View source for List of usurpers

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Incomplete list|date=October 2024}}
{{canned search|usurper king|usurper queen}}
The following is a '''list of usurpers''' – illegitimate or controversial claimants to the throne in a monarchy. The word [[usurper]] is a derogatory term, often associated with claims that the ruler seized power by force or deceit rather than legal right.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=viBOKgmt8LkC&q=usurper%20tyrannos%20pericles&pg=PA250|title=Pericles Of Athens And The Birth Of Democracy|last=Kagan|first=Donald|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9780684863955|pages=250|language=en|date=1998}}</ref> The term has often carried disdain to those who have been accused of being one.<ref>[https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/King-Henry-IV/ HistoricUK]</ref>

==Belgium==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="500"|Comments
|-
|[[Leopold I of Belgium]]
|[[William I of the Netherlands]]
|1831–1865
|The [[Southern Netherlands|southern provinces of the Netherlands]] declared independence from the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] with [[Leopold I of Belgium|Leopold I]] being proclaimed King and sovereign ruler of the newly established [[Kingdom of Belgium]] in 1831. King [[William I of the Netherlands]] refused to accept the illegal separation of Belgium and launched the [[Ten Days' Campaign]], a large military offensive by the Dutch to recapture the renegade southern provinces. Although initially successful for the Dutch, the French however backed the Belgians militarily and thereby forced the Dutch to accept diplomatic mediation. In 1839, the two countries signed the [[Treaty of London (1839)|Treaty of London]], officially recognizing the Kingdom of Belgium as an independent and sovereign state, and Leopold I as its legitimate ruler.
|}

