Who has held the throne for the greatest amount of time among the British monarchs? (And what about the one that's the shortest?)

Who exactly are the record-breakers now, after 1,200 years and 61 sovereigns?

The celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee is scheduled to take place from June 2 to June 5, 2022. Her 70th year on the throne will be celebrated with a superb pageant that will last four days and include horse racing and a concert by Elton John.

Who exactly holds the record for the longest reign of any British monarch? Who was the monarch whose rule was the shortest?

Over its more than 1,200 years of existence, the British monarchy has seen 37 generations come and go. According to the online history journal Historic UK, during that period, 61 different members of the royal family have taken turns sitting on the throne (opens in new tab). Although the tie between these numerous monarchs and Athelstan, England's first king, is not often a direct one, they can all trace their lineage back to him. Carolyn Harris, a historian at the University of Toronto, shared her insight with Live Science, stating that "sometimes we think of the royal succession unfolding smoothly." Still, in reality, this was not always the case.

According to sociologist Laura Clancy of Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, who spoke with Live Science, "a significant portion of the history of the monarchy is about fighting over who was the strongest." Numerous conflicts have broken out over rival claims to the throne, including the famed War of the Roses. This conflict raged from 1455 until 1485 and was even the impetus for "Game of Thrones," written by George R. R. Martin.

It is generally agreed that Lady Jane Grey, who ascended to the throne of England in July 1553 and reigned for only nine days, holds the record for the shortest time spent in that role. According to Smithsonian Magazine, when then-King Edward VI passed away, Lady Jane was barely a teenager; upon hearing that she was to take his place, she supposedly passed out.

The rise of Lady Jane was accomplished with deliberation and speed. Mary Tudor, Edward's half-sister, was adamant about keeping his hold on power and preventing Mary Tudor, Edward's half-sister, from ascending to the throne of England. As a result, he had Mary determined to be an illegitimate child because she was a Catholic (and her mother, Catherine of Aragon, had fallen out of favor with King Henry VIII). After that, he substituted Jane for her in the role. Harris said, "She was very much a pawn in these bigger political fights." [citation needed]

Unfortunately for Dudley, his schemes failed, and he got decapitated not long after Jane was removed from power. According to History Today, Lady Jane and her husband, John Dudley's son, were both put to death in the subsequent months.

After the formation of the constitutional monarchy in the middle of the 17th century, the bloody line of ascension that preceded it began to (largely) calm down. In today's world, the line of succession is clearer and far less violent than it was in the past. This, in conjunction with advances in medical technology, explains why modern monarchs tend to live longer.

It is none other than Queen Elizabeth II. The latter holds the record for the longest reign of any monarch in British history. The queen, who is now 96 years old, ascended to the throne on June 2, 1953, at the very first broadcast coronation in the history of Britain. According to Harris, "in actuality, she currently holds the third place for the longest rule in recorded history." According to the history department at the University of Kentucky, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, also known as Rama IX, ruled for just over 70 years, making him the monarch with the second-longest reign in history. The monarch with the longest reign in history was Louis XIV of France, who ruled for an astounding 72 years.

Since Elizabeth came to power, the public role of the monarchy has continued to shift. It has become less directly involved in enacting policy. It has taken on an increasingly philanthropic and "relatable" bent, as evidenced by the Royal Family's Instagram account. Moreover, the monarchy has become less directly involved in enacting policy.

However, Clancy and other academics point out that the monarchy as an institution is firmly related to a specific strain of British nationalism, one that thrives in older and more conventional circles. This is something that Clancy and other academics have pointed out. Clancy stated that there is still an enormous amount of support for them to continue. "And it's bound up in thoughts about history and tradition and what Britain is," she continued. "And it's caught up in those beliefs."

However, younger generations in Britain increasingly view the Crown as an archaic institution. Among over 5,000 British individuals, only 31 percent of those aged 18 to 24 supported the monarchy. In contrast, 81 percent of those over 65 said the same thing, according to a poll by Statista in 2021 (opens in new tab). According to the data analytics organization YouGov, this represents a significant departure from results seen in prior years (opens in a new tab). There are individuals living in the United Kingdom who think that the monarchy should be abolished. It is common knowledge that Prince Charles favors the idea of a "streamlined" royal family. That is not sufficient in any way. It is best if he does not bother with it at all "columnist Simon Jenkins expressed these thoughts in an essay he wrote for the Guardian.

In the meantime, citizens of the United Kingdom will hold lavish celebrations to honor their monarch's magnificent reign. Those interested can watch a live feed of the festivities on BBC One or ABC News.

 

 

 

Article source :  https://www.livescience.com/longest-shortest-reigning-british-monarchs

Image source  :  https://pixabay.com/id/photos/jembatan-london-menara-2324875/

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# Which monarchs ruled the longest?

# Which British king has had the longest reign?