# The Long Reign **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-reign/576973 "2011-04-02T20:55:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-reign/576973/1 "2011-04-02T20:55:40Z")
Queen Elizabeth II has been on the thrown for over 59 years. Who in history has reigned the longest? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-reign/576973/2 "2011-04-02T21:01:44Z")
Hate to spoil your fun [so quickly](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest_reigning_monarchs_of_all_time). ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-reign/576973/3 "2011-04-02T21:03:49Z")
Here’s a list of the longest reigning monarchs of all time: > **[List of longest-reigning monarchs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest_reigning_monarchs_of_all_time)** > > This is a list of the longest-reigning monarchs of all time, detailing the monarchs and lifelong leaders who have reigned the longest in world history, ranked by length of reign. > The following are the 25 longest-reigning monarchs of states who were internationally recognized as sovereign for most or all of their reign. Byzantine emperors Constantine VIII and Basil II, reigning for 66 years in total (962–1028) and for 65 years in total (960–1025) respectively, are not included, because for part... Queen Elizabeth is quite a ways down on that list. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-reign/576973/4 "2011-04-02T21:19:40Z")
I knew that she wouldn’t have the longest reign, but it looks like she barely made the top 90. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-reign/576973/5 "2011-04-02T21:46:34Z")
She’s second among current monarchs, so there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-reign/576973/6 "2011-04-02T21:47:13Z")
Looking at that list, it kinda confirmed my suspicion that in terms of _confirmed_ reigns and monarchs of _major_ powers, Louis XIV is likely top of the heap. Everybody before him are either uncomfirmed or small fry. Jangsu might be the only potential exception, depending on whether you want to consider Goguryeo a major regional power during his reign or not. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-reign/576973/7 "2011-04-02T23:27:24Z")
If Liz lives as long as her mum her reign will be 86 years, which would put her in first place aside from ancient and unreliable history. ETA Wait, that’s not right. I added ten years in there somehow. 76 years is still pretty impressive though. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-reign/576973/8 "2011-04-03T16:58:19Z")
I agree with **Tamerlane** ; in my mind Louis Quatorze is the one to beat.