==China==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="185"|Usurper
!width="185"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="340"|Comments
|-
|[[Tang of Shang|Tang]]
|[[Jie of Xia|King Jie of Xia]]
|1675–1646 BC
|Collapse of the [[Xia dynasty]]. Establishment of the [[Shang dynasty]].
|-
|[[King Wu of Zhou]]
|[[King Zhou of Shang]]
|1046–1043 BC
|Collapse of the [[Shang dynasty]]. Establishment of the [[Western Zhou]].
|-
|[[King Cheng of Chu]]
|[[Du'ao]]
|671–626 BC
|
|-
|[[King Mu of Chu]]
|[[King Cheng of Chu]]
|625–614 BC
|
|-
|[[King Ling of Chu]]
|[[Jia'ao]]
|540–529 BC
|
|-
|[[Helü of Wu|Helü]]
|[[Liao of Wu|Liao]]
|514–496 BC
|
|-
|[[Duke Tai of Tian Qi]]
|[[Duke Kang of Qi|Duke Kang of Jiang Qi]]
|386–384 BC
|Collapse of the [[Qi (state)#House of Jiang|Jiang Qi]]. Establishment of the [[Qi (state)#House of Tian|Tian Qi]].
|-
|[[Qin Er Shi]]
|[[Qin Shi Huang]]<br />{{small|(predecessor)}}<hr/>[[Fusu]]<br />{{small|(rightful claimant to throne; not enthroned)}}
|210–207 BC
|Known in historiography as the Shaqiu Coup.
|-
|[[Wang Mang]]
|[[Ruzi Ying|Liu Ying]]
|9–23
|Collapse of the [[Han dynasty#Western Han|Western Han]]. Establishment of the [[Xin dynasty]].
|-
|[[Cao Pi|Emperor Wen of Cao Wei]]
|[[Emperor Xian of Han]]
|220–226
|Collapse of the [[Han dynasty#Eastern Han|Eastern Han]]. Establishment of the [[Cao Wei]].
|-
|[[Emperor Wu of Jin]]
|[[Cao Huan|Emperor Yuan of Cao Wei]]
|266–290
|Collapse of the [[Cao Wei]]. Establishment of the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)|Western Jin]].
|-
|[[Huan Xuan|Emperor Wudao of Huan Chu]]
|[[Emperor An of Jin]]
|404
|Establishment of the [[Huan Xuan|Huan Chu]].
|-
|[[Emperor Wu of Song|Emperor Wu of Liu Song]]
|[[Emperor Gong of Jin]]
|420–422
|Collapse of the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)#Eastern Jin|Eastern Jin]]. Establishment of the [[Liu Song dynasty|Liu Song]].
|-
|[[Liu Shao (Liu Song)|Liu Shao]]
|[[Emperor Wen of Song|Emperor Wen of Liu Song]]
|453
|
|-
|[[Emperor Ming of Song|Emperor Ming of Liu Song]]
|[[Liu Ziye]]
|466–472
|
|-
|[[Emperor Gao of Southern Qi]]
|[[Emperor Shun of Song|Emperor Shun of Liu Song]]
|479–482
|Collapse of the [[Liu Song dynasty|Liu Song]]. Establishment of the [[Southern Qi]].
|-
|[[Emperor Ming of Southern Qi]]
|[[Xiao Zhaowen]]
|494–498
|
|-
|[[Emperor Wu of Liang]]
|[[Emperor He of Southern Qi]]
|502–549
|Collapse of the [[Southern Qi]]. Establishment of the [[Liang dynasty]].
|-
|[[Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi]]
|[[Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei]]
|550–559
|Collapse of the [[Eastern Wei]]. Establishment of the [[Northern Qi]].
|-
|[[Hou Jing]]
|[[Xiao Dong]]
|551–552
|Establishment of the [[Hou Jing|Hou Han]].
|-
|[[Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou]]
|[[Emperor Gong of Western Wei]]
|557
|Collapse of the [[Western Wei]]. Establishment of the [[Northern Zhou]].
|-
|[[Emperor Wu of Chen]]
|[[Emperor Jing of Liang]]
|557–559
|Collapse of the [[Liang dynasty]]. Establishment of the [[Chen dynasty]].
|-
|[[Emperor Xuan of Chen]]
|[[Emperor Fei of Chen|Chen Bozong]]
|569–582
|
|-
|[[Emperor Wen of Sui]]
|[[Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou]]
|581–604
|Collapse of the [[Northern Zhou]]. Establishment of the [[Sui dynasty]].
|-
|[[Emperor Yang of Sui]]
|[[Emperor Wen of Sui]]<br />{{small|(predecessor)}}<hr/>[[Yang Yong (Sui dynasty)|Yang Yong]]<br />{{small|(rightful claimant to throne; not enthroned)}}
|604–618
|
|-
|[[Yuwen Huaji]]
|[[Yang Hao (Sui dynasty)|Yang Hao]]
|618–619
|Establishment of the [[Yuwen Huaji|Xu]].
|-
|[[Emperor Gaozu of Tang]]
|[[Yang You]]
|618–626
|Establishment of the [[Tang dynasty]].
|-
|[[Wang Shichong]]
|[[Yang Tong]]
|619–621
|Collapse of the [[Sui dynasty]]. Establishment of the [[Wang Shichong|Zheng]].
|-
|[[Emperor Taizong of Tang]]
|[[Emperor Gaozu of Tang]]<br />{{small|(predecessor)}}<hr/>[[Li Jiancheng]]<br />{{small|(rightful claimant to throne; not enthroned)}}
|626–649
|Known in historiography as the [[Xuanwu Gate Incident]].
|-
|[[Wu Zetian|Wu Zhao]]
|[[Emperor Ruizong of Tang]]
|690–705
|Interregnum of the [[Tang dynasty]]. Establishment of the [[Zhou dynasty (690–705)|Wu Zhou]].
|-
|[[Emperor Zhongzong of Tang]]
|[[Wu Zetian|Wu Zhao]]
|684, 705–710
|Collapse of the [[Zhou dynasty (690–705)|Wu Zhou]]. Restoration of the [[Tang dynasty]]. Known in historiography as the Shenlong Coup.
|-
|[[Zhu Wen|Emperor Taizu of Later Liang]]
|[[Emperor Ai of Tang]]
|907–912
|Collapse of the [[Tang dynasty]]. Establishment of the [[Later Liang (Five Dynasties)|Later Liang]].
|-
|[[Zhu Yougui]]
|[[Zhu Wen|Emperor Taizu of Later Liang]]
|912–913
|
|-
|[[Li Siyuan|Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang]]
|[[Li Cunxu|Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang]]
|926–933
|Known in historiography as the Xingjiao Gate Incident.
|-
|[[Li Bian|Emperor Liezu of Southern Tang]]
|[[Yang Pu|Emperor Rui of Yang Wu]]
|937–943
|Collapse of the [[Yang Wu]]. Establishment of the [[Southern Tang]].
|-
|[[Guo Wei|Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou]]
|[[Liu Chengyou|Emperor Yin of Later Han]]
|951–954
|Collapse of the [[Later Han (Five Dynasties)|Later Han]]. Establishment of the [[Later Zhou]].
|-
|[[Emperor Taizu of Song]]
|[[Guo Zongxun|Emperor Gong of Later Zhou]]
|960–976
|Collapse of the [[Later Zhou]]. Establishment of the [[Northern Song dynasty|Northern Song]]. Known in historiography as the [[Emperor Taizu of Song#Coup at Chen Bridge|Coup at Chen Bridge]].
|-
|[[Emperor Taizong of Song]]
|[[Emperor Taizu of Song]]
|976–997
|
|-
|[[Wanyan Liang]]
|[[Emperor Xizong of Jin]]
|1150–1161
|
|-
|[[Emperor Lizong|Emperor Lizong of Song]]
|[[Emperor Ningzong|Emperor Ningzong of Song]]<br />{{small|(predecessor)}}<hr/>[[Zhao Hong (Song dynasty)|Zhao Hong]]<br />{{small|(rightful claimant to throne; not enthroned)}}
|1224–1264
|
|-
|[[Yongle Emperor]]
|[[Jianwen Emperor]]
|1402–1424
|Known in historiography as the [[Jingnan campaign|Jingnan Campaign]].
|
|-
|[[Jingtai Emperor]]
|[[Emperor Yingzong of Ming]]
|1449 – 1457
|The Jingtai Emperor and Ming government deposed Emperor Yingzong as he was held captive by the Mongols.
|
|-
|[[Emperor Yingzong of Ming]]
|[[Jingtai Emperor]]
|1435–1449, 1457–1464
|Known in historiography as the Duomen Coup.
|}

