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 October 2026
Contents7
Regnal-year converter
Choose a monarch and numbered year. Leave day and month blank for the date range; the English calendar of the time is used unless you change it.
Your date
Enter your inputs to see a sourced result.
All 44 listed reigns have a published numbering rule. English numbering is used; Scottish dates need a different table. Charles II’s numbered years for his restored reign begin at 12 and Henry VI’s restored reign is year 49. The source notes explain differing dates. England omitted 3–13 September 1752. Read the numbered years and sources.
Coverage: England after the Norman accession, then Great Britain (1707) and the United Kingdom (1801). The personal union of 1603 does not merge Scottish numbering into the English rule. Records last checked 28 September 2026. Interregnum is a gap. Harold II and disputed claimants in 1066, 1141 and 1553 are labelled separately in year results; they do not enter the 44-row duration dataset. Read the dates, disagreements and omissions.
Numbering rules and exceptions
Published date ranges include both the first and last dates. The converter follows these numbered years, rather than assuming they begin at accession. Year 5 was Charles III’s current numbered year when these records were checked on 28 September 2026; the table shows its full annual dates. John’s years begin on Ascension Day, 39 days after Easter Sunday in the Julian calendar. Because this feast moves, a long numbered year can contain the same day and month twice; both possible dates are shown. England made 1 January the legal New Year in 1752 and followed 2 September Julian with 14 September Gregorian, skipping 3–13 September. George II’s rules below explain the dates across that change.
The University of Victoria’s Map of Early Modern London website publishes a table based on C. R. Cheney’s historical date handbook. Wallis refers to J. E. W. Wallis’s 1930 book, English Regnal Years and Titles. Their notes and the other linked tables explain where the dates differ.
A calendar and the first day of its year are separate choices. Before 1752, English legal years began on 25 March. Dates between 1 January and 24 March can therefore have two year labels. A Gregorian result for a date before England adopted that calendar is a modern conversion. National Records of Scotland: the 1752 switch; Calendar (New Style) Act.
| Reign | Numbering, dates and sources |
|---|---|
| William I | Numbering begins 25 December 1066. Listed numbered years: 1–21. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. The University of Victoria table starts numbered years on 25 December 1066, his coronation. Wikipedia’s regnal-year table instead starts them on 14 October, the Battle of Hastings. Year 9 uses 25 December 1074, supported by Wallis and Wikipedia; the University table prints 15 December. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. J. E. W. Wallis: English regnal years and titles; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| William II | Numbering begins 27 September 1087. Listed numbered years: 1–13. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. The University of Victoria table starts numbered years on 27 September 1087. Wikipedia’s regnal-year table uses 26 September. This converter follows the University table. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Henry I | Numbering begins 5 August 1100. Listed numbered years: 1–36. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Numbered years begin on 5 August 1100. The final year ends at his death on 1 December 1135, supported by Westminster Abbey and Wikipedia, rather than the University table’s 4 December. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Stephen | Numbering begins 22 December 1135. Listed numbered years: 1–19. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. The University of Victoria table starts numbered years on 22 December 1135; Wikipedia’s regnal-year table uses 26 December. The converter follows 22 December. Matilda’s disputed claim in 1141 is identified separately in the year lookup. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Henry II | Numbering begins 19 December 1154. Listed numbered years: 1–35. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 19 December 1154. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Richard I | Numbering begins 3 September 1189. Listed numbered years: 1–10. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 3 September 1189. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| John | Numbering begins 27 May 1199. Listed numbered years: 1–18. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Each numbered year starts on Ascension Day: 39 days after Easter Sunday in the Julian calendar. Wallis, Wikipedia and the Magna Carta Project support the dates used here. Some dates printed in the University of Victoria table differ; the affected years explain the correction. The last year ends at John’s death on 19 October 1216. Magna Carta Project: original charter rolls; consulted 1 October 2026. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. J. E. W. Wallis: English regnal years and titles; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Henry III | Numbering begins 28 October 1216. Listed numbered years: 1–57. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Numbered years begin on 28 October, his first coronation, rather than the 19 October accession used for reign length. Several end-year labels in the University of Victoria table are corrected to follow that annual pattern. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Edward I | Numbering begins 20 November 1272. Listed numbered years: 1–35. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Numbered years begin on 20 November, rather than the 16 November succession used for reign length. The University of Victoria table ends each complete year on 19 November; Wikipedia’s regnal-year table prints 20 November. The converter uses 19 November. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Edward II | Numbering begins 8 July 1307. Listed numbered years: 1–20. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Numbered years begin on 8 July. The University of Victoria table ends year 20 on 25 January 1327; Wikipedia’s regnal-year table and Westminster Abbey give 20 January for the end of his rule. The converter follows 25 January for numbered-year dating; the reign-length page uses 20 January. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Edward III | Numbering begins 25 January 1327. Listed numbered years: 1–51. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Numbered years begin on 25 January. An end-year misprint in the University of Victoria table’s year 46 is corrected from 1273 to 1373. The accession date used for reign length is 24 January 1327. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Richard II | Numbering begins 22 June 1377. Listed numbered years: 1–23. