Monarch

Marcus Aurelius

Philosophy

Stoic

"Retire into thyself. The rational principle which rules has this nature, that it is content with itself when it does what is just, and so secures tranquility."

🇫🇷Napoleon I of France

Politics

1769–1821

"I am the instrument of providence, she will use me as long as I accomplish her designs, then she will break me like a glass."

Charles II of England

Politics

1630–1685

"I am sure no man in England will take away my life to make you King."

Genghis Khan

Military

1162–1227

"In the space of seven years I have succeeded in accomplishing a great work and uniting the whole world in one Empire."

Mswati III

Literature

b. 1968

"Whenever we go abroad, people refer to us as Switzerland."

Charles V

Politics

1500–1558

"I will not blush like my predecessor Sigismund."

Edward VI of England

Politics

1537–1553

"I will say with certain intention, that I will see my laws strictly obeyed, and those who break them shall be watched and denounced."

Empress Dowager Cixi

Politics

1835–1908

"Had the foreign legations being subjected to the full force of bombardment, would those buildings still be intact today?"

Margrethe II of Denmark

archaeologist

b. 1940

"God's help, the love of the people, the strength of Denmark."

Cleopatra VII

Politics

-68–-29

"Cleopatra VII , Chapter XIII of E. R. Bevan's House of Ptolemy, 1923)"

🇸🇪Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

Politics

b. 1946

"That is something that I of course will continue to work on. To work for Sweden, to work for the people of Sweden and together with my family continue to work in the coming years for the monarchy in Sweden."

🇨🇭Michael I of Romania

Politics

1921–2017

"Because tens of millions of people have been destroyed practically, gone through absolute hell, and then suddenly they say, 'Well, it's all finished, let's forget it.' You don't forget it."

🇮🇷Nader Shah

Politics

1688–1747

"Once, when Nadir was told that there was no war in paradise, he was reported to have asked: "How can there be any delights there?."

🇯🇵Hirohito

Economics

1901–1989

"when there is no other option than to lose our own people, the best option is to fight to the very end."

Hammurabi

Politics

-1809–-1749

"Laws of justice which Hammurabi, the wise king, established."

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah

Politics

1565–1612

"Christopher Shackle: Urdu And South Muslim Asia, Oxford University Press, Delhi, 1991"

🇬🇧Edward VIII

Politics

1894–1972

"Mona said, 'Did you see Gore's new play The Best Man when you were in New York?' 'Of course not.'...'Don't like plays, only shows.' He meant musical comedies."

Cyrus the Great

Politics

-599–-529

"Cyropaedia : The Education of Cyrus, by Xenophon, as translated by Henry Graham Dakyns and revised by F.M. Stawell"

Edward I of England

Politics

1239–1307

"The laws the Irish use are detestable to God, and so contrary to all law that they ought not to be deemed law."

🇮🇳Babur

Business

1483–1530

"Most of the inhabitants of Hindustan are pagans ; they call a pagan a Hindu. Most Hindus believe in the transmigration of souls. All artisans, wage-earners, and officials are Hindus."

Nicholas_I_of_Russia

Politics

1796–1855

"I wish to base the whole structure and administration of the state on the full power and vigour of the law."

Anne of Great Britain

Politics

1665–1714

"I know my own heart to be entirely English."

George III of the United Kingdom

Politics

1738–1820

"Once vigorous measures appear to be the only means left of bringing the Americans to a due submission to the mother country, the colonies will submit."

🇧🇬Boris III of Bulgaria

Politics

1894–1943

"Your king is entirely too neutral to suit us. Anyway, there is no place for kings in the new European order."

William III of England

Politics

1650–1702

"There is one way never to see it lost, and that is to die in the last ditch."

Alfred the Great

Politics

"King Alfred's Preface to his translation of Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care"

Qianlong Emperor

Politics

1711–1799

"China should generously pacify those foreigners"

🇬🇷Constantine II of Greece

Politics

1940–2023

"If the Greek people decide that they want a republic, they are entitled to have that and should be left in peace to enjoy it."

Charlemagne

Politics

"If only I could have a dozen churchmen as wise and as well taught in all human knowledge as were Jerome and Augustine!"

🇳🇴Harald V of Norway

Politics

b. 1937

"Norwegians believe in God, Allah, the Universe and nothing."

Charles I of England

Politics

1600–1649

"You manifestly wrong even the poorest ploughman, if you demand not his free consent."

Alexander II of Russia

Politics

1818–1881

"The Assassination of Tsar Alexander II" episode of In Our Time"

🇲🇦Mohammed VI of Morocco

Politics

b. 1963

"Is it reasonable to think that Morocco respects human rights in the north of the country and transgresses them in the south?"

Rainier III

Politics

1923–2005

"Monaco will always be prosperous so long as there are 3,000 rich men in the world."

Ibn Saud

Politics

1876–1953

"God cursed the Jews, therefore they don't deserve a country."