Reign: Meaning, Regnal Years and Numbers, and the Longest Reigns
What 'reign' means, how reigns are dated and numbered (regnal years, regnal numbers and era names), the longest and shortest reigns, and the common mix-up between reign and rein.
Last updated September 2026
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A reign is the time a monarch spends on the throne. The word is simple, but counting and naming reigns has its own rules. Reigns give their names to eras.
They set the dates of old laws. They decide whether a king is "the first" or "the second". This page explains what reign means and how reigns are measured and numbered. It also shows which reigns were the longest and shortest.
TL;DR: A reign is the period during which a monarch holds the throne. Reigns are dated by regnal years, and monarchs of the same name get regnal numbers, such as Charles III. Japan names each reign's era, such as Reiwa since 2019. The longest verified reign of a sovereign state's monarch is Louis XIV's, at 72 years and 110 days.
What reign means
The Cambridge Dictionary defines a reign as the period of time when a king or queen rules a country. As a verb, to reign means to be the king or queen of a country. Merriam-Webster adds the wider sense of royal authority or dominion.
The word comes from the Latin regnum, "kingdom" or "royal power", from rex, "king". It reached English through Old French.
Reign or rule
"The king reigns but does not govern".
Status: Reviewed The distinction is standard in constitutional law.
Note: In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch reigns but elected ministers rule. The UK Royal Family website describes the Sovereign as Head of State. The power to make and pass laws rests with an elected Parliament. The difference between reigning and ruling is the core idea of the ceremonial monarch.
Sources: Cambridge Dictionary, "reign"; The Royal Family, "The role of the Monarchy".
When a reign begins
A reign begins at accession, not at the coronation. In the UK the heir becomes monarch the moment the previous monarch dies. Charles III's reign began on 8 September 2022, although his coronation took place on 6 May 2023.
Other monarchies mark the start differently. Japan holds an enthronement ceremony; Emperor Naruhito's took place on 22 October 2019, months after his accession on 1 May. The Netherlands holds an inauguration rather than a coronation. Among European monarchies, only the United Kingdom still crowns its monarch.
How reigns are dated
Regnal years
A regnal year counts from the anniversary of the monarch's accession. For centuries, English and British Acts of Parliament were cited by regnal year.
The Life Peerages Act 1958, for example, still carries the citation "6 & 7 Eliz. 2 c. 21". It means the Act was passed in the session that spanned the sixth and seventh years of Elizabeth II's reign. The Acts of Parliament Numbering and Citation Act 1962 switched new Acts to calendar years.
Regnal numbers
Monarchs with the same name are numbered in order: Henry VIII, Louis XIV, Charles III. The first of a name is often not numbered until a second one appears. Queen Victoria was never "Victoria I", because no second Victoria has reigned.
Numbering can be disputed. Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952. Some Scots objected to the "II". Elizabeth I had ruled England, but not Scotland. The case is covered on the Elizabeth monarchy page.
Era names
Japan names each reign. When Emperor Naruhito came to the throne on 1 May 2019, the era became Reiwa. The Japanese government announced the name on 1 April 2019. Dates in Japan are often given in the form "Reiwa 7" for 2025. Imperial China used era names too, sometimes several per reign.
| Dating system | How it works | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Regnal year | Counts years from the monarch's accession | "6 & 7 Eliz. 2" for an Act of 1958 |
| Regnal number | Separates monarchs of the same name | Charles III |
| Era name | Names a reign or part of one | Reiwa (Japan, from 2019) |
| Calendar year | Standard dating, used for most modern records | 2022- |
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The longest reigns
| Monarch | Country | Reign | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louis XIV | France | 1643-1715 | 72 years, 110 days |
| Elizabeth II | United Kingdom and realms | 1952-2022 | 70 years, 214 days |
| Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) | Thailand | 1946-2016 | 70 years, 126 days |
| Johann II | Liechtenstein | 1858-1929 | 70 years, 91 days |
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Claims of longer reigns
Reigns longer than Louis XIV's.
Status: Disputed Ancient claims cannot be verified.
Note: Some ancient rulers are credited with longer reigns. The Egyptian pharaoh Pepi II is often said to have reigned for 90 years or more. But Egyptologists dispute the figure. The sources are late and incomplete. Lists of longest reigns therefore usually start with Louis XIV, whose dates are fully documented.
Sources: Britannica, "Louis XIV"; Britannica, "Pepi II".
The shortest reigns
Very short reigns usually come from death, deposition or a disputed claim. In England, the shortest counted reign since 1066 is Edward V's, about eleven weeks in 1483. Lady Jane Grey's nine days in 1553 were shorter but are usually not counted.
The details are on the shortest reigning English monarch page. France has a case measured in minutes. In 1830, Louis XIX is said to have been king for about twenty minutes. That was the gap between his father's abdication and his own.
Reign in everyday English
"Reign" is also used outside royalty. A champion can reign over a sport. A time of fear can be a "reign of terror". That name was first given to the violent phase of the French Revolution in 1793-1794.
A common mistake is "free reign". The correct phrase is "free rein", from riding: loosening the reins lets a horse move as it likes. "Reign", "rein" and "rain" sound the same but mean different things.
Two of the longest reigns have full biographies in our guide to the best books about the royal family. They are the lives of Victoria and Elizabeth II.
Verdict: what a reign is
A reign is the period during which a monarch holds the throne, and the verb means to hold that office. Reigns are dated in regnal years, monarchs are told apart by regnal numbers, and Japan still names eras after its emperors. Louis XIV holds the longest verified reign of a sovereign state's monarch, at 72 years. For every English and British reign in order, see the English monarchs list. For monarchy as a whole, see the monarchy hub.
Sources checked for this page
- Cambridge Dictionary, "reign"
- Merriam-Webster, "reign"
- Legislation.gov.uk, Acts of Parliament Numbering and Citation Act 1962
- Legislation.gov.uk, Life Peerages Act 1958
- Prime Minister's Office of Japan, "On the New Era Name 'Reiwa'"
- Britannica, "Louis XIV"
Questions people also ask
What does reign mean?
As a noun, the period during which a monarch rules. As a verb, to hold office as a monarch. It is also used loosely for any period of dominance, as in 'a reign of terror'.
What is the difference between reign and rule?
To reign is to hold the office of monarch. To rule is to exercise power. A constitutional monarch reigns but does not rule, because elected ministers govern.
Is it 'free reign' or 'free rein'?
The correct phrase is 'free rein', from loosening the reins on a horse. 'Free reign' is a common mistake.
Who had the longest reign in history?
Among monarchs of sovereign states with verified dates, Louis XIV of France, at 72 years and 110 days, from 1643 to 1715.
Does a reign start at the coronation?
No. In the UK a reign starts at the moment of accession, when the previous monarch dies or abdicates. The coronation can follow many months later.
What is a regnal number?
The number that separates monarchs with the same name, such as the III in Charles III. The first monarch of a name is usually not numbered until a second one reigns.
What does interregnum mean?
A period between two reigns when there is no monarch. In England it refers especially to 1649-1660, between the execution of Charles I and the return of Charles II.