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Numbered years begin on 22 June. Several printed end-year labels in the University of Victoria table are corrected to follow that annual pattern. The final numbered year ends on 29 September 1399, the abdication date, rather than the deposition date used for reign length. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Henry IV | Numbering begins 30 September 1399. Listed numbered years: 1–14. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 30 September 1399. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Henry V | Numbering begins 21 March 1413. Listed numbered years: 1–10. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 21 March 1413. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Henry VI | Numbering begins 1 September 1422. Listed numbered years: 1–39. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 1 September 1422, rather than the 31 August accession used for reign length. This first reign ends during year 39, on 4 March 1461. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Henry VI (restored reign) | Numbering begins 1 September 1422. This table lists year 49 only. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Henry VI’s restoration continues his regnal numbering in year 49. Cheney’s table at the Folger Shakespeare Library gives 3 October 1470 to 11 April 1471; Wikipedia’s regnal-year table starts formal restoration on 9 October. Folger Shakespeare Library: Cheney’s regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Edward IV | Numbering begins 4 March 1461. Listed numbered years: 1–10. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 4 March 1461. Edward IV’s first reign ends on 3 October 1470. His later restored reign continues the same numbering. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Edward IV (restored reign) | Numbering begins 4 March 1461. Listed numbered years: 11–23. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. The restored reign begins on 11 April 1471, during year 11; numbering continues from 4 March 1461. For year 22, the converter uses 4 March 1482 to 3 March 1483, following Wallis and Wikipedia, rather than extending it to the University table’s 9 April 1483. The final year, 23, ends on 9 April 1483. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. J. E. W. Wallis: English regnal years and titles; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Edward V | Numbering begins 9 April 1483. This table lists year 1 only. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 9 April 1483. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Richard III | Numbering begins 26 June 1483. Listed numbered years: 1–3. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 26 June 1483. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Henry VII | Numbering begins 22 August 1485. Listed numbered years: 1–24. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 22 August 1485. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Henry VIII | Numbering begins 22 April 1509. Listed numbered years: 1–38. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years start on 22 April 1509. Henry VIII became king on 21 April, the start used for reign length. The converter follows the published numbered-year table. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Edward VI | Numbering begins 28 January 1547. Listed numbered years: 1–7. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 28 January 1547. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Mary I | Numbering begins 19 July 1553. Listed numbered years: 1–6. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Mary’s first numbered year begins at her proclamation on 19 July 1553. Subsequent years begin on 6 July, marking her succession by hereditary right. Philip’s years begin on 25 July 1554. Joint citations cover the dates when both numbered years overlap. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
Philip’s numbered years 1–5 begin on 25 July in 1554–1558. His final year ends on 17 November 1558. A joint citation uses only dates shared by Philip’s and Mary’s numbered years. |
| Elizabeth I | Numbering begins 17 November 1558. Listed numbered years: 1–45. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 17 November 1558. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| James I | Numbering begins 24 March 1603. Listed numbered years: 1–23. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. English numbered years begin on 24 March 1603. Scottish numbering for James VI begins on 24 July 1567 and is separate. The converter can identify the corresponding Scottish year for a dated English result, but cannot convert a Scottish citation as an input. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Folger Shakespeare Library: Cheney’s regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Charles I | Numbering begins 27 March 1625. Listed numbered years: 1–24. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 27 March 1625. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. University of Victoria: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Charles II | Numbering begins 30 January 1649. Listed numbered years: 12–37. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbering begins on 30 January 1649, at Charles I’s death, and is not restarted at the Restoration. The converter covers the restored reign from 29 May 1660, partway through year 12, to 6 February 1685. It does not assign English regnal dates to the Interregnum. Folger Shakespeare Library: Cheney’s regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| James II | Numbering begins 6 February 1685. Listed numbered years: 1–4. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 6 February 1685 and end on 11 December 1688, the date used in the legal numbering table for his abdication. The reign-length page instead ends his reign at his final departure on 23 December. Folger Shakespeare Library: Cheney’s regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| William III | Numbering begins 13 February 1689. Listed numbered years: 1–14. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Cheney’s table at the Folger Shakespeare Library numbers the joint reign as years 1–6 from 13 February. After Mary’s death, it numbers William’s sole reign as years 7–14 from 28 December. The Colonial Society table continues the February anniversary. The converter follows Cheney’s table. Folger Shakespeare Library: Cheney’s regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Colonial Society of Massachusetts: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Mary II | Numbering begins 13 February 1689. Listed numbered years: 1–6. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Joint numbered years begin on 13 February 1689. Cheney’s table at the Folger Shakespeare Library ends the final joint year on 27 December 1694. Mary died on 28 December, the end date used for reign length. Folger Shakespeare Library: Cheney’s regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Anne | Numbering begins 8 March 1702. Listed numbered years: 1–13. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 8 March 1702 and continue across the union of 1707 without restarting. Folger Shakespeare Library: Cheney’s regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| George I | Numbering begins 1 August 1714. Listed numbered years: 1–13. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 1 August 1714 in the Julian calendar. The last year ends on 11 June 1727 Julian, the same day as 22 June Gregorian. Folger Shakespeare Library: Cheney’s regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| George II | Numbering begins 11 June 1727. Listed numbered years: 1–34. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. The converter follows Wallis’s table: year 26 runs from 11 June 1752 Julian to 21 June 1753 Gregorian. Later years begin on 22 June Gregorian. The Colonial Society table instead continues an 11 June anniversary. England omitted 3–13 September 1752 when changing calendars. J. E. W. Wallis: English regnal years and titles; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Folger Shakespeare Library: Cheney’s regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Colonial Society of Massachusetts: regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. UK legislation: Calendar (New Style) Act; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| George III | Numbering begins 25 October 1760. Listed numbered years: 1–60. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 25 October 1760 and continue across the union of 1801 without restarting. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| George IV | Numbering begins 29 January 1820. Listed numbered years: 1–11. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 29 January 1820. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| William IV | Numbering begins 26 June 1830. Listed numbered years: 1–7. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 26 June 1830. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Victoria | Numbering begins 20 June 1837. Listed numbered years: 1–64. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 20 June 1837. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Edward VII | Numbering begins 22 January 1901. Listed numbered years: 1–10. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 22 January 1901. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| George V | Numbering begins 6 May 1910. Listed numbered years: 1–26. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 6 May 1910. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Edward VIII | Numbering begins 20 January 1936. This table lists year 1 only. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 20 January 1936. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| George VI | Numbering begins 11 December 1936. Listed numbered years: 1–16. Some dates differ between the sources. The notes below explain which years are affected and which dates this converter uses. Numbered years begin on 11 December 1936. Parliament’s table ends the final year on 6 February 1952; Wikipedia’s regnal-year table ends it on 5 February. The converter follows Parliament’s 6 February date. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Elizabeth II | Numbering begins 6 February 1952. Listed numbered years: 1–71. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 6 February 1952. The converter follows the published annual dates below, including the shortened final year. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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| Charles III | Numbering begins 8 September 2022. Listed numbered years: 1–5. The cited regnal-year tables agree on the numbering used here. Numbered years begin on 8 September 2022, with a new year on each 8 September anniversary. The converter finds the current numbered year from your device’s date and includes its full annual dates, even those still in the future. Years after 28 September 2026 are calculated from the 8 September accession anniversary, assuming the reign continues. UK Parliament: list of numbered years; consulted 1 October 2026. Wikipedia: English and British regnal-year table; consulted 1 October 2026. Dates for each numbered yearThe dates below use the stated calendar and year labels beginning on 1 January. Both dates are included.
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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.
Regnal years appear in the dates of historical laws. Regnal numbers distinguish kings who share a name, such as Henry I and Henry II. Reigns can be measured in years or days, allowing comparisons between the longest and shortest periods on the throne.
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.
Reign comes from the Latin regnum, meaning "kingdom" or "royal power", related to rex, "king".
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. In the UK, an heir succeeds immediately when the reigning monarch dies. Charles III became king on 8 September 2022; his coronation ceremony 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 is a numbered year of a monarch’s reign. Its start often follows accession, but some English reigns use a coronation date, a restoration rule or a moving feast day. The converter above gives the dates and sources for each reign. 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 | Numbers years within a monarch’s reign | "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- |
- Dating system
- Regnal year
- How it works
- Numbers years within a monarch’s reign
- Example
- "6 & 7 Eliz. 2" for an Act of 1958
- Dating system
- Regnal number
- How it works
- Separates monarchs of the same name
- Example
- Charles III
- Dating system
- Era name
- How it works
- Names a reign or part of one
- Example
- Reiwa (Japan, from 2019)
- Dating system
- Calendar year
- How it works
- Standard dating, used for most modern records
- Example
- 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 |
- Monarch
- Louis XIV
- Country
- France
- Reign
- 1643-1715
- Length
- 72 years, 110 days
- Monarch
- Elizabeth II
- Country
- United Kingdom and realms
- Reign
- 1952-2022
- Length
- 70 years, 214 days
- Monarch
- Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)
- Country
- Thailand
- Reign
- 1946-2016
- Length
- 70 years, 126 days
- Monarch
- Johann II
- Country
- Liechtenstein
- Reign
- 1858-1929
- Length
- 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
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. A UK reign begins at accession: an heir succeeds when the reigning monarch dies or abdicates. The coronation ceremony can take place months after accession.
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.