Unearth The Voyage
Throughout history, kings have approached marriage in very different ways. Some rulers married dozens of women for political power, alliances, or tradition, while others chose to remain faithful to just one partner.
Whether driven by duty or deep love, the choices these kings made shaped empires, inspired legends, and left lasting marks on history. Here is a look at 10 kings who had many wives and 9 who stayed true to one woman.
1. King Solomon (Israel): The King with 700 Wives
Few rulers in history match the legendary scale of King Solomon’s marriages. The ancient Hebrew king is said to have had 700 wives and 300 concubines, many of whom were daughters of foreign rulers.
These marriages were largely political, meant to build alliances across neighboring kingdoms.
Solomon’s story comes from the Bible, specifically the Book of Kings, where his many marriages are also linked to his eventual turn away from his faith. His wealth and wisdom were unmatched, yet his personal life was extraordinarily complicated.
He remains one of history’s most talked-about monarchs.
2. Henry VIII (England): Six Wives and a Changed Nation
Henry VIII of England is perhaps the most famous king when it comes to marriage drama. He married six women in his lifetime, not all at once, but one after another, often ending marriages through divorce, annulment, or worse.
Two of his wives were executed on his orders.
His desire for a male heir and his repeated dissatisfaction with his wives drove much of his decision-making. His split from the Catholic Church to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, changed English religion forever.
Henry’s six wives remain a staple of history lessons around the world.
3. Akbar the Great (Mughal Empire): Marriages as Political Strategy
Akbar the Great, who ruled the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1605, used marriage as a powerful diplomatic tool. He took multiple wives from Hindu Rajput families, Muslim dynasties, and other regional powers to strengthen his empire’s reach and reduce conflict.
One of his most famous wives was Jodha Bai, a Rajput princess whose marriage helped unite Hindu and Muslim cultures within his court. Akbar’s approach to marriage reflected his broader strategy of religious tolerance and political unity.
His large harem housed hundreds of women, though only a few held real political influence at court.
4. Genghis Khan (Mongol Empire): A Lineage That Spanned Continents
Genghis Khan built the largest contiguous land empire in history, and his personal life was equally expansive. He had several official wives, with Borte being his primary and most respected queen.
Beyond his wives, he had numerous concubines collected from conquered territories.
Scientists estimate that roughly 16 million men alive today are direct descendants of Genghis Khan, a testament to how vast his lineage became. His marriages and relationships were often tied to conquest and consolidation of power.
While Borte held a respected place, the Mongol ruler’s household was massive and complex by any standard.
5. Rama V / Chulalongkorn (Siam/Thailand): A Royal Court of Dozens
King Chulalongkorn, also known as Rama V, ruled Siam (modern-day Thailand) from 1868 to 1910 and is remembered as one of the country’s greatest reformers. He modernized the nation, abolished slavery, and opened Thailand to Western education.
He also fathered more than 70 children with dozens of wives and consorts.
His large royal household was very much a product of Thai royal tradition, where multiple consorts signified royal power and ensured royal succession. Despite the scale of his personal life, Chulalongkorn is celebrated in Thailand today as a beloved and progressive ruler who kept the country independent during the colonial era.
6. King Saud of Saudi Arabia: Four at a Time, Many Over a Lifetime
King Saud, who ruled Saudi Arabia