A variety of titles are applied in English; for example, "king" and "queen", "prince" and "princess", "grand duke" and "grand duchess", "emperor" and "empress". 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. Roman numerals, used to distinguish related rulers with the same name,[7] have been applied where typical.
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.[6][8]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; a modern example is the throne of Malaysia.[9] These systems defy the model concept of a monarchy, but are commonly considered as such because they retain certain associative characteristics.[10] 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.[11][12]
Entries below are listed beside their respective dominions, which are organised alphabetically. These monarchs reign as head of state in their respective sovereign states. Monarchs reigning over a constituent division, cultural or traditional polity are listed under constituent monarchs. For a list of former ruling families or abolished thrones, see: former ruling families.
^Hamad bin 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.[30]
^The Belgian monarch does not automatically assume the throne at the death or abdication of their predecessor; they only become monarch upon taking a constitutional oath.
^ abOfficially the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, which is a branch of the House of Oldenburg.[42]
^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 the throne, and will rule alongside him for the duration of his reign. The king's first two wives are considered ineligible.[44][45]
^"Naruhito" 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 Naruhito's reign bears the name "Reiwa", and according to custom he will be renamed "Emperor Reiwa" following his death.[citation needed][47]
^The Japanese emperor does not have a family name.[49][50] The use of the name "Yamato" for the household derives from the ancient Yamato Court.[51] It is used often as a name for the imperial dynasty, but has no official basis.
^Succession is based upon male primogeniture. However, Naruhito currently has no male children.
^Succession is based upon primogeniture. However, the reigning king may also select his successor from among eligible princes.[54]
^Formally enthroned on 20 December 2023 upon the invitation of Parliament.[57]
^The heir is appointed by the reigning emir, and the nomination must also be approved by a majority of members in the National Assembly.[58] The throne was traditionally alternated between the two main branches of the Al Sabah family – the Al Salem and Al Jaber – until 2006.[59][60] The current emir is of the Al Jaber branch.
^Coronation took place 31 October 1997. Has previously reigned as king from 12 November 1990 until 25 January 1995.[62]
^Formally enthroned on 15 August 1990.[citation needed] Prior to his accession, Hans-Adam had served as prince regent since 26 August 1984.[64] On 15 August 2004, the prince formally appointed his son Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein as regent, in preparation for his succession to the throne, but remained head of state in accordance with the constitution.[65]
^Prior to formal enthronement, Henri had served as prince regent since 4 March 1998.[66] On 8 October 2024, the Grand Duke formally appointed his son Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg as regent, in preparation for his succession to the throne, but remained head of state in accordance with the constitution.
^Roughly translates as "Supreme Head of State", and is commonly rendered in English as "King".[68]
^Elected on 27 October 2023.[69] Term of office started on 31 January 2024.[70]
^The Yang di-Pertuan Agong 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.[71]
^Albert II was formally enthroned as prince in a two-part ceremony, in accordance with tradition, on 12 July and 19 November 2005.[73][74] He had previously served as regent from 31 March 2005 until his accession to the throne.[75]
^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.[82]
^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:[86]
^Succession is based upon male primogeniture. However, Felipe VI currently has no male children.[88]
^Vajiralongkorn was proclaimed King on 1 December 2016 with retroactive effect to the date of his father's death.[92]The coronation took place from 4 – 6 May 2019.[93][94]
^The Al Nahyan are a branch of the Al Falahi, a clan of the Yas tribe.[98]
^The Prime Minister is the head of the government. However, with the consent of the Supreme Council, the office is appointed by the President, who retains considerable power.[99]
^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.[99] However, by informal agreement the Presidency is always passed to the head of the Al Nahyan clan, the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi (see constituent monarchs), which makes it a de facto hereditary position. In addition, the appointed Prime Minister has always been the head of the Al Maktoum clan and Sheikh of Dubai.[100]
^Forty, Sandra; Millidge, Judith; Riley, Ed (2009). World Royal Families. United States: Book Sales, Inc. p. 94. ISBN978-0-7858-2530-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Garner, James Wilford (1910). Introduction to Political Science: A Treatise on the Origin, Nature, Functions, and Organization of the State. American Book Company. pp. 169–178. ISBN978-1-115-59599-5.