==Egypt==

{|class="wikitable" number 3
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="460"|Comments
|-
|[[Amasis II]]
|[[Apries]]
|570 BC – 526 BC
|
|}

==England==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="500"|Comments
|-
|[[Beorhtric of Wessex|Beorhtric]]
|[[Cynewulf of Wessex|Cynewulf]]
|786 - 802
| In 786 Cynewulf was murdered by [[Cyneheard the Ætheling]], brother of [[Sigeberht of Wessex|Sigeberht]] whom Cynewulf had deposed.<ref name="Ashley312">Mike Ashley, ''The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens'' (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 312</ref> Beorhtric then became king of Wessex with support from [[Offa of Mercia]]. It is not known whether Beorhtric played a role in the murder.
|-
|[[Sweyn Forkbeard]]
|[[Æthelred the Unready]]
|1013 - 1014
| In 1013, Sweyn Forkbeard invaded England with a large army, possibly to avenge the [[St Brice's Day massacre]], where his sister and brother-in-law were allegedly killed. The invasion was successful, and Æthelred went into exile. Sweyn was crowned king of England, but died a few weeks later. His son [[Canute]] would later invade and conquer England in 1016.
|-
|[[Canute the Great]]
|[[Edmund Ironside]]
|1016 - 1035
| After the death of [[Sweyn Forkbeard]], [[Æthelred the Unready]] was brought back to the throne of England, however he only ruled for two years before dying of unknown causes. His eldest son Edmund Ironside was crowned king, however later that year Sweyn's son, [[Canute]] invaded England. After being defeated, Edmund agreed to cede all of England, save Wessex, to Canute. Edmund Ironside then died of unknown causes, and Canute was crowned King of England.
|-
|[[William The Conqueror]]
|[[Harold Godwinson]]
|1066 - 1087
| When [[Edward the Confessor]] died, he had named his brother-in-law [[Harold Godwinson]] as his successor, the [[Witan]] agreed and crowned him king, legitimising his claim. [[William The Conqueror]] made up a claim that he was promised the throne by Edward during the time when [[Edward the Confessor]] was in exile in Normandy, but this did not happen. [[William The Conqueror]] decided to invade England in 1066, defeated [[Harold Godwinson]] at The Battle of Hastings, then made himself king of England. The [[Witan]] never officially accepted his claim, thus making him illegitimate and a usurper. 
|-
|[[Stephen of England|Stephen]]
|[[Henry I of England|Henry I]]
|1135–1154
|[[Henry I of England|Henry I]] named his daughter [[Matilda of England|Matilda]] his heir, and she was recognised as such by the barons of England. On Henry's death, Stephen took the crown before Matilda learned that her father was dead, which led to 20 years of civil war.
|-
|[[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]]
|[[Richard II of England|Richard II]]
|1399–1413
|A period of crisis emerged in 1398{{ndash}}1399 under Richard II as he enacted revenge on leading nobles for a dispute ten years previously. He took action against the Lords Appellant, murdering a leader and banishing [[Henry IV of England|Henry Bolingbrooke]]. On the death of Bolingbrooke's father, [[John of Gaunt]], the son wished to return to claim his inheritance as the Duke of Lancaster, which Richard II denied. Henry returned from his exile in France whilst Richard II was away in Ireland. With the support of prominent Northern noble families, Henry took the throne.
|-
|[[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]]
|[[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]]
|1461–1470
1471–1483
| After the death of his father, [[Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York|Richard of York]] at the [[Battle of Wakefield]] in 1460, Edward took over leadership of the [[House of York|Yorkist faction]].  His father had been declared the king's heir by parliament, but Edward took the further step of proclaiming himself king in March 1461.  He subsequently defeated [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrian]] forces at the [[Battle of Towton]], forcing [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]] into exile in Scotland.  
|-
|[[Richard III of England|Richard III]]
|[[Edward V of England|Edward V]]
|1483–1485
| When his brother [[Edward IV of England|King Edward IV]] died in April 1483, Richard was named Lord Protector of the realm for Edward's eldest son and successor, the 12-year-old [[Edward V of England|Edward V]]. Arrangements were made for Edward's coronation on 22 June 1483; but, before the young king could be crowned, the marriage of his parents was declared bigamous and therefore invalid, making their children officially illegitimate and thus barring them from inheriting the throne. On 25 June, an assembly of Lords and commoners endorsed a declaration to this effect and proclaimed Richard the rightful king.<ref>{{cite journal |title=THE USURPATION OF RICHARD THE THIRD » 31 Jul 1936 » The Spectator Archive |journal=The Spectator Archive |url=http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/31st-july-1936/29/the-usurpation-of-richard-the-third}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Levine |first1=Mortimer |title=Richard III--Usurper or Lawful King? |journal=Speculum |date=1959 |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=391–401 |doi=10.2307/2850815 |jstor=2850815 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2850815 |issn=0038-7134|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|-
|[[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]]
|[[Richard III of England|Richard III]]
|1485–1509
| Forces under Henry Tudor won the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]], during which Richard III was killed. Henry then became Henry VII and married the daughter of Edward IV, which is claimed to have ended the [[War of the Roses]], though relatives of Richard made various attempts to remove him from power.
|-
|[[William III of England|William III]] and [[Mary II of England|Mary II]]
|[[James II of England|James II and VII]]
|1689–1702
|James II and VII fled after the arrival of William and Mary along with their army. This became known as the [[Glorious Revolution]].
|}

