List of Rulers of Europe

The list that follows is meant as a complement to the Timeline of Art History, not as a comprehensive historical reference. It presents a simplified picture of dynastic succession in a small number of large European principalities. The names of numerous princes who ruled smaller states are not to be found here, nor are the names of many pretenders, regents, and fully legitimate monarchs whose reigns were short or ambitions otherwise stifled. The abridged list includes above all those kings and queens whose rule affected the arts of Europe in important ways and whose names are most commonly raised in art historical discussion.

Central Europe

Holy Roman Empire (see below for a list of emperors)

962–1806

Wettin Electors of Saxony

1423–1806

Wittelsbach Electors of Bavaria

1623–1806

Hohenzollern Electors of Brandenburg

1415–1701

Poland

elected kings

1572–1795

Zygmunt III Wasa (Sigismund III Vasa)

1587–1632

Vladislav IV Wasa (Wladyslaw IV Vasa)

1632–1648

Jan II Kasimierz Wasa (John II Casimir Vasa)

1648–1668

Michael Wisniowiecki

1669–1673

Jan III Sobieski (John III Sobieski)

1674–1696

Augustus II, the Strong (1982.60.318)

1697–1704, 1709–1733

Augustus III

1733–1763

Stanislaw II Augustus Poniatowski

1764–1795

partitions of Poland

1772, 1793, 1795

divided under Habsburg, Prussian, and Russian rule

1795–1867

Kingdom of Prussia

1701–1867

Hohenzollerns

1701–1797

Friedrich I (Frederick I)

1701–1713

Friedrich Wilhelm I (Frederick William I)

1713–1740

Friedrich II, der Grosse (Frederick II, the Great)

1740–1786

Friedrich Wilhelm II (Frederick William II)

1786–1797

Romania and Moldova

Ottoman rule

semi-autonomous Ottoman dependencies

1683–1861

England

Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex (centered in southern England)

519–871

Cerdic

519–534

Cynric

534–560

Ceawlin

560–592

Ceol

592–597

Ceolwulf

597–611

Cynegils

611–642

Cenwalh

642–672

Seaxburh

672–674

Aescwine

674–676

Centwine

676–684

Ceadwalla

685–688

Ine

688–726

Aethelheard

726–740

Cuthred

740–756

Cynewulf

757–786

Berhtric

786–802

Egbert

802–839

Aethelwulf

839–858

Aethelbald

858–860

Aethelberht

860–866

Aethelred

866–871

The kings of Wessex, supreme throughout England, become the first royal house of England: see England.

Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent (centered in southeastern England)

455–827

Hengest

455–488

Aesc

488–512

Octa

512–522

Eormenric

522–560

Aethelbert I

560–616

Eadbald

616–640

Earconbert

640–644

Egbert I

664–673

Hlothere

673–685

Oswine

688–690

Wihtred

690–725

Aethelbert II

725–762

Sigered

762–764

Egbert II

765–784

Eadberht II

796–798

Cuthred

798–807

Baldred

823–825

The kings of Wessex, who have controlled Kent periodically during the eight and ninth centuries, secure it for good as of 827.

Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria (centered in northern England, bordering Scotland)

592–841

Aethelfrith

592–616

Edwin

616–633

St. Oswald

634–642

Oswiu

642–670

Ecgfrith

670–685

Aldfrith

686–705

Osred I

706–716

Cenred

716–718

Osric

718–729

Ceolwulf

729–737

Eadberht

737–758

Aethelwald

759–765

Alhred

765–774

Aethelred I

774–779, 790–796

Aelfwald I

779–788

Eardwulf

796–808

Eanred

809–841

The kings of Wessex control Northumbria after 827, following a period of disorder and decline after Eadberht's demise.

Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia (centered in central and western England, bordering Wales)

626–919

Penda

626–655

Wulfhere

658–675

Aethelred I

675–704

Cenred

704–709

Ceolred

709–716

Aethelbald

716–757

Offa

757–796

Cenwulf

796–821

Ceolwulf

821–823

Beornwulf

823–825

Ludeca

825–827

Wiglaf

827–840

Berhtwulf

840–852

Burgred

852–874

Ceolwulf I

874–879

Aethelred II

879–911

Aethelflaed

911–918

Aelfwyn

918–919

Mercia is annexed by the kings of Wessex.

England

Anglo-Saxons

802–1016

Alfred, the Great

871–899

Edward, the Elder

899–924

Aethelstan

924–939

Edgar

959–975

Aethelred II, the Unready

978–1016

Danes

1016–1042

Canute (Knut), the Great

1016–1035

Harold I, called Harold Harefoot

1035–1040

Hardecanute

1040–1042

Anglo-Saxons

1042–1066

Edward, the Confessor

1042–1066

Harold II

1066

Normans

1066–1154

William I, the Conqueror

1066–1087

William II, called William Rufus

1087–1100

Henry I

1100–1135

Stephen

1135–1154

Plantagenets

1154–1399

Henry II

1154–1189

Richard I, the Lion-Hearted

1189–1199

John I

1199–1216

Henry III

1216–1272

Edward I

1272–1307

Edward II

1307–1327

Edward III

1327–1377

Richard II

1377–1399

Lancastrians

1399–1471

Henry IV

1399–1413

Henry V

1413–1422

Henry VI

1422–1461, 1470–1471

Yorkists

1461–1485

Edward IV

1461–1483

Edward V

1483

Richard III

1483–1485

Tudors

1485–1603

Henry VII

1485–1509

Henry VIII

1509–1547

Edward VI

1547–1553

Mary I, called Mary Tudor or Bloody Mary

1553–1558

Elizabeth I

1558–1603

Stuarts

1603–1714

James I

1603–1625

Charles I (39.13.7)

1625–1649

Charles II

1660–1685

James II

1685–1688

William III and Mary II

1689–1694

William III

1694–1702

Anne

1702–1714

Hanoverians

1714–1901

George I

1714–1727

George II

1727–1760

George III

1760–1820

George IV

1820–1830

William IV, the Sailor-King or Silly Billy

1830–1837

Victoria (14.126.1)

1837–1901

Saxe-Coburgs

1901–1910

Edward VII

1901–1910

Windsors

1910–present

George V

1910–1936

Edward VIII

1936

George VI

1936–1952

Elizabeth II

1952–present

France

Kingdom of the Franks

460–814 A.D.

Childeric I

460–482 A.D.

Chlodovech (Clovis) I (32.147)

482–511 A.D.

Chlothar I (32.147)

511–561

Charibert I

561–584

Chlothar II

584–629

Dagobert I

629–639

St. Sigebert

639–656

Childebert (24.167a–k)

656–661

Childeric II

662–675

Theuderic III

676–690

Chlodovech (Clovis) III

690–694

Childebert III

694–711

Theuderic IV

721–737

Department of European Paintings, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

October 2003 (originally published)
April 2007 (last revised)

Citation

Department of European Paintings. “List of Rulers of Europe.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/euru/hd_euru.htm (originally published October 2003, last revised April 2007)