Kings & Queens: Modern Non-European

Using the term "modern" fairly loosely, this page covers kings and queens of countries outside Europe, since the Middle Ages.

Names

Succeeded his half–brother Fahd to the throne of Saudi Arabia in 2005; succeeded in 2015 by his half–brother Salman		Abdullah
Succeeded his father Hirohito as emperor of Japan, 1989		Akihito
Founder of the Mogul (Mongul) Empire in India (16th Century)		Babar
King of Zululand 1873–83, rule threatened by British annexation of the Transvaal		Cetewayo
The fourth son of Ibn Saud to rule Saudi Arabia: succeeded his half–brother Khalid in 1982, succeeded in 2005 by his half–brother Abdullah in 2005		Fahd
Last king of Egypt, overthrown by Nasser in 1952		Farouk I
Born Temujin Borjigin, c. 1162; ruler of all Mongol people from 1206; "Founder of the Mongolian Empire"; began the conquest of China 1213; adopted name means "Perfect Warrior"		Genghis Khan
The last King of Nepal: ruled for 2 months 1950–1, aged 3, when his grandfather Tribhuvan fled to India; returned to the throne 2001 following the deaths of his brother Birendra and nephew Dipendra in the Royal Family massacre (which some believe he orchestrated); the monarchy was abolished in 2008		Gyanendra
Emperor of Ethiopia 1930–6 and 1941–74; one of the founders of the OAU; real name Tafari Makonnen; also known as Ras Tafari or "the Lion of (the Tribe of) Judah"		Haile Selassie
Emperor of Japan, 1926–89; now known in Japan as the Emperor Showa (originally the name of the period over which he reigned); reported in the West in 1946 to have renounced his divinity, although the true story is more complicated		Hirohito
First King of Saudi Arabia (1932–53)		Ibn Saud
The last King of Libya – overthrown by Gaddafi in 1969		Idris
Grandson of Genghis Khan; completed the Mongol conquest of China in 1240; established himself as emperor following the death of his brother Mungo in 1259; moved the capital to Beijing, founded the Yuan dynasty in 1271; Marco Polo entered his service in 1274		Kublai Khan
Muslim rulers of India, 1526–1827		(Great) Moguls
Aztec ruler when Cortez conquered Mexico		Montezuma II
Second and last emperor of Brazil (reigned 1831–89)		Pedro II
Last emperor of China (1908–12, and nominally for 12 days in 1917)		(Henry) Puyi
First king of Saudi Arabia (1932–53)		Ibn Saud
Succeeded his half–brother Abdullah to the throne of Saudi Arabia in 2015		Salman
Ottoman emperor, 1520–66: known to the Turks as 'the Lawgiver' but in the West as 'the Magnificent'		Suleiman I

Saudi Arabia

Six sons of Ibn Saud (the country's founder) who have ruled Saudi Arabia:

Reign	Born	Died		Name
1953–64	1902	1969		Saud

King Saud was forced to abdicate in 1964 in favour of his more progressive brother Faisal.

1964–75

1906

1975

Faisal

King Faisal was assassinated (shot in the head from close range) in 1975 by his nephew Faisal bin Musaid, who was said by some to be "mentally deranged" but was nevertherless executed three months later.

1975–82	1913	1982		Khalid
1982–2005	1921	2005		Fahd
2005–15	1924	2015		Abdullah
2015–	1935			Salman

Countries

Letsie III succeeded his father, who was forced into exile in 1990, as king of		Lesotho
Ruled since 1829 by the El Thaim family		Qatar
Mswati III succeeded his father Sobhuza II in 1986 as king of		Swaziland
Declared a constitutional monarchy in 1875, by Siaosi (George) Tupou I; all six kings have had the name Tupou (Tupou VI succeeded his elder brother George Tupou V in 2012)		Tonga

© Haydn Thompson 2018