==France==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="500"|Comments
|-
|[[Pepin the Short]]
|[[Childeric III]]
|751–768
|-The Merovingian royal family have a junior cadet branch surviving today in the neighbourhood of Whitby North Yorkshire. Two Merovingian Princes visited Whitby during the synod of Whitby in 664. Some members of the family living in the neighbourhood of Whitby are directly descended in the male line from Clovis the Frank and therefore under the Salic Law have a claim to the ancient thrones of the Frankish Kingdoms. This is the only branch of the family known to survive in the pure male line, after nearly all the Merovingians living in France were murdered by Pepin de Herstal, Charlemagne's great-grandfather. Only one male member of the North Yorkshire branch of the family is known to have the traditional family birthmark in the shape of a fleur de lis.
|-
|[[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]]
|[[French Directory|The Directorate]]
|1799–1814 
|In the ''[[Coup of 18 Brumaire|Coup d'état of 18 Brumaire]]'', (9 November 1799) Napoleon overthrew the [[Constitution of the Year III]] and established his rule as First Consul, and five years later as Emperor.
|-
|[[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]]
|[[Louis XVIII of France|Louis XVIII]]
|1815–1815 
|[[Hundred Days]]
|-
|[[Louis Philippe I of France|Louis Philippe I]]
|[[Henri, Count of Chambord|Henri V]]
|1830–1848
|Louis Philippe took the throne in the aftermath of the [[July Revolution]], which had resulted in the abdication of King Charles X in favor of his grandson, a young child.
|}

==Gwynedd (Wales)==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="460"|Comments
|-
|[[Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd|Dafydd]],<br /> [[Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd|Rhodri]],<br /> & [[Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd|Cynan]]
|[[Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd|Hywel ab Owain]]
|1170–1195
| [[Llywelyn the Great]], with the senior legitimate claim, overthrew his uncles
|-
|}

==Hawaii==

:''See also [[Aliʻi nui of Hawaii]].''
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Usurper
!Predecessor
!Reign
!Comments
|-
|[[Kamaiole]]
|[[Kanipahu]]
|1245–1255
|
|-
|[[Alapaʻi|Alapa{{okina}}i Nui]]
|[[Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku]]
|1725–1754
|
|}

==Holy Roman Empire==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="500"|Comments
|-
|[[Maria Theresa]]
|[[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles VI]]
|1745–1765 ''de jure''; 1740–1780 ''de facto''
|Her father Charles VI illegally changed his father's ([[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor|Leopold I]]) [[Mutual Pact of Succession]] (1703) from the senior-most-in-line, being his elder brother's ([[Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph I]]), daughter [[Maria Josepha of Austria|Maria Josepha]], as heir to the [[Holy Roman Empire]], to that of his own daughter, Maria Theresa, with his [[Pragmatic Sanction of 1713]]. This very act precipitated the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] (1740–1748), which continued on through and resulted into the [[Seven Years' War]] (1756–1763).
|-
|}

