20 child rulers who inherited far too much power for their age

Shapur II of the Sassanid Empire is undoubtedly the figure on this list with the most extraordinary origin story. Legend has it that courtiers placed a crown on his pregnant mother’s belly, and although this account is more symbolic than literal, he was treated as a king from the moment of his birth, while nobles and priests ruled the empire alongside him. 

John I became king of France on the very day of his birth—a story that sounds like a fairy tale until one remembers that he lived only a few days. His entire reign took place during his first week of life, a brief royal interlude before France once again had to fight over the succession. 

Alfonso XIII was born already bearing that title, at least on paper. Since his father had died before his birth, Spain welcomed a newborn as king, while his mother reigned in his stead.

Marie became Queen of Scotland when she was only six days old. Even before she could open her eyes, her future was already entangled in marriage plans, religious conflicts, and the threatening attention of more powerful neighbors. 

Henry VI inherited the throne of England at the age of eight months, and soon afterward found himself bound to the French crown due to the political upheavals of the Hundred Years’ War. A baby could not rule even a nursery, let alone two kingdoms; thus, ambitious men took charge of governing, while his name ensured the legitimacy of their rule. 

Puyi, the last emperor of China, was not yet three years old when he was enthroned as the ruler of the Qing dynasty. The image is almost unbearable: a toddler in the heart of the Forbidden City, surrounded by ceremonies, servants, and a dynasty that was already beginning to crumble under the weight of history. 

Ivan VI was a Russian emperor who was still a child, and his reign was brief—and the most cruel imaginable. He was deposed while he was still a baby and spent most of his life in prison, because his very existence was considered politically dangerous.

Sobhuza II was named king of Swaziland while he was still an infant. Adults ruled on his behalf during his minority, but the throne had already claimed him, turning his childhood into a preparation for a life he would devote, in part, to his nation. 

Margaret was only three years old when she became the heir apparent to the Scottish throne. She never had the opportunity to fulfill that role, as she died on the journey to Scotland, leaving a power vacuum in her wake. 

Louis XIV became king of France at the age of four years and eight months. He would later come to embody the quintessential symbol of absolute monarchy, but at the time he was just a little boy in a palace full of adults who knew exactly what power was worth. 

Theodosius II was named co-emperor while still an infant and became the sole ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire at the age of seven. His reign was marked by laws, fortifications, and religious conflicts, but it began with the appointment of a child to lead an empire, even before he could grasp its significance. 

Michel III became Byzantine emperor while still a child, following his father’s death. The court around him was teeming with regents, relatives, members of the clergy, and rivals: an environment where a child’s name could open doors that he was too young to walk through on his own. 

Charles II became king of Spain before he had even celebrated his fourth birthday, and his reign began under his mother’s regency. He inherited not only a crown, but also a political system—that of the Spanish Habsburgs—that was on its last legs, with all its court intrigues and dynastic tensions. 

Christina became the designated queen of Sweden at the age of six, following the death of her father, Gustav Adolf. She received an education befitting a prince, was trained in politics, and was immersed at a very early age in the serious world that adults generally keep out of sight. 

Ivan IV became Grand Prince of Moscow at the age of three. Long before he became known as Ivan the Terrible, he was a child caught up in a violent political world, where he watched nobles vie for the throne he theoretically occupied. 

Pedro II became emperor of Brazil at the age of five, after his father abdicated and left the country for Europe. His childhood was turned into a national project, shaped by tutors, ministers, and the hope that a lonely little boy would one day ensure the stability of an empire. 

Edward VI became king of England at the age of nine, following the death of Henry VIII. He was brilliant and had received a thorough education, but his brief reign was nonetheless dominated by powerful nobles who understood the advantages of having a child king. 

Peter II was crowned Emperor of Russia at the age of eleven. He was old enough to understand that expectations were placed on him, but young enough that the factions at court could still turn his life into a power struggle. 

Jeanne became Queen of Navarre and Countess of Champagne when she was only about one year old. Her mother served as her guardian, and the child’s inheritance immediately drew pressure from neighboring countries, which saw an opportunity in a throne occupied by a baby. 

Tutankhamun became pharaoh of Egypt at around the age of eight or nine. Today, he is remembered for the gold, the masks, and the crowds in museums, but behind all that splendor lay a boy caught up in a religious revival, court intrigues, and the expectations of an ancient kingdom.