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Queen Elizabeth II. Source: Open Government License

Queen Elizabeth II Becomes Second Longest-Reigning Monarch in History

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As the United Kingdom recovers from the jubilee celebrations which took place from the 2nd to the 5th June 2022, commemorating seventy years since Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne, the queen has now smashed a new royal record. As of the 12 June 2022, Queen Elizabeth II became the world’s second longest-reigning monarch, overtaking Thailand’s late King Bhumibol the Great.

Elizabeth II is actually a multiple Guinness World Record holder. Back in 2015 she took the title of longest-reigning monarch in the United Kingdom, overtaking the staunch Queen Victoria. At 96 years of age Elizabeth II is the oldest living monarch, having been born on 21 April 1926, and has also been reigning for longer than any other current monarch with almost 20 years difference to the next contender, Hassanal Bolkiah from Brunei who came to the throne in 1946. Nevertheless, outside her realm and era there is still one monarch who was on the throne for longer.

Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand at his official coronation in May 1950. (Public domain)

Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand at his official coronation in May 1950. (Public domain)

3. Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great – Thailand – 70 years and 126 days

Reigned: 9 June 1946 – 13 October 2016

At just 18 years of age, Bhumibol Adulyadej unexpectedly became King of Thailand, following the sudden and mysterious death of his older brother who was found with a gunshot wound to the head. Although he was actually born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States, while his father was studying at Harvard, Bhumibol was the ninth Thai monarch from the Chakri dynasty, hence the title Rama IX.

In fact, this was the dynasty of Siam’s King Mongkut and Chulalongkorn (the great-grandfather and grandfather of Bhumibol respectively), who featured in the 1870 memoirs of Anna Leonowens, The English Governess at the Siamese Court, which was turned into a 1946 film Anna and the King of Siam and a later Rodgers and Hammerstein 1951 stage musical, The King and I. The latter two were banned in Thailand due to censorship laws against any disrespectful portrayal of the Thai monarchy.

While Bhumibol was educated abroad, had an incredible fortune and famously was passionate about jazz, he has been remembered as “the people’s king” having devoted his reign to his over 1,200 development projects. The absolute rule of the Chakri dynasty came to an end after the 1932 Siamese Revolution with a coup against King Rama VII, which in turn put in place a constitutional monarchy. In 1939, the country’s name was officially changed from Siam to Thailand which means “Land of the Free.”

The royal crematorium built for the cremation of Rama IX of Thailand. (Tris_T7 / CC BY-SA 4.0)

The royal crematorium built for the cremation of Rama IX of Thailand. (Tris_T7 / CC BY-SA 4.0)

This meant that Bhumibol exercised relatively little power, but the backdrop of a series of military coups meant that he came to be seen as a calm and unifying entity throughout his 70-year-rule. “Thais came to see this Buddhist king as a father figure wholly dedicated to their welfare, and as the embodiment of stability in a country where political leadership rose and fell through decades of military coups,” explained The New York Times.

After the country endured a year of mourning, during which Rama IX was laid in state at the Grande Palace and visited by over 12 million people, there was a stunning funeral cremation ceremony in Bangkok. A 50-meter (164 ft) temporary golden crematorium was constructed to represent Mount Meru, where Thais believe their royalty go after their death, and his son lit the funeral pyre on the 26th October 2017.

His death brought up questions about the future of the Thai monarchy, especially since his son and successor Vajiralongkorn, a.k.a. King Rama X, cuts a strikingly controversial figure. The monarchy in Thailand has been protected by strict lèse-majesté laws which prohibit any insult to the royal family, due to the fact that traditionalists view the monarchy as a sacred institution.

According to The New York Times, under King Bhumibol Thais were prosecuted with jail time (up to 15 years) for anything from critical graffiti, theater, or even personal conversations. In 2021, under Rama X, a Thai civil servant was sentenced to 43 years and six months in prison for sharing audio clips on YouTube and Facebook which were deemed critical to the monarchy.

Queen Elizabeth II in 2015, is one of the top three longest-reigning monarchs in history. (PolizeiBerlin / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Queen Elizabeth II in 2015, is the second longest-reigning monarch in history. (PolizeiBerlin / CC BY-SA 4.0)

2. Queen Elizabeth II – United Kingdom - Due to Take First Place on 27 May 2024

Reign: 6 February 1952 - Present

At just 25 years of age, Elizabeth came to the throne on the 6th February 1952 when her father, George VI died unexpectedly. The official coronation of Elizabeth II, on the 2nd June 1953 in Westminster Abbey, was the first in history to be broadcast live on television to an estimated audience of 27 million. While the monarchy can seem outdated to the uninitiated, Queen Elizabeth II has overseen an era of extreme social change. She came to the throne during the aftermath of World War II, saw the end of the British Empire and has been served by 14 prime ministers, including Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.