==Iberian Peninsula==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="460"|Comments
|-
|[[Roderic|Rodrigo]]
|[[Wittiza]]
|710-711
|
|-
|[[Mauregato]]
|[[Silo of Asturias|Silo]]
|783-789
|
|-
|[[Ordoño IV of León|Ordoño IV]]
|[[Sancho I of León|Sancho I]]
|951–956
|
|-
|[[Ferdinand I of León|Ferdinand the Great]]
|[[Bermudo III of León|Bermudo III]]
|1037-65
|
|-
|[[Sancho II of Castile and León|Sancho II]]
|[[García II of Galicia|García II]] and [[Alfonso VI of León and Castile|Alfonso VI]]
|1071-1072
|
|-
|[[Henry II of Castile|Henry II]]
|[[Peter of Castile|Peter the Cruel]]
|1366-1367 1369-1379
|
|-
|[[Miguel I of Portugal|Michael I]]
|[[Maria II of Portugal|Mary II]]
|1828-1834
| See [[Liberal Wars]]
|-
|[[Isabella II of Spain|Isabella II]]
|[[Ferdinand VII|Fernando VII]]
|1813-1833
| See [[Carlist Wars]]
|-
|[[Amadeo I of Spain|Amadeo I]]
|[[Isabella II of Spain|Isabella II]]
|1833-1868
| See [[Glorious Revolution (Spain)]]
|}

