some fought for their greatness others
simply inherited power but all of these
men made history welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 most
famous kings in history for this list we
looked at the male monarchs who
epitomize their era or change the course
of world history many of these kings
were celebrated in life
others were maligned and some were of
little significance in their own day yet
all of their legacies have stood the
test of time making the my conic symbols
of kingly rule no dedication nowadays no
consideration brothers number 10
frederick ii of prussia his father gave
him braun his mother gave him brains and
with these frederick ii turned prussia
into a major European power his
hard-fought victory in the Seven Years
War doubled precious size and
international clout and his absolute yet
enlightened approach to rule saw the
implementation of new educational and
legal reforms within his country admired
by Kings adored by his subjects
frederick brought greatness to prussia
and in doing so became frederick the
great number nine high let’s say lassie
the first his lineage traced back to
king solomon and he’s considered a god
in the Rastafarian tradition Emperor of
Ethiopia Haile Selassie rousted Italian
colonizers and ushered his country into
the 20th century known for his ornately
regal garb and mysteriously kingly gaze
Selassie introduced many progressive
reforms especially with respect to
foreign civilization modernizing his
country yet he ruled like a medieval
despot and was overthrown in 1974 the
last king of Ethiopia his reign marked
the end of a three thousand-year-old
dynasty number 8 Tutankhamun a child
king who reigned only nine years
Tutankhamun played a minor role in
Egypt’s long history yet his burial site
is one of the only intact tombs ever
found revealing a wealth of
extraordinary artifacts that shed new
light on the ancient Egyptians which has
made Tutankhamun an iconic symbol of
this mysterious world despite being
involved in several building projects
and making attempts to improve relations
with other kingdoms he was a ruler of
little consequence in life however the
discovery of his tomb made King Tut a
legend 3,000 years after his death
number seven Peter the first of Russia
the Tsar inherited an inward-looking
medieval kingdom and turned it into a
powerful modernized Empire Peter the
Great improved his country’s military
streamlined governmental systems
implemented education reform and
expanded Russian territory along its
eastern and southern borders though his
efficacy as a ruler often crossed the
line from proficiency to tyranny Peter
the first is known for catalyzing his
country’s progress and re-establishing
Russia status as a major player on the
international stage number six Hammurabi
wanna make history write stuff down the
sixth king of the first Babylonian
dynasty Hammurabi is best known for his
famous legal decree consisting of eight
foot high carved tablets and one of the
earliest examples of codified law ever
found written in the Babylonian
vernacular the Code of Hammurabi is
famous for its eye for an eye approach
to justice though modern lawmaking is
generally less brutal Hammurabi is still
celebrated as one of the earliest known
lawmakers in the civilized world
number five Charlemagne fierce warrior
King and formidable political strategist
Charlemagne unified most of Western
Europe through a series of bloody
military campaigns he attached himself
to the last vestiges of ancient Rome by
working to preserve Latin texts and
enforcing Christianity throughout his
vast territory he promoted literacy and
established a network of diplomatic
emissaries that centralized power and
established his Carolingian Empire the
medieval king with modern ideas
Charlemagne’s innovate
built the foundations of contemporary
Europe number four cyrus ii of persia
his life was chronicled by Herodotus the
Bible holds him in the highest esteem
Cyrus the Great built the Achaemenid
Empire
holding dominion over the largest
kingdom in history with a territory that
stretched over three continents Cyrus’s
military innovation and political
ingenuity was felt across most of the
ancient world inspirational to
subsequent conquerors a hero of the
Persian Empire Cyrus the Great is a
central figure in the history of Eastern
and Western civilization number three
Alexander the 3rd of Macedon Alexander
there’s another ancient law of kingship
to trust no one and to learn how to be
alone he had a kingdom at 20 and an
empire by 32 Alexander the Great was a
military genius whose territory spanned
from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River
a man of legendary vision Alexander
toppled great dynasties built new cities
and promoted the spread of Greek ideas
and culture throughout the ancient world
a celebrated hero of the Classical Age
Alexander’s rise to power was Swift and
short-lived but his legacy resonates
even today what every warrior has known
since the beginning of time
conquer your fear and I promise you
you’ll conquer death number two Henry
the eighth of England hey heyy hi Henry
by the grace of God King of England
Ireland and France do hereby it up I
cannot be that while you were here sir I
would be a liar during this summit I am
simply Henry king of England he may have
started the English Reformation but
let’s face it Henry the eighth’s six
wives are why he’s famous highly
educated and charismatic Henry was also
extremely cutthroat literally political
enemies were beheaded and personal foes
often suffered the same fate his
marriages to Anne Boleyn and Catherine
Howard ended at the executioner’s
chopping block though his personal
troubles were motivated by the desire
for male heir Henry the eighth would
come to father two of England’s most
famous queens I still don’t care I
ordered you to get someone else I want
to dance I want it over with finished go
and do it all by God’s blood your China
before we crown our pick for number one
here are a few honorable mentions
number one louis xiv of france he built
the Palace of Versailles and embarked on
a series of costly Wars then we wanted
to project an image of power louis xiv
symbolizes the frivolity of 18th century
monarch achill rule by taking opulence
and absolutism to their extreme some
argue louis xiv thrust france into
financial ruin
which led his country down the road to
revolution called the son king in life
his legacy casts a long dark shadow
making him the most famous and notorious
king in history do you agree with our
list which magnificent monarch or royal
renegade needs more attention for more
historical top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
also some new functions