^Government of the United Kingdom. "The King of the Commonwealth". Official website of the British Monarchy. The Royal Household. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
^"The Belgian Monarchy"(PDF). Government of Belgium, Chancellery of the Prime Minister. p. 11. Archived from the original(PDF) on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
^Herzogliche Hauptverwaltung. "The House of Wettin". Das Herzogliche Haus Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha's Family Foundation. Archived from the original on 14 December 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^Government of Belgium. "King Philippe". The Belgian Monarchy. Federal Public Service; Chancery of the Prime Minister. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^Staff writer (15 December 2006). "Bhutanese king steps down early". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
^ abGovernment of Brunei. "Prime Minister". The Royal Ark. Office of the Prime Minister. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
^ abGovernment of Cambodia. "The Monarchy". Royal Embassy of Cambodia in the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
^Corfield, Justin J. (2009). The history of Cambodia. ABC-CLIO. p. 38. ISBN978-0-313-35722-0.
^Marwick, Brian Allan (1940). The Swazi: an ethnographic account of the natives of the Swaziland Protectorate. Cambridge University Press. pp. 5–75.
^Rubin, N.N. (28 July 2009). "The Swazi Law of Succession: A Restatement". Journal of African Law. 9 (2). Cambridge University Press: 90–113. doi:10.1017/S0021855300001108. S2CID143385608.
^Simelane, H.S. (2005), "Swaziland: Mswati III, Reign of", in Shillington, Kevin (ed.), Encyclopedia of African history, vol. 3, Fitzroy Dearborn, pp. 1528–30, 9781579584559
^Skya, Walter (2009). Japan's holy war: the ideology of radical Shintō ultranationalism. Duke University Press. p. 291. ISBN978-0-8223-4423-0.
^National Committee of Japanese Historians (1990). Historical studies in Japan. Vol. VII. Brill Publishers. p. 151. ISBN978-4-634-65040-4.
^Seagrave, Sterling; Seagrave, Peggy (2001). The Yamato Dynasty: The Secret History of Japan's Imperial Family. Broadway Books. pp. 4–10. ISBN978-0-7679-0497-1.
^Cordesman, Anthony H (2007). Gulf military forces in an era of asymmetric wars. Vol. 2. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 111. ISBN978-0-275-99250-7.: "The royal family, Al Sabah, has two branches—Al Jaber and Al Salem—and has traditionally alternated in ruling Kuwait. This tradition, however, has changed following the death of Jaber Al Sabah [1977–2006]."
^Political Risk Yearbook, 1998. Political Risk Services. 1998. p. 48. ISBN978-1-85271-371-3.: "The two branches of the Al-Sabah family, the Jabers and the Salems, have traditionally alternated their rule, one providing the emir and the other the crown prince (also serving as prime minister)."
^Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit. "The Yang di-Pertuan Agong". myGovernment. Government of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 21 December 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
^Laurenson, John (11 March 2006). "The most powerful man in Morocco". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
^Government of the Netherlands. "Orange and Nassau". The Dutch Royal House. Government Information Service. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^Government of the Netherlands. "Zijne Majesteit Koning Willem-Alexander" [His Majesty King Willem-Alexander]. The Dutch Royal House (in Dutch). Government Information Service. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
^ abGovernment of Norway. "His Majesty King Harald". Official website of the Royal House of Norway. Royal Court of Norway. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
^Cordesman, Anthony H (2009). Saudi Arabia: national security in a troubled region. ABC-CLIO. p. 9. ISBN978-0-313-38076-1. "In October 2006, King Abdullah issued a new succession law that amended the 1992 Basic Law and formalized the process by creating the Allegiance Commission. The new law both defines how a king will choose among possible candidates and provides a formal way for developing a consensus to choose the king's successor. The Allegiance Commission will select a king and crown prince upon the death or incapacitation of either. This commission expands the role of the ruling family in the selection process. ... It is composed of some 35 sons and grandsons of the late founder of the Kingdom, Abd al-Aziz al-Saud, who will vote in secret ballots on who could and could not be eligible to be future kings and crown princes."
^Government of Tonga (28 July 2008). "Geneology of King Tupou VI". Office of the Lord Chamberlain. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^ abGovernment of Tonga. "Tu'i Kanokupolu". Palace Office. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
^Shoup, John A; Maisel, Sebastian (2009). Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab States Today: A-J. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 323. ISBN978-0-313-34444-2.. "The Al Nahyan ... are a branch of the Al Bu Falah tribe of the Bani Yas confederation, and although they have been a small section of the tribe, the Al Nahyan have traditionally provided the paramount shaykh for the confederation."
^ abConstitution of the United Arab Emirates, Art. 51 & 54.
^Noack, Sascha (2007). Doing Business in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. GRIN Verlag. p. 16. ISBN978-3-638-79766-5.