==Iran (Persia)==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="500"|Comments
|-
|[[Mahmud Hotak]]
|[[Sultan Husayn]]
|1722–1725
|Mahmud, an Afghan ruler of the [[Hotak dynasty]] who overthrew the heavily declined [[Safavid dynasty]] to briefly become the [[List of monarchs of Persia|Shah of Persia]] from 1722 until his death in 1725.
|-
|[[Ashraf Hotak]]
|[[Mahmud Hotak]]
|1725–1729
|Ashraf, also an Afghan ruler of the [[Hotak dynasty]], who took the throne in 1725 after killing his cousin Mahmud Hotak. Ashraf himself was killed in the [[Battle of Damghan (1729)|Battle of Damghan]] in 1729 thereby restoring the rule by the [[Safavid dynasty]] ([[Tahmasp II]], son of Sultan Husayn, subsequently became Shah of Persia).
|-
|[[Nader Shah Afshar]]
|[[Abbas III]]
|1736–1747
|Nader, from humble origin and member of the [[Afshar tribe]], became an important Persian army leader during the reign of [[Tahmasp II]], Safavid Shah of Persia. In 1732 he forced Tahmasp III to abdicate in favour of the Shah's baby son, [[Abbas III]], to whom Nader became regent (''de facto'' ruler). In 1736, he proclaimed himself Shah of Persia in which Abbas III was killed. Nader Shah Afshar was founder and first Shah of the [[Afsharid dynasty]].
|-
|[[Adel Shah Afshar]]
|[[Nader Shah Afshar]]
|1747–1748
|Adel, member of the [[Afsharid dynasty]] and nephew of Nader Shah Afshar, took the throne in 1747 after rebelling against his uncle who was killed in the process.
|-
|[[Ebrahim Afshar]]
|[[Adel Shah Afshar]]
|1748
|Ebrahim, member of the [[Afsharid dynasty]] and brother of Adel Shah Afshar, took the throne in 1748 after deposing, blinding & then killing his brother.
|-
|[[Shahrokh Shah|Shahrokh Mirza Afshar]]
|[[Ebrahim Afshar]]
|1748– 1750, 1750–1796
|Shahrokh, member of the [[Afsharid dynasty]] and grandson of Nader Shah Afshar, took the throne in 1748 after the deposition and murder of Ebrahim Afshar. His throne was restored in 1750, but at the end of his life, the Afsharid rule was confined to a small local state in [[Khorasan Province|Khorasan]] (with the bulk of his former empire divided between the [[Zand dynasty]], the [[Qajar dynasty]], and tribes from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Georgia and the Caucasus). In 1796, Shahrokh died from torture ordered by Qajar ruler [[Agha Mohammad Khan]] (who himself became Shah of Persia in 1789).
|-
|[[Suleiman II of Persia]]
|[[Shahrokh Shah|Shahrokh Mirza Afshar]]
|1749–1750
|Suleiman II, pretender to the former [[Safavid dynasty|Safavid throne]], took the throne in 1749 after deposing & blinding Shahrokh Afshar. Suleiman II himself was blinded and removed from the throne in 1750, whereby Shahrokh Afshar was restored to his power.
|-
|[[Ali Mardan Khan Bakhtiari]]
|[[Shahrokh Shah|Shahrokh Mirza Afshar]]
|1750–1751
|In 1750, Chahar Lang chieftain Ali Mardan Khan Bakhtiari and the Zand chieftain [[Karim Khan Zand|Karim Khan]] conquered the former Safavid capital [[Isfahan]] and installed [[Ismail III]], the last prince of the [[Safavid dynasty]], as a [[figurehead]] and "puppet shah of Persia" in order to legitimize their rule over Persia. Ali Mardan took the title of ''[[Wakil|Vakil-e]]'', i.e. "deputy" or "regent" of the Persian state, which ended with the overthrown of his regime in 1751.
|-
|[[Karim Khan Zand]]
|[[Ali Mardan Khan Bakhtiari]]
|1751–1779
|After killing Ali Mardan Khan Bakhtiari in 1751, Karim Khan Zand appointed himself ''[[Wakil|Vakil-e]]'' (regent) of the Persian state. However, albeit ''de facto'' ruler of all of Persia (except for [[Khorasan Province|Khorasan]] which was still ruled by [[Shahrokh Shah|Shahrokh Mirza Afshar]]), he never officially adopted the title of ''Shah'' for himself. Although, in retrospection he can be considered founder and first Shah of the [[Zand dynasty]]. Ismail III continued to be "puppet shah of Persia" in order to legitimize Karim Khan's rule over Persia; he was kept in safe custody at the stronghold of [[Abadeh]] till his death in 1773.
|-
|[[Zaki Khan Zand]]
|[[Karim Khan Zand]]
|1779
|With the natural death in 1779 of [[Karim Khan Zand]], ruler of the [[Zand dynasty]], a power struggle followed. Karim Khan's brother Zaki Khan Zand installed [[Mohammad Ali Khan Zand]], the younger son of Karim Khan who was also his son-in-law, as Shah of the Zand dynasty; although according to [[male primogeniture]] [[Abol-Fath Khan Zand]], the eldest son of Karim Khan should have become Shah. Later on, both sons Mohammad Ali Khan and Abol-Fath Khan Zand were declared co-shahs, but they were only [[puppet ruler]]s with nominal power; the real power was taken into the hands of their uncle Zaki Khan who was the ''de facto'' ruler. However, his reign was short-lived being murdered by rebellious tribal leaders after a few months.
|-
|[[Sadeq Khan Zand]]
|[[Abol-Fath Khan Zand]]
|1779–1781
|With [[Zaki Khan Zand]] being killed in June 1779 and [[Mohammad Ali Khan Zand]] died of a heart attack in the same month, [[Abol-Fath Khan Zand]] was proclaimed the sole official (3rd) Shah of the Zand dynasty by his uncle [[Sadeq Khan Zand]]. However, Sadeq held the real power with Abol-Fath only as puppet-monarch not taking part in the administration of the empire. This situation did not however suit Sadeq Khan for long; after two months he proclaimed himself Shah with deposing, blinding & later killing his nephew Abol-Fath.
|-
|[[Ali-Morad Khan Zand]]
|[[Sadeq Khan Zand]]
|1781–1785
|Ali-Morad Khan, a distant member of the Zand dynasty, took the throne in 1781 after capturing the capitol [[Shiraz]] and murdering [[Sadeq Khan Zand]], the fifth Shah of the Zand dynasty.
|-
|[[Jafar Khan Zand]]
|[[Ali-Morad Khan Zand]]
|1785–1789
|Jafar Khan Zand, son of the fifth Shah [[Sadeq Khan Zand]], took the throne in 1785 after murdering [[Ali-Morad Khan Zand]], the sixth Shah of the Zand dynasty.
|-
|[[Sayed Morad Khan|Sayed Morad Khan Zand]]
|[[Jafar Khan Zand]]
|1789
|Sayed Morad Khan, son of the sixth Shah [[Ali-Morad Khan Zand]], took the throne in 1789 after murdering [[Jafar Khan Zand]], the seventh Shah of the Zand dynasty.
|-
|[[Lotf Ali Khan Zand]]
|[[Sayed Morad Khan|Sayed Morad Khan Zand]]
|1789–1794
|On hearing of the murder of his father [[Jafar Khan Zand]], Lotf Ali Khan marched to the capital Shiraz and took the throne in 1789 after forcing to surrender and executing [[Sayed Morad Khan]], eighth Shah of the Zand dynasty.
|-
|[[Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar]]
|[[Lotf Ali Khan Zand]]
|1789–1797
|Agha Mohammad Khan was a eunuch who served at a Persian court and was enthroned as the Shah of Persia in 1789, but was not officially crowned until March 1796, having deposed, blinded & then killed [[Lotf Ali Khan]] (9th and last Shah of the Zand dynasty) in 1794, and killing [[eunuch|Shahrokh Mirza Afshar]] (last Shah of the [[Afsharid dynasty]]) in 1796. Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar was founder and first Shah of the [[Qajar dynasty]], and with him Persia became again centralized and unified.
|-
|[[Reza Shah Pahlavi]]
|[[Ahmad Shah Qajar]]
|1925–1941
|Reza Shah Pahlavi was a former brigadier-general of the [[Persian Cossack Brigade]] who came to power after the [[1921 Persian coup d'état]] and deposition of [[Ahmad Shah Qajar]], the last Shah of the Qajar dynasty. Reza Pahlavi was founder and became first Shah of the [[Pahlavi dynasty]] in 1925.