Under her watch there were also many firsts. On a personal level there were several royal divorces, the most famous being that of Charles and Diana  which stood out for the inordinate amount of attention it achieved from the press. More recently, in 2018 Meghan Markle went down in history as the first publicly biracial person to marry into the family, seen by many as an opportunity to break with the history of racism in Great Britain. History explained that historically “mixed-race marriages among European royalty often went unacknowledged due to racism within both the royal family and European society at large.”

Queen Elizabeth II waves from the palace balcony after her official Coronation in 1953. (National Media Museum)

Queen Elizabeth II waves from the palace balcony after her official Coronation in 1953. (National Media Museum)

Elizabeth II, and her husband Philip the late Duke of Edinburgh, came into the throne during a time of monarchical crisis. This prompted action hoping to modernize the royal institution, such as the broadcast in 1969 of a 105-minute BBC documentary aiming to humanize and strengthen the monarchy. The aptly titled “Royal Family” attracted 30 million viewers in Britain alone. Elizabeth also famously went against tradition when she began the “walkabout,” a term to describe greeting crowds on the street in person, during a royal tour in 1970.

The Queen celebrates the anniversary of her ascension in June rather than February, since her true ascension coincides with her father’s death. The longest-reigning female monarch in recorded history, 2022 marked her Platinum Jubilee. Despite a series of familial scandals and dropping popularity, post-pandemic Britain spent months preparing for the special jubilee weekend in June that year. There was even a selection of merchandise for fans, ranging from a Queen Elizabeth Barbie tribute doll to a special edition single malt whiskey.

Allegorical painting from 1672 of Louis XIV, as the protector of Arts and Sciences, by Jean Garnier. (Public domain)

Allegorical painting from 1672 of Louis XIV, as the protector of Arts and Sciences, by Jean Garnier. (Public domain)

1. Louis XIV – France – 72 years and 110 days

Reigned: 14 May 1643 – 1 September 1715

Louis XIV was just four years old when he came to the throne, with his mother, Queen Anne, as his sole regent. Also known as Louis the Great, he saw himself as the Sun King, and used the sun and symbol of Apollo, the god of peace and the arts, as his emblem. Famously stating “I am the State,” he believed himself to be a direct representative of God on Earth. This belief led him to centralize power over France and its colonies, tighten control, and disempower problematic nobles. In keeping with his world view, he even hosted public getting-up and going-to-bed ceremonies, where his most favored courtiers could watch the Sun King preparing for the day and getting ready for bed.

His 72-year-rule made him the longest-reigning monarch in history, but was nevertheless riddled with war. Born into the Thirty Years War, from 1648 he also faced a series of civil disturbances known as the Fronde (1648 to 1653). Though unsuccessful, they aimed to limit the power of the King. Marriage to Maria Theresa of Spain in June 1660, was arranged for political reasons, in the hope of forging a lasting peace between the Habsburgs of Spain and the Bourbons of France.

Notwithstanding, his ambition to dominate Europe led him to launch various other expansionist campaigns causing friction with his neighbors. In an attempt to defend this grandson Philip V, and his right to Spain and its empire, he also entered the War of Spanish Succession which plunged France into crippling debt. “I have often undertaken war too lightly and have sustained it for vanity,” said Louis XIV on his deathbed. “Do not imitate me, but be a peaceful prince.”

Emigration of the Huguenots by Jan Antoon Neuhuys. (Public domain)

Emigration of the Huguenots by Jan Antoon Neuhuys. (Public domain)

War during the reign of the Sun King, wasn’t only fought outside the borders of France. Having vowed to defend the Catholic faith during his official coronation on the 7th June 1654, Louis XIV persecuted the Protestant Huguenots during his reign. He revoked of the 1598 Edict of Nantes, which had granted tolerance to Protestants, and replaced it with the Edict of Fontainebleau which ordered the expulsion from France of Protestant clergy, the ban on Protestant teaching and the destruction of Protestant churches. This caused a mass exodus of French Protestants, with estimates of over 200,000 leaving France.

