The Queen has famously said that ‘inevitably a long life can pass many milestones’ and now she has achieved another of her own. Elizabeth II has just become the fourth longest reigning monarch in recorded history.
The Queen’s reign has now overtaken that of Pacal I, ruler of the Maya city state of Palenque, who held power for 68 years and 33 days in the 7th century. Elizabeth II passed that milestone on March 11th 2020.
It’s the second time the Queen has moved up the list of record breaking rules this year. Earlier in 2020, her reign overtook that of Franz Joseph I, Austro-Hungarian Emperor, whose tenure lasted 67 years and 355 days.
She is set to become the third longest reigning monarch in recorded history in 2022. Currently, it’s Johan II of Liechtenstein, who ruled for 70 years and 91 days. Second on the list is King Rama IX of Thailand whose reign spanned 70 years and 126 days.
The longest verified reign in history is that of King Louis XIV of France who took the throne on May 14th 1643, at the age of four, and held it until his death on September 1st 1715, a total of 72 years and 110 days. The Queen will overtake that in 2024.
Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6th 1952 at the age of 25. She became the longest reigning monarch in British history on September 9th 2015 and she is also the country’s longest lived monarch.