|-
|[[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]]
|[[Reza Shah Pahlavi]]
|1941–1979
|Mohammad Reza Pahlav took the throne after the forced abdication of his father Reza Shah Pahlavi during the [[Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran]] on 16 September 1941. He was the second and last Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty, being himself overthrown by the [[Iranian Revolution]] on 11 February 1979.
|}

==Japan==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="460"|Comments
|-
|[[Emperor Tenmu]]
|[[Emperor Kōbun]]
|672–686
|
|-
|[[Tokugawa Ieyasu]]
|[[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]
|1603-1605
|Japan has not had an official ''[[shogunate]]'' functionally ruling the country since the collapse of [[Ashikaga shogunate]] in 1573. Hideyoshi's position as ''[[Sesshō and Kampaku|Taiko]]'' is nominally a ''civilian'' position held from the Emperor (as he is barred from Shogunal title due to being of peasant origin). Ieyasu would succeed in defeating the bulk of Hideyoshi's loyalists at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]] in 1600, demolishing Toyotomi influence and disinheriting Hideyoshi's son [[Toyotomi Hideyori|Hideyori]].
|-
|}

==Korea==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="460"|Comments
|-
|[[Sindae of Goguryeo]]
|[[Chadae of Goguryeo]]
|165–179
|
|-
|[[Micheon of Goguryeo]]
|[[Bongsang of Goguryeo]]
|300–331
|
|-
|[[Bojang of Goguryeo]]
|[[Yeongnyu of Goguryeo]]
|642–668
|
|-
|[[Seong of Balhae]]
|[[Dae Won-ui]]
|793–794
|
|-
|[[Taejo of Goryeo]]
|[[Gung Ye]]
|918–943
|Establishment of the [[Goryeo dynasty]].
|-
|[[Hyeonjong of Goryeo]]
|[[Mokjong of Goryeo]]
|1009–1031
|
|-
|[[Myeongjong of Goryeo]]
|[[Uijong of Goryeo]]
|1170–1197
|
|-
|[[Gangjong of Goryeo]]
|[[Huijong of Goryeo]]
|1211–1213
|
|-
|[[Chungmok of Goryeo]]
|[[Chunghye of Goryeo]]
|1344–1348
|
|-
|[[Chang of Goryeo]]
|[[U of Goryeo]]
|1389–1389
|
|-
|[[Gongyang of Goryeo]]
|[[Chang of Goryeo]]
|1389–1392
|
|-
|[[Taejo of Joseon]]
|[[Gongyang of Goryeo]]
|1392–1398
|Collapse of the Goryeo dynasty. Establishment of the [[Joseon dynasty]].
|-
|[[Sejo of Joseon]]
|[[Danjong of Joseon]]
|1417–1468
|
|-
|[[Jungjong of Joseon]]
|[[Yeonsangun of Joseon]]
|1506–1544
|Known in historiography as the [[Jungjong coup]]
|-
|[[Injo of Joseon]]
|[[Gwanghaegun of Joseon]]
|1595–1649
|
|-
|}

==Mesopotamia==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="185"|Usurper
!width="185"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="340"|Comments
|-
|[[Tiglath-Pileser III]]
|[[Shalmeneser III]]
|745–727 BCE
|Neo-Assyrian. Ended a civil war, reformed the military, and reignited the Neo-Assyrian campaigns of conquest.
|}