The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. (Public domain)

The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. (Public domain)

In 1682, Louis moved his court to the Palace of Versailles. Built to house the entire court, it meant he could keep the nobility close at hand and under his control. It’s Hall of Mirrors, used for official receptions and decorated with events and victories of his reign, was a “potent symbol of the King’s absolute power,” explains the Chateau de Versailles website. A true patron of the arts, his reign has been remembered as the Great Century, and his court as home to some of the greatest minds of the era including Molière, Lully and Racine.

Top image: Queen Elizabeth II. Source: Open Government License

By Cecilia Bogaard

References

Blakemore, E. 22 August 2018. “Meghan Markle Might Not Be the First Mixed-Race British Royal” in History. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/biracial-royalty-meghan-markle-queen-charlotte

Chambru, C. 16 October 2020. “What consequences did religious intolerance against the Huguenots have in France?” in LSE. Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2020/10/16/what-consequences-did-religious-intolerance-against-the-huguenots-have-in-france/

Crossette, B. 13 October 2016. “Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88, People’s King of Thailand, Dies After 7-Decade Reign” in The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/14/world/asia/thai-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-dies.html

Gopalakrishnan, M. 9 March 2021. “Before Meghan and Harry: The British royals' historical views on race” in DW. Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/before-meghan-and-harry-the-british-royals-historical-views-on-race/a-56818581

Holmes, O. 22 October 2017. “Thailand: thousands to attend extravagant cremation for King Bhumibol” in The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/22/thailand-king-bhumibol-royal-crematorium

Hulme, K. 19 March 2018. “Land of the Free: How Thailand Got Its Name” in Culture Trip. Available at: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/articles/land-of-the-free-how-thailand-got-its-name/

Meares, H. 2 December 2020. “The 1969 Documentary That Tried to Humanize Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family” in History. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/queen-elizabeth-ii-1969-royal-family-documentary

No name. 20 September 2015. “Running Afoul of the Thai Monarchy” in The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/09/18/world/asia/thailand-king-lese-majeste.html

No name. No date. “Louis XIV 1638-1715” in Chateau de Versailles. Available at: https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/great-characters/louis-xiv

Pearl, D. 4 September 2015. “Longest Reigning Monarch in UK History” in People. Available at: https://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeths-record-breaking-reign-of-63-years/

Pruitt, S. 4 February 2022. “Queen Elizabeth II: 14 Key Moments in Her Reign” in History. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/queen-elizabeth-ii-key-moments

Szczepanski, K. 8 July 2019. “Biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand” in ThoughtCo. Available at: https://www.thoughtco.com/king-bhumibol-adulyadej-of-thailand-195730

Wongcha-um, P. 3 May 2019. “The real 'King and I' - the story of new Thai king's famous ancestor” in Reuters. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-king-coronation-mongkut-idUSKCN1S90UR

 

Comments

Elizabeth. Ancient Origins. What? 

Ancient Origins now does hagiography.

And, yes, that is sarcastic. Hagiography is for saints.

Louis XIV the longest, well maybe for Europe. Tyrants of ancient times lived far longer. No matter how benevolent they are portrayed, I think the truth is they were tyrants. Even Queen Elizabeth has slave operation diamond mines in Africa today. The limeys don't want you to know that. Personally I am so greatful my ancestors the Huguenats escaped Louis XIV and came to the new world. Where starting with the Mayflower Compact the 'curse of kings' in l Samuel chapter 8 , was realeasd with a new covenant where in the the people of America would live under God's natural laws and have no need of king, but return to judges. We have no King today to bow to the Pope. Although it's questionable if Biden does in private. Trump put the Pope in his place by walking in front of him in front of the cameras. The Vatican declared a secret war against the USA before the ink was dry on the Declaration of Independence. And financed the war of 1812. The civil war, and both world wars and yet today the current Pope is a Jesuit, the intelligence arm of the Vatican, bent on us having a king to bow to him. I have no hate, only clarity of true history, that is pertinent to even today.

Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama,  has been ruler of Tibet since 22 February 1940.  That’s 83 years and counting.

Cecilia Bogaard's picture

Cecilia

Cecilia Bogaard is one of the editors, researchers and writers on Ancient Origins. With an MA in Social Anthropology, and degree in Visual Communication (Photography), Cecilia has a passion for research, content creation and editing, especially as related to the... Read More

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