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A reign is the period of time that a monarch (a king, queen, emperor, etc.) rules over a country.[1] It can also be the period of time that a spiritual leader rules in a particular office. For example, the reign of a pope, dalai lama, patriarch etc. A reign can also be used for an office or championship.[1] In many cases a reign lasts until the monarch (or leader) resigns, dies, or is removed. A monarch's reign was sometimes used to mark time officially. In Anglo-Saxon England for example, many royal documents were dated by the regnal year of the king.[2] This lasted until about the 10th century.[2]
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Some of the longest reigning current monarchs are:
- Elizabeth II, United Kingdom, 62+ years .[3]
- Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Nigeria,[3] 55+ years.
- Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei, 47+ years.[3]
- Margrethe II of Denmark, 42+ years.[3]
- Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, United Arab Emirates, 42+ years.[3]
- Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden 41+ years.[3]
Some of the longest reigning monarchs of all time are:
- Sobhuza II, Swaziland, reigned for 82 years, 253 days.[4]
- Bernard VII, Lord of Lippe, reigned for 81 years, 234 days.[4]
- Bhagvat Singh, ruler of Gondal, India, reigned for 74 years, 87 days.[4]
- Louis XIV of France reigned for 72 years, 110 days.[4]
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Some of the shortest reigns in history are:
- Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême as "Louis XIX of France", reigned for 20 minutes.[5]
- Dipendra of Nepal, reigned for 56 hours (in a coma).[5]
- Dục Đức reigned as Emperor of Vietnam for 3 days.[5]
- Lady Jane Grey reigned as Queen of England for 9 days.[5]
- Edward V of England was King of England for 2 months, 16 days.[5]
- Dafydd ap Gruffydd was the Prince of Wales (last independent ruler) for 6 months, 11 days.[5]
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