-handedly embodied an entire piece of British history, from the post-war years to Brexit, and has seen countless successive governments at the helm of the country.

Rama IX (Thailand, 70 years from 1946 to 2016)

This longevity was also achieved by Rama IX, real name Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was king of Thailand for exactly 70 years, from 1946 to his death in 2016.

Johann II (Liechtenstein, 70 years from 1858 to 1929)

For seven decades, Johann II was the prince of Liechtenstein, from 1858 to 1929. A feat to be saluted, even if he is not a monarch strictly speaking.

Franz Joseph I (Austria, 67 years from 1848 to 1916)

In the same region, his contemporary Franz Joseph I was Emperor of Austria for 67 years. It embodies an entire section of national history, from the “spring of the peoples” of 1848 to the disastrous First World War.

Victoria (United Kingdom, 63 years from 1837 to 1901)

The 19th century was also marked by the very long reign of Victoria, in the United Kingdom, from 1837 to 1901. Nicknamed the "grandmother of Europe" as she coincided with the ascendant of the main monarchs of the continent, Victoria is also associated with the apotheosis of British power.

Hirohito (Japan, 62 years from 1926 to 1989)

Emperor of Japan during the period of Asian conquest which culminated in World War II, Hirohito managed to remain on the throne for 62 years, until his death in 1989.

Kangxi (China, 61 years from 1661 to 1722)

In China, Emperor Kangxi, the third of the Qing dynasty, reigned the longest in the Middle Kingdom (61 years), from 1661 to 1722.

Qianlong (China, 60 years from 1735 to 1796)

A dozen years after Kangxi's death, Qianlong, the sixth emperor of the same dynasty, began a 60-year reign that ended only at the end of the 18th century.

Christian IV (Denmark, 59 years from 1588 to 1648)

King of Denmark and Norway, Christian IV reigned for 59 years, from 1588 to 1648. This ambitious and polyglot reformer contributed to the expansion of his country, skillfully taking advantage of the Thirty Years' War that ravaged Germany.

Hassanal Bolkiah (Brunei, 56 years since 1967)

Crowned in 1967, Hassanal Bolkiah has been the Sultan of Brunei for 56 years, a country that became fully independent from the United Kingdom in 1984. Both a political and religious leader, he is currently the longest-serving head of state in the world.

Moulay Ismaïl (Morocco, 55 years from 1672 to 1727)

The best-known representative of the Alaouite dynasty, Moulay Ismaïl was sultan of Morocco for 55 years, from 1672 to 1727. How power is often compared to that of Louis IV.

Frederick III (Holy Roman Empire, 53 years from 1440 to 1493)

From the House of Habsburg, Frederick III was 'King of the Romans' from 1440 (the title granted to the elected emperors of the Holy Roman Empire before they acceded to the throne), then crowned emperor by the pope in 1453.

Louis XV (France, 51 years old from 1715 to 1774)

Successor and great-grandson of Louis XIV, Louis XV ascended the throne after a period of regency from 1715 to 1723. His reign of more than half a century is the second longest in French history.

Carl XVI Gustaf (Sweden, 50 years since 1973)

The longevity of Margrethe II of Denmark could be surpassed by her Swedish neighbor, King Carl XVI Gustaf, who celebrated 50 years as the head of the kingdom in 2023. His reign was marked by the reduction of the monarch's responsibilities to an essentially symbolic role.

Qaboos ibn Saïd (Oman, 49 years from 1970 to 2020)

In the Sultanate of Oman, Qaboos ibn Said reigned for a little less than 50 years, from 1970 to his death in January 2020. Divorced, without children, and not very repressive on the choice of religion and sexual orientation, this modernizer has long stood out among the monarchs of the Middle East.

Malietoa Tanumafili II (Samoa, 45 years from 1962 to 2007)

In the Samoa Islands in the Pacific Ocean, Malietoa Tanumafili II was the traditional ruler of the state for 45 years, from 1962 to 2007. He was a member of the Baha'i Faith, a monotheism that advocates the spiritual unity of humanity.

Elizabeth I (England, 44 years from 1558 to 1603)

Four centuries before the second queen with the same name, Elizabeth I also had a very long reign (44 years), from 1558 to 1603. The so-called 'Elizabethan' period was that of renewed political stability, conducive to the development of the kingdom of England.

Francis I (Holy Roman Empire/Austria, 42 years from 1792 to 1835)

The last emperor (under the name Francis II) of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1792 to its dissolution in 1806, and emperor of Austria from 1804 to 1835, Francis I led his state during the Napoleonic Wars before leading it to the summit of its power under the influence of the diplomat Metternich.

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