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List of current monarchs of sovereign states

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For former monarchs, see List of monarchs.

This is a list of currently reigning sovereign monarchs, listed beside their respective dominions. These monarchs reign as head of state in their respective sovereign states. For monarchs reigning over a constituent division, cultural or traditional polity, see constituent monarchs. The list below is organised alphabetically by region and state.

A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled by an individual who normally rules for life or until abdication, and typically inherits the throne by birth. Monarchs may be autocrats (as in many absolute monarchies) or may be ceremonial figureheads who exercise only reserve power, with actual authority vested in a parliament or other governing body (as in a constitutional monarchy).[1]

Most states only have a single monarch at any given time, although a regent may rule when the monarch is a minor, not present, or otherwise incapable of ruling.[2] Cases in which two monarchs rule simultaneously over a single state, as is the current situation in Andorra, are known as dyarchies.[3]

Monarchs are distinguished by their titles and styles, which in most cases are defined by tradition, and guaranteed under the state's constitution. A variety of titles are applied in English; for example, king and queen, prince and princess, emperor and empress, etcetera. Although they will be addressed differently in their local languages, the names and titles in the list below have been styled using the common English equivalent. In the same way, while the European practice of using distinguishing Roman numerals for rulers has been applied below where typical, in most cases these are not actually used according to local custom.

In political and sociocultural studies, monarchies are normally associated with hereditary rule; most monarchs, in both historical and contemporary contexts, have been born and raised within a royal family. Succession has been defined using a variety of distinct formulae, such as proximity of blood, primogeniture, and agnatic seniority. Some monarchies, however, are not hereditary, and the ruler is instead determined through an elective process. Modern examples include the throne of Malaysia, and the throne of the Vatican City. These systems defy the model concept of a monarchy, but are commonly considered as such because they retain certain associative characteristics. Many systems use a combination of hereditary and elective elements, where the election or nomination of a successor is restricted to members of a royal bloodline.

In recent centuries, a large number of monarchies have been deposed or abolished, with the states transitioning into republics. For current claimants to abolished thrones, see pretenders.

African monarchs

Further information: Monarchies in Africa
State Monarch Since House Type Succession Standard Refs
 Lesotho King Letsie III 7 February 1996 [fn 1] Moshesh [fn 2] Constitutional Hereditary and Elective [4]
 Morocco King Mohammed VI 23 July 1999 [fn 3] Alawi Constitutional Hereditary [5]
 Swaziland King Mswati III 25 April 1986 Dlamini Absolute Hereditary and Elective [fn 4] File:Royal Flag of Swaziland.png [6]

American monarchs

Further information: Monarchies in the Americas
State Monarch Since House Type Succession Standard Refs
 Antigua and Barbuda Queen Elizabeth II [fn 5] 1 November 1981 [fn 6] Windsor [fn 7] Constitutional Hereditary [7]
 Bahamas Queen 10 July 1973 [fn 6]
 Barbados Queen 30 November 1966 [fn 6]
 Belize Queen 21 September 1981 [fn 6]
 Canada Queen 6 February 1952
 Grenada Queen 7 February 1974 [fn 6]
 Jamaica Queen 6 August 1962 [fn 6]
 Saint Kitts and Nevis Queen 19 September 1983 [fn 6]
 Saint Lucia Queen 22 February 1979 [fn 6]
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Queen 27 October 1979 [fn 6]