==Netherlands==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="500"|Comments
|-
|[[William I, Prince of Orange]]
|[[Philip II of Spain]]
|1572–1584
|With the "[[Act of Abjuration]]" (Plakkaat van Verlatinghe) during the [[Dutch Revolt]], the [[Dutch Republic|northern provinces of the Netherlands]] declared them-self independent from the rule of King [[Philip II of Spain]], who also was [[Lord of the Netherlands]]. Prince William I of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt, was proclaimed [[Stadtholder]] (thereby ''de facto'' ruler) of the renegade [[Republic of the Seven United Netherlands|Netherlands]] in 1572. This intensified the [[Eighty Years' War]] in which Philip II deployed his armies and tried to regain control over most of these provinces. William of Orange was assassinated in 1584 by [[Balthasar Gérard]], a loyalist to Philip II.
|-
|[[Maurice, Prince of Orange]]
|[[Philip III of Spain]]
|1585–1625
|In 1585, Prince Maurice of Orange was proclaimed [[Stadtholder]] (thereby ''de facto'' ruler) of the renegade [[Republic of the Seven United Netherlands|Netherlands]] after the death of his father [[William the Silent|William of Orange]]. During this period, King Philip III of Spain was the ''de jure'' Lord of the Netherlands.
|-
|[[Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange]]
|[[Philip IV of Spain]]
|1625–1647
|In 1625, Prince Frederick Henry of Orange was proclaimed [[Stadtholder]] (thereby ''de facto'' ruler) of the renegade [[Republic of the Seven United Netherlands|Netherlands]] after the natural death of his brother [[Maurice of Orange]]. During this period, King Philip IV of Spain was the ''de jure'' Lord of the Netherlands.
|-
|[[William II, Prince of Orange]]
|[[Philip IV of Spain]]
|1647–1650
|In 1647, Prince William II of Orange was proclaimed [[Stadtholder]] (thereby ''de facto'' ruler) of the renegade [[Republic of the Seven United Netherlands|Netherlands]] after the natural death of his father [[Frederick Henry of Orange]]. With the [[Peace of Münster]] in 1648, the [[Dutch republic]] was recognized as an independent and sovereign state, herewith officially legitimizing and solidifying the rule of William II in this country.
|}

==Norway==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="460"|Comments
|-
|[[Sverre of Norway|Sverre Sigurdsson]]
|[[Magnus V of Norway|Magnus Erlingsson]]
|1184–1202
|
|-
|}

==Roman Empire==

{{main article|List of Roman usurpers|List of Byzantine usurpers}}

==Russia==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Usurper
!Predecessor
!Reign
!Comments
|-
|[[Marina Mniszech]] and [[False Dmitry I]]
|[[Feodor II of Russia|Feodor II]]
|1605–1606
|
|-
|[[Elizabeth of Russia|Elizabeth]]
|[[Ivan VI of Russia|Ivan VI]]
|1741–1762
|
|-
|[[Catherine the Great]]
|[[Peter III of Russia|Peter III]]
|1762–1796
|
|}

==Sweden==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="460"|Comments
|-
|[[Eric IX of Sweden|Eric the Saint]]
|[[Sverker I of Sweden|Sverker the Elder]]
|1156–1160
|Involvement in Sverker's murder is uncertain.
|-
|[[Magnus (II) of Sweden|Magnus Henriksen]]
|[[Eric IX of Sweden|Eric the Saint]]
|1160–1161
|
|-
|[[Charles VII of Sweden|Charles Sverkerson]]
|[[Magnus (II) of Sweden|Magnus Henriksen]]
|1161–1168
|
|-
|[[Canute I of Sweden|Canute Ericson]]
|[[Boleslas Sverkerson]]
|1168–1195
|
|-
|[[Eric X of Sweden|Erik Knutsson]]
|[[Sverker II of Sweden|Sverker the Younger]]
|1208–1216
|
|-
|[[Canute II of Sweden|Canute the Tall]]
|[[Eric XI of Sweden|Eric the Lisp and Lame]]
|1229–1234
|
|-
|[[Charles IX of Sweden|Charles IX]]
|[[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund]]
|1604–1611
|As regent 1599–1604.
|-
|[[Charles XIII of Sweden|Charles XIII]]
|[[Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden|Gustaf IV Adolf]]
|1809–1818
|As regent March–May 1809
|}

==Thailand==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="460"|Comments
|-
|[[Worawongsathirat]]
|[[Yodfa]]
|1548
| His kingship is not accepted by most traditional historians.
|-
|}

==Vietnam==

{|class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Usurper
!width="125"|Predecessor
!width="90"|Reign
!width="460"|Comments
|-
|[[Dương Tam Kha]]
|[[Ngô Quyền]]
|944–950
|
|-
|[[:vi:Ngô Xương Văn|Ngô Xương Văn]]
|[[Dương Tam Kha]]
|951–965
|
|-
|[[Mạc Đăng Dung]]
|[[Le Chieu Tong]]
|1527–1529
|
|-
|}

== See also ==

* [[List of Roman usurpers]]
* [[List of Byzantine usurpers]]
* [[Lists of monarchs who lost their thrones]]
* [[List of coups and coup attempts by country]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Monarchy|Usurpers]]
[[Category:Usurpers| ]]
[[Category:Royalty-related lists|Usurpers]]