You Pick BestYouPickBest

Who is the best king in European history?

by YPB Team

Dive into a thrilling competition of legacies where iconic rulers clash against lesser-known titans, each with their own fascinating tales of conquest, strategy, and influence. Uncover the contrasts between brilliant military leaders and enlightened visionaries, then decide: which monarch truly deserves the crown?

  1. Alexander the Great — ranked #11
    Alexander the Great
    Ancient Macedonian king known for his vast empire and military genius
  2. Charlemagne — ranked #22
    Charlemagne
    King of the Franks who united much of Western Europe during the Middle Ages
  3. William the Conqueror — ranked #33
    William the Conqueror
    First Norman King of England, known for the 1066 conquest
  4. Richard the Lionheart — ranked #44
    Richard the Lionheart
    English king famed for his leadership during the Third Crusade
  5. Louis XIV — ranked #55
    Louis XIV
    French king known as the Sun King, symbolizing absolute monarchy
  6. Peter the Great — ranked #66
    Peter the Great
    Russian czar who modernized Russia and expanded its territory
  7. Frederick the Great — ranked #77
    Frederick the Great
    Prussian king known for military victories and Enlightenment reforms
  8. Charles V — ranked #88
    Charles V
    Holy Roman Emperor who ruled over a vast European empire
  9. Philip II of Spain — ranked #99
    Philip II of Spain
    Spanish king known for his powerful reign and the Spanish Armada
  10. Henry VIII — ranked #1010
    Henry VIII
    English king famous for his six marriages and the English Reformation
  11. Elizabeth I — ranked #1111
    Elizabeth I
    Last Tudor monarch, known for the Elizabethan Era and defeating the Spanish Armada
  12. Catherine the Great — ranked #1212
    Catherine the Great
    Empress of Russia who expanded the empire and promoted the arts
  13. Napoleon Bonaparte — ranked #1313
    Napoleon Bonaparte
    French military leader who became Emperor and reshaped Europe
  14. Otto von Bismarck — ranked #1414
    Otto von Bismarck
    Prussian statesman who unified Germany and established its empire
  15. Alfred the Great — ranked #1515
    Alfred the Great
    King of Wessex known for defending against Viking invasions
  16. Edward I — ranked #1616
    Edward I
    English king known for his conquests in Wales and Scotland
  17. Henry V — ranked #1717
    Henry V
    English king celebrated for his victory at the Battle of Agincourt
  18. Louis IX — ranked #1818
    Louis IX
    French king canonized for his piety and leadership during the Crusades
  19. Francis I of France — ranked #1919
    Francis I of France
    Renaissance king known for his patronage of the arts and wars with Charles V
  20. Gustav II Adolf — ranked #2020
    Gustav II Adolf
    Swedish king known for military innovations during the Thirty Years' War
  21. Charles XII of Sweden — ranked #2121
    Charles XII of Sweden
    Swedish king known for his military campaigns and the Great Northern War
  22. Ferdinand II of Aragon — ranked #2222
    Ferdinand II of Aragon
    King who united Spain and sponsored Columbus's voyages
  23. Isabella I of Castile — ranked #2323
    Isabella I of Castile
    Queen who funded Columbus and completed the Reconquista
  24. Ivan the Terrible — ranked #2424
    Ivan the Terrible
    First Tsar of Russia known for his ruthless rule and expansion
  25. Suleiman the Magnificent — ranked #2525
    Suleiman the Magnificent
    Ottoman Sultan known for territorial expansion and legal reforms
  26. Matthias Corvinus — ranked #2626
    Matthias Corvinus
    King of Hungary known for his cultural patronage and military prowess
  27. Stephen I of Hungary — ranked #2727
    Stephen I of Hungary
    First King of Hungary, known for establishing Christianity in the nation
  28. Władysław II Jagiełło — ranked #2828
    Władysław II Jagiełło
    King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, known for his victory at Grunwald
  29. Christian IV of Denmark — ranked #2929
    Christian IV of Denmark
    Danish king known for his ambitious foreign policies and cultural contributions
  30. Leopold I — ranked #3030
    Leopold I
    Holy Roman Emperor known for his long reign and conflicts with France
  31. Joseph II — ranked #3131
    Joseph II
    Austrian emperor known for his Enlightenment reforms and modernization efforts
  32. George III — ranked #3232
    George III
    King of Great Britain known for his role during the American Revolution

#Historical Figures37#Europe81

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first!

Make your own rankingAny question with 2–50 answers. AI fills in options and pictures in a minute.Create →Add rankings to your siteEmbed any ranking. Your readers vote right on your page.How it works →