Q Which monarch ruled for the shortest amount of time – and why?

Andrew Lewis, by email

AIn England, Lady Jane Grey ruled for only nine days, though many question whether she was ever really queen. You might also count Edgar the Ætheling, the last of the house of Wessex. He was elected king following Harold’s death in 1066 but was deserted by his supporters as William moved on London. He was never crowned, and reigned for under two months.

The Danish king Swein Forkbeard invaded and was declared king of England on Christmas Day 1013 but died five weeks later. Then there’s Edward V, who reigned for 86 days – but was moved, with his brother, to the Tower of London by his uncle, the lord protector, who took the throne as Richard III; Edward was never seen again. In the 11th century three monarchs – Lulach, Duncan II and Donald III – each lasted less than a year on the Scottish throne, though Donald did get a second crack.

But British and Irish rulers don’t come close to challenging the record books. World history, both ancient and modern, is littered with short-lived monarchs – some better documented than others.

How about, for instance, ‘Louis XIX’ of France? His father, Charles X, abdicated following an uprising on 2 August 1830. Louis’ wife begged him not to sign his own abdication, and he hesitated for 20 minutes – during which time he was technically king of France.

Another who made the record books was Sayyid Khalid bin Barghash AlBusaid, who became sultan of Zanzibar in 1896 – for a mere two days. The British didn’t recognise his right to rule the strategically important island, and deposed him by force. His palace was shelled by the Royal Navy in the shortest war in history – lasting just 38 minutes.