Monarchs of Canada

The Official Canadian portrait

of Her Majesty

Since Her Majesty, Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, became Britain's longest reigning Monarch on 20 December 2007, much has been made of it as she racks up even more years.  However, I was curious.  Which Monarch of Canada has had the longest reign? In 2007, it was pointed out that she would have to reign until 2015 to surpass her ancestor Queen Victoria, which she did, of course.  but had the last Queen been the longest reigning Monarch of Canada before that? No. And to illustrate the point, I decided to compile a list of all the Monarchs of Canada with their regnal dates and their official styles

Here it is, with the Dynasties to which they belonged.

House of Bourbon

Henri IV (reigned 1604-14 May 1610), By the Grace of God, Most Christian King of France and Navarre, co-Prince of Andorra, Duke of Albret, Beaumont and Vendôme, Count of Foix, Armagnac, Comminges, Bigorre and Marle, Lord of Béarn, and Donezan; Count of Provence, Forcalquier and the lands adjacent; Dauphin of Viennois, Count of Valentinois and of Diois (Style until 1607), from 1607-1610, he was styled, By the Grace of God, Most Christian King of France and Navarre, co-Prince of Andorra, Lord of Béarn, and Donezan; Count of Provence, Forcalquier and the lands adjacent; Dauphin of Viennois, Count of Valentinois and of Diois.

Louis XIII, the Just, (reigned 14 May 1610-14 May 1643), By the Grace of God, Most Christian King of France and Navarre; Count of Provence, Forcalquier and the lands adjacent; Dauphin of Viennois, Count of Valentinois and of Diois (Style until 1641), from 1641-1643 he was styled, By the Grace of God, Most Christian King of France and Navarre; Count of Barcelona, Rousillon and Cerdagne; Count of Provence, Forcalquier and the lands adjacent; Dauphin of Viennois, Count of Valentinois and of Diois.

Louis XIV, the Sun King, (reigned 14 May 1643-1 September 1714), By the Grace of God, Most Christian King of France and Navarre; Count of Barcelona, Rousillon and Cerdagne; Count of Provence, Forcalquier and the lands adjacent; Dauphin of Viennois, Count of Valentinois and of Diois (Style until 1652) from 1652-1715 he was styled, By the Grace of God, Most Christian King of France and Navarre; Count of Provence, Forcalquier and the lands adjacent; Dauphin of Viennois, Count of Valentinois and of Diois.

Louis XV, the Beloved, (reigned 1 September 1715-10 February 1763), By the Grace of God, Most Christian King of France and Navarre; Count of Provence, Forcalquier and the lands adjacent; Dauphin of Viennois, Count of Valentinois and of Diois.

House of Hanover

George III (Note 1), (reigned 10 February 1763- 29 January 1820), By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France (Note 2)and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, Prince-Elector of Hannover, Duke of Brunswick (Style until 1801) from 1801-1820 he was styled, By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, King of Hannover, Duke of Brunswick.

George IV, (reigned 29 January 1820-26 June 1830), By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, King of Hannover, Duke of Brunswick.

William IV, (reigned 26 June 1830-20 June 1837), By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, King of Hannover, Duke of Brunswick.

Victoria, (reigned 20 June 1837-22 January 1901), By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith (Style until 1876) from 1876-1901 she was styled, By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.

House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Until 1917)

Edward VII, (reigned 22 January 1901-6 May 1910), By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

George V, (reigned 6 May 1910-20 January 1936), By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India (Style until 1927) from 1927-1936 he was styled, By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

House of Windsor (from 1917)

Edward VIII, (reigned 20 January 1936-11 December 1936), By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

George VI, (reigned 11 December 1936-6 February 1952) By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India (Style until 1948) from 1948-1952 he was styled, By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith.

Elizabeth II, (reigned 6 February 1952-Whom God Preserve) By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith (Style until 1953) since 1953 she has been styled By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. (In French: Elizabeth Deux, par la grâce de Dieu, Reine du Royaume-Uni, du Canada et de ses autres royaumes et territoires, Chef du Commonwealth, Défenseur de la Foi.)

So, based upon the above list, Her Majesty must reign until 2024 to surpass His Most Christian Majesty, Louis XIV as Canada's longest reigning monarch, and it looks like she might very well make it!

Note 1) It should be noted that there were no Monarchs of Canada known as George I or II, William I-III, Edward I-VI or Elizabeth I, but as a matter of Convention, Canada follows the regnal numbers of the United Kingdom.

Note 2) Listing the official Style of George III until 1801, implies no endorsement of the English claim to the Throne of France.