List of Rulers of Europe
See works of art
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1982.60.318 -
39.13.7 -
14.126.1 -
32.147 -
24.167a-k -
37.173.3 -
46.43.4 -
17.190.387,388,392 -
41.100.245 -
25.2.93 -
43.99 -
41.16.1 -
1974.297 -
41.100.157 -
71.121 -
26.261.14 -
17.190.745 -
1989.12.2,3 -
51.501.6469 -
08.49 -
57.20 -
2009.145 -
38.150.9 -
14.40.639 -
1978.554.2 -
52.189.11 -
1983.183.5
The list that follows is meant as a complement to the Timeline of Art History, not as a comprehensive historical reference.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
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
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
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)
Related
Chronology
- France, 1800–1900 A.D.
- France, 1900 A.D.–present
- France, 1600–1800 A.D.
- France, 500–1000 A.D.
- Germany and Switzerland, 1900 A.D.–present
- Great Britain and Ireland, 1000–1400 A.D.
- Great Britain and Ireland, 1400–1600 A.D.
- Great Britain and Ireland, 1600–1800 A.D.
- Great Britain and Ireland, 1800–1900 A.D.
- Great Britain and Ireland, 1900 A.D.–present
- Great Britain and Ireland, 500–1000 A.D.
- Iberian Peninsula, 1–500 A.D.
- Iberian Peninsula, 1000 B.C.–1 A.D.
- Iberian Peninsula, 1000–1400 A.D.
- Iberian Peninsula, 1400–1600 A.D.
- Iberian Peninsula, 1600–1800 A.D.
- Iberian Peninsula, 1900 A.D.–present
- Iberian Peninsula, 500–1000 A.D.
- Italian Peninsula, 1–500 A.D.
- Italian Peninsula, 1000 B.C.–1 A.D.
- Italian Peninsula, 1000–1400 A.D.
- Italian Peninsula, 1900 A.D.–present
- Italian Peninsula, 500–1000 A.D.
- Low Countries, 1000–1400 A.D.
- Low Countries, 1400–1600 A.D.
- Low Countries, 1600–1800 A.D.
- Low Countries, 1900 A.D.–present
- Rome and Southern Italy, 1400–1600 A.D.
- Rome and Southern Italy, 1600–1800 A.D.
- Southern Europe, 1800–1900 A.D.
- Southern Europe, 2000–1000 B.C.
- Southern Europe, 8000–2000 B.C.
- Venice and Northern Italy, 1400–1600 A.D.
- Venice and Northern Italy, 1600–1800 A.D.
- Western and Central Europe, 1–500 A.D.
- Western and Central Europe, 1000 B.C.–1 A.D.
- Western and Central Europe, 2000–1000 B.C.
- Western and Central Europe, 8000–2000 B.C.
- Central Europe (including Germany), 1000–1400 A.D.
- Central Europe (including Germany), 1400–1600 A.D.
- Central Europe (including Germany), 1600–1800 A.D.
- Central Europe (including Germany), 500–1000 A.D.
- Central Europe and Low Countries, 1800–1900 A.D.
- Ancient Greece, 1–500 A.D.
- Central Europe, 1900 A.D.–present
- Ancient Greece, 1000 B.C.–1 A.D.
- Balkan Peninsula, 1000–1400 A.D.
- Balkan Peninsula, 1400–1600 A.D.
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 1–500 A.D.
- Balkan Peninsula, 1600–1800 A.D.
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 1000 B.C.–1 A.D.
- Balkan Peninsula, 1900 A.D.–present
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 1000–1400 A.D.
- Balkan Peninsula, 500–1000 A.D.
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 1400–1600 A.D.
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 1600–1800 A.D.
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 1800–1900 A.D.
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 1900 A.D.–present
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 2000–1000 B.C.
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 500–1000 A.D.
- Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 8000–2000 B.C.
- Florence and Central Italy, 1400–1600 A.D.
- Florence and Central Italy, 1600–1800 A.D.
- France, 1000–1400 A.D.
- France, 1400–1600 A.D.
Keywords
- Aix-en-Provence
- Austria
- Balkan Peninsula
- Belgium
- Berlin
- Central Europe
- Central Italy
- Düsseldorf
- Eastern Europe
- Eastern Mediterranean
- Europe
- Finland
- Flanders
- Florence
- France
- Germany
- Great Britain and Ireland
- Greece
- Holy Roman Empire
- Iberian Peninsula
- Istanbul (Constantinople)
- Italy
- London
- Low Countries
- Moscow
- Naples
- The Netherlands
- Northern Italy
- Norway
- Nuremberg
- Paris
- Poland
- Portrait
- Portugal
- Prague
- Rome
- Ruler
- Russia
- Scandinavia
- Southern Italy
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Toledo
- Turkey
- Venice
- Versailles
- Vienna
- 5th Century A.D.
- 6th Century A.D.
- 7th Century A.D.
- 8th Century A.D.
- 9th Century A.D.
- 10th Century A.D.
- 11th Century A.D.
- 12th Century A.D.
- 13th Century A.D.
- 14th Century A.D.
- 15th Century A.D.
- 16th Century A.D.
- 17th Century A.D.
- 18th Century A.D.
- 19th Century A.D.
- 20th Century A.D.
- 21st Century A.D.
Artist / Maker
- Abondio, Antonio
- Algardi, Alessandro
- Cafà, Melchiorre
- Carpeaux, Jean-Baptiste
- Czapek, François
- Daucher, Hans
- Daumier, Honoré
- Della Robbia, Girolamo
- Della Robbia, Luca
- Duvet, Jean
- Gérard, François
- Grooth, Georg Christoph
- Hollar, Wenceslaus
- Kretzschmar, Johann Joachim
- Le Brun, Charles
- Leoni, Leone
- Nini, Jean-Baptiste
- Sadeler, Aegidius, II
- Subleyras, Pierre Hubert
- Sully, Thomas
- Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista
- Velázquez
- Von Aachen, Hans
See Also
CLOSE
Related
CLOSE
Augustus the Strong
Charles I
Queen Victoria
Doorway from Moutiers-Saint-Jean
Scenes from the Legend of Saint Vincent of Saragossa and the History of His Relics
King Louis IX Carrying the Crown of Thorns
Seasons and Elements (Air) (set of four)
King, from a group of Donor Figures including a King, Queen, and Prince
François I (1494–1547), King of France
Henri II, King of France, Between France and Fame
Portrait of Napoleon I
The Past, the Present, and the Future (Le passé – Le présent – L'Avenir), published in La Caricature, no. 166, Jan. 9, 1834
Napoléon III (1808–1873), Emperor of the French
Plaque with Christ Receiving Magdeburg Cathedral from Emperor Otto I
The Investiture of Bishop Harold as Duke of Franconia
Presentation Coin (Doppelguldiner) Showing Maximilian I (1459–1519)
Allegory of Virtues and Vices at the Court of Charles V
Maximillian II, Holy Roman Emperor (1527–1576)
Portrait of Rudolph II
Pope Innocent X (Giovanni Battista Pamphili, reigned 1644–55)
Pope Alexander VII (1599–1667)
Pope Benedict XIV (Prospero Lambertini, 1675–1758)
Emperor Charles V (1500–58) and his Son Philip II of Spain (1527–98)
Philip IV (1605-1665), King of Spain
The Empress Elizabeth of Russia (1709-1762) on Horseback, Attended by a Page
Catherine II (The Great), Empress of Russia
Watch
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History