Asian monarchs

Further information: Monarchies in Asia
State Monarch Since House Type Succession Standard Refs
 Bahrain King Hamad ibn Isa 6 March 1999 [fn 8] Al Khalifah [fn 9] Mixed Hereditary [8]
 Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel 14 December 2006 [fn 10] Wangchuck Constitutional Hereditary [9]
 Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah 4 October 1967 [fn 11] Bolkiah Absolute Hereditary [10]
 Cambodia King Norodom Sihamoni 14 October 2004 [fn 12] Norodom [fn 13] Constitutional Hereditary and Elective [fn 14] [11]
 Japan Emperor Akihito [fn 15] 7 January 1989 [fn 16] Yamato [fn 17] Constitutional Hereditary [12]
 Jordan King Abdullah II 7 February 1999 [fn 18] Hāshim [fn 19] Constitutional Hereditary [fn 20] [13]
 Kuwait Emir Sabah al-Ahmad 29 January 2006 Al Sabah [fn 9] Mixed Hereditary and Elective [fn 21] [14]
 Malaysia King Mizan Zainal Abidin [fn 22] 13 December 2006 [fn 23] Terengganu [fn 24] Constitutional Elective and Hereditary [fn 25] [15]
 Oman Sultan Qaboos bin Said 23 July 1970 Al Bu Sa‘id Absolute [fn 26] Hereditary [16]
 Qatar Emir Hamad bin Khalifa 27 June 1995 Al Thani [fn 27] Absolute [fn 26] Hereditary [17]
 Saudi Arabia King Abdullah bin Abdul‘aziz 1 August 2005 [fn 28] Al Saud [fn 29] Absolute Hereditary and Elective [fn 30] [18]
 Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej [fn 31] 9 June 1946 [fn 32] Chakri Constitutional Hereditary [19]
 United Arab Emirates President Khalifa bin Zayed 3 November 2004 Al Nahyan [fn 33] Constitutional [fn 34] Elective and Hereditary [fn 35] [20]

European monarchs

Further information: Monarchies in Europe
State Monarch Since House Type Succession Standard Refs
 Andorra Co-Prince Joan Enric Vives Sicília 12 May 2003 N/A Constitutional Ex officio N/A [21]
Nicolas Sarkozy 16 May 2007
 Belgium King Albert II 9 August 1993 Saxe-Coburg and Gotha [fn 36] Constitutional Hereditary [22]
 Denmark Queen Margrethe II 14 January 1972 Glücksburg [fn 37] Constitutional Hereditary [23]
 Liechtenstein Prince Hans-Adam II 13 November 1989 [fn 38] Liechtenstein Constitutional Hereditary [24]
 Luxembourg Grand Duke Henri 7 October 2000 [fn 39] Nassau-Weilburg [fn 40] Constitutional Hereditary [25]
 Monaco Prince Albert II 6 April 2005 [fn 41] Grimaldi Constitutional Hereditary [26]
 Netherlands Queen Beatrix 30 April 1980 Orange-Nassau [fn 42] Constitutional Hereditary [27]
 Norway King Harald V 17 January 1991 [fn 43] Glücksburg [fn 37] Constitutional Hereditary [28]
 Spain King Juan Carlos I 22 November 1975 [fn 44] Bourbon Constitutional Hereditary [29]
 Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf 15 September 1973 [fn 45] Bernadotte Constitutional Hereditary [30]
 United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth II [fn 5] 6 February 1952 [fn 46] Windsor [fn 7] Constitutional Hereditary
[7]
 Vatican City Pope Benedict XVI [fn 47] 19 April 2005 [fn 48] N/A Absolute Ex officio [31]

Oceanian monarchs

Further information: Monarchies in Oceania
State Monarch Since House Type Succession Standard Refs
 Australia Queen Elizabeth II [fn 5] 6 February 1952 Windsor [fn 7] Constitutional Hereditary [7]
 New Zealand Queen 6 February 1952 File:Royal Standard of New Zealand.svg
 Papua New Guinea Queen 16 September 1975 [fn 49]
 Solomon Islands Queen 7 July 1978 [fn 6]
 Tonga King Siaosi Tupou V 11 September 2006 [fn 50] Tupou [fn 51] Constitutional Hereditary [32]
 Tuvalu Queen Elizabeth II [fn 5] 1 October 1978 [fn 6] Windsor [fn 7] Constitutional Hereditary [7]

Constituent monarchs

Main article: List of current constituent monarchs

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Coronation took place 31 October 1997. Has previously reigned as king from 12 November 1990 until 25 January 1995.
  2. ^ A clan of the Basotho. The name is styled after Moshoeshoe I (often spelled "Moshweshwe"), a descendant of the Bakwêna tribe.
  3. ^ Coronation took place 30 July 1999.
  4. ^ Succession is subject to customary law, and does not follow primogeniture. A council of elders selects who among the reigning king's wives will be mother of the next king. This woman will succeed as Ndlovukati upon her son's ascension to throne, and will rule alongside him for the duration of his reign. The king's first two wives are considered ineligible.
  5. ^ a b c d Elizabeth II is currently queen regnant of sixteen separate Commonwealth realms, and has previously reigned as queen of sixteen other countries, which are now republics (see separate entries).
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Elizabeth II previously reigned over this country as Queen of the United Kingdom, from 6 February 1952 until the nation's independence and the creation of a separate crown.
  7. ^ a b c d The House of Windsor is a line of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which itself is a branch of the House of Wettin. "Windsor" is the official name adopted by the royal family of the United Kingdom since 1917.
  8. ^ Hamad ibn Isa reigned as Amir of the State of Bahrain until 14 February 2002, when he assumed the new title of King of Bahrain under a new Constitution.
  9. ^ a b A clan of the Utbah tribe.
  10. ^ Coronation took place 6 November 2008.
  11. ^ Coronation took place 1 August 1968.
  12. ^ Coronation took place 29 October 2004.
  13. ^ A branch of the Varman dynasty.
  14. ^ The king is selected for life by the Royal Council of the Throne from amongst the male descendants of kings Ang Duong, Norodom, and Sisowath.
  15. ^ "Akihito" is the current emperor's given name, but it is not his regnal name, and he is never referred to as this in Japanese. The era of Akihito's reign bears the name "Heisei", and according to custom he will be renamed "Emperor Heisei" following his death.
  16. ^ Coronation took place 12 November 1990.
  17. ^ The name "Yamato" comes from the Yamato Court (the Imperial House of Japan) that existed in Japan in the 4th Century. It was originally the name of the region where the Yamato people first settled in modern Nara Prefecture.
  18. ^ Formally enthroned on 9 June 1999.
  19. ^ A clan of the Quraysh tribe.
  20. ^ Succession is not based upon primogeniture. The reigning king selects who will be his successor.
  21. ^ The heir is appointed by the reigning emir, and the nomination must also be approved by a majority of members in the National Assembly. The throne is also traditionally alternated between the two main branches of the Al Sabah family: the Al Salem and Al Jaber. The current emir is of the Al Jaber branch.
  22. ^ Official title: Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It is commonly rendered in English as "King".
  23. ^ Coronation took place 26 April 2007. Mizan has previously served as regent from 8 October to 21 November 2001, thereafter reigning as acting Yang di-Pertuan Agong until 13 December 2001.
  24. ^ The present Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the Sultan of Terengganu (see constituent monarchs), whose ruling line is the Bendahara dynasty.
  25. ^ The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme Head of State) is elected to a five-year term by and from amongst the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states, who form the Council of Rulers. The position has to date been, by informal agreement, systematically rotated between the nine; the order was originally based on seniority.
  26. ^ a b Monarchy is constitutional by law, but remains absolute in practice.
  27. ^ A clan of the Tamim tribe.
  28. ^ Coronation took place 2 August 2005. Abdullah previously served as prince regent from 1 January 1996 until 21 February 1996.
  29. ^ A clan descended from the Hanifa tribe.
  30. ^ Succession is determined by consensus within the House of Saud as to who will be Crown Prince. This consensus may change depending on the Crown Prince's actions.
  31. ^ Name is also written as Phumiphon Adunyadet. He is also styled Rama IX, and is publicly acclaimed "the Great". Thais refer to him as "Nai Luang" or "Phra Chao Yu Hua".
  32. ^ Coronation took place 5 May 1950.
  33. ^ The Al Nahyan are a branch of the Al Falahi, a clan of the Yas tribe.
  34. ^ The Prime Minister is the head of the government. However, the position—whilst elective—can only be held by one of the reigning monarchs of the seven constituent emirates (see constituent monarchs).
  35. ^ According to the Constitution, the President of the United Arab Emirates is elected by the Federal Supreme Council from among the individual rulers of the seven emirates. However, by informal agreement the Presidency is always passed to the head of the Al Nahyan clan, the Emir of Abu Dhabi, which makes it a de facto hereditary position. In addition, the elected Prime Minister has always been the head of the Al Maktoum clan and Emir of Dubai.
  36. ^ A branch of the House of Wettin.
  37. ^ a b Officially the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, which is a branch of the House of Oldenburg.
  38. ^ Formally enthroned on 15 August 1990. Prior to his accession, Hans-Adam had served as prince regent since 26 August 1984.
  39. ^ Prior to formal enthronement, Henri had served as prince regent since 3 March 1998.
  40. ^ The royal family of Luxembourg is descended from the House of Nassau and the Parma branch of the House of Bourbon.
  41. ^ Albert II was formally enthroned as prince in a two-part ceremony, in accordance with tradition, on 12 July and 19 November 2005.
  42. ^ The Dutch royal family is descended from the Houses of Nassau and Lippe.
  43. ^ Formally enthroned on 21 January 1991, and consecrated on 23 June 1991. Prior to his accession, Harald had served as prince regent since 1 June 1990.
  44. ^ Formally enthroned on 27 November 1975.
  45. ^ Formally enthroned on 19 September 1973.
  46. ^ Coronation took place 2 June 1953.
  47. ^ As Sovereign of the Vatican City. The Pope's primary office is that of Bishop of Rome and, as such, spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church in the Christian religion.
  48. ^ Inauguration took place 24 April 2005.
  49. ^ Elizabeth II previously reigned over Papua New Guinea as Queen of Australia, from 6 February 1952 until the nation's independence and the creation of a separate crown.
  50. ^ Coronation took place 31 July 2008.
  51. ^ A line of the Tuʻi Kanokupolu dynasty.

References

  1. ^ American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. "Monarch". The Free Dictionary. Farlex, Inc. Retrieved 2010-09-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. "Regent". The Free Dictionary. Farlex, Inc. Retrieved 2010-09-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Hindley, Geoffrey (2000). The royal families of Europe. London: Constable & Robinson. p. 6. ISBN 9780786708284.
  4. ^ "His Majesty King Letsie III". The Lesotho Monarchy. Government of Lesotho. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  5. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "Morocco". The Royal Ark. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  6. ^ Soszynski, Henry. "Swaziland". Genealogical Gleanings. University of Queensland. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  7. ^ a b c d "Official website of the British Monarchy". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  8. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "Bahrain". The Royal Ark. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  9. ^ Soszynski, Henry. "Bhutan". Genealogical Gleanings. University of Queensland. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  10. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "Brunei". The Royal Ark. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  11. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "Cambodia". The Royal Ark. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  12. ^ "Imperial Household Agency". Government of Japan, Imperial Household Agency. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  13. ^ "Abdullah II Official Website". Government of Jordan. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  14. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "Kuwait". The Royal Ark. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  15. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "Malaysia". The Royal Ark. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  16. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "Oman". The Royal Ark. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  17. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "Qatar". The Royal Ark. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  18. ^ Frontline (August 2005). "The House of Saud". Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  19. ^ "The Illustrious Chakri Family". Mahidol University. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  20. ^ Soszynski, Henry. "United Arab Emirates". Genealogical Gleanings. University of Queensland. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  21. ^ Template:Ca icon "Govern d'Andorra". Government of Andorra. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  22. ^ "The Belgian Monarchy". Government of Belgium. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  23. ^ "The Danish Monarchy". Government of Denmark. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  24. ^ "Portal of the Principality of Liechtenstein". Government of Liechtenstein. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  25. ^ Template:Lb icon "Grand Duke Henri". Government of Luxembourg, Press and Information Service. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  26. ^ "The House of Grimaldi". Infinite Public Relations. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  27. ^ "The Dutch Royal House". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  28. ^ "Official website of the Royal House of Norway". Government of Norway. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  29. ^ "The Royal Household of His Majesty the King". Government of Spain. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  30. ^ Template:Sv icon "Sveriges Kungahus". Government of Sweden. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  31. ^ "The Holy Father: Benedict XVI". Holy See. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  32. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "The Tupou Dynasty". The Royal Ark. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
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