simply inherited power but all of these
men made history welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 most
famous kings in history for this list we
looked at the male monarchs who
epitomize their era or change the course
of world history many of these kings
were celebrated in life
others were maligned and some were of
little significance in their own day yet
all of their legacies have stood the
test of time making the my conic symbols
of kingly rule no dedication nowadays no
consideration brothers number 10
frederick ii of prussia his father gave
him braun his mother gave him brains and
with these frederick ii turned prussia
into a major European power his
hard-fought victory in the Seven Years
War doubled precious size and
international clout and his absolute yet
enlightened approach to rule saw the
implementation of new educational and
legal reforms within his country admired
by Kings adored by his subjects
frederick brought greatness to prussia
and in doing so became frederick the
great number nine high let’s say lassie
the first his lineage traced back to
king solomon and he’s considered a god
in the Rastafarian tradition Emperor of
Ethiopia Haile Selassie rousted Italian
colonizers and ushered his country into
the 20th century known for his ornately
regal garb and mysteriously kingly gaze
Selassie introduced many progressive
reforms especially with respect to
foreign civilization modernizing his
country yet he ruled like a medieval
despot and was overthrown in 1974 the
last king of Ethiopia his reign marked
the end of a three thousand-year-old
dynasty number 8 Tutankhamun a child
king who reigned only nine years
Tutankhamun played a minor role in
Egypt’s long history yet his burial site
is one of the only intact tombs ever
found revealing a wealth of
extraordinary artifacts that shed new
light on the ancient Egyptians which has
made Tutankhamun an iconic symbol of
this mysterious world despite being
involved in several building projects
and making attempts to improve relations
with other kingdoms he was a ruler of
little consequence in life however the
discovery of his tomb made King Tut a
legend 3,000 years after his death
number seven Peter the first of Russia
the Tsar inherited an inward-looking
medieval kingdom and turned it into a
powerful modernized Empire Peter the
Great improved his country’s military
streamlined governmental systems
implemented education reform and
expanded Russian territory along its
eastern and southern borders though his
efficacy as a ruler often crossed the
line from proficiency to tyranny Peter
the first is known for catalyzing his
country’s progress and re-establishing
Russia status as a major player on the
international stage number six Hammurabi
wanna make history write stuff down the
sixth king of the first Babylonian
dynasty Hammurabi is best known for his
famous legal decree consisting of eight
foot high carved tablets and one of the
earliest examples of codified law ever
found written in the Babylonian
vernacular the Code of Hammurabi is
famous for its eye for an eye approach
to justice though modern lawmaking is
generally less brutal Hammurabi is still
celebrated as one of the earliest known
lawmakers in the civilized world
number five Charlemagne fierce warrior
King and formidable political strategist
Charlemagne unified most of Western
Europe through a series of bloody
military campaigns he attached himself
to the last vestiges of ancient Rome by
working to preserve Latin texts and
enforcing Christianity throughout his
vast territory he promoted literacy and
established a network of diplomatic
emissaries that centralized power and
established his Carolingian Empire the
medieval king with modern ideas
Charlemagne’s innovate
built the foundations of contemporary
Europe number four cyrus ii of persia
his life was chronicled by Herodotus the
Bible holds him in the highest esteem
Cyrus the Great built the Achaemenid
Empire
holding dominion over the largest
kingdom in history with a territory that
stretched over three continents Cyrus’s
military innovation and political
ingenuity was felt across most of the
ancient world inspirational to
subsequent conquerors a hero of the
Persian Empire Cyrus the Great is a
central figure in the history of Eastern
and Western civilization number three
Alexander the 3rd of Macedon Alexander
there’s another ancient law of kingship
to trust no one and to learn how to be
alone he had a kingdom at 20 and an
empire by 32 Alexander the Great was a
military genius whose territory spanned
from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River
a man of legendary vision Alexander
toppled great dynasties built new cities
and promoted the spread of Greek ideas
and culture throughout the ancient world
a celebrated hero of the Classical Age
Alexander’s rise to power was Swift and
short-lived but his legacy resonates
even today what every warrior has known
since the beginning of time
conquer your fear and I promise you
you’ll conquer death number two Henry
the eighth of England hey heyy hi Henry
by the grace of God King of England
Ireland and France do hereby it up I
cannot be that while you were here sir I
would be a liar during this summit I am
simply Henry king of England he may have
started the English Reformation but
let’s face it Henry the eighth’s six
wives are why he’s famous highly
educated and charismatic Henry was also
extremely cutthroat literally political
enemies were beheaded and personal foes
often suffered the same fate his
marriages to Anne Boleyn and Catherine
Howard ended at the executioner’s
chopping block though his personal
troubles were motivated by the desire
for male heir Henry the eighth would
come to father two of England’s most
famous queens I still don’t care I
ordered you to get someone else I want
to dance I want it over with finished go
and do it all by God’s blood your China
before we crown our pick for number one
here are a few honorable mentions
number one louis xiv of france he built
the Palace of Versailles and embarked on
a series of costly Wars then we wanted
to project an image of power louis xiv
symbolizes the frivolity of 18th century
monarch achill rule by taking opulence
and absolutism to their extreme some
argue louis xiv thrust france into
financial ruin
which led his country down the road to
revolution called the son king in life
his legacy casts a long dark shadow
making him the most famous and notorious
king in history do you agree with our
list which magnificent monarch or royal
renegade needs more attention for more
historical top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
also some new functions
Please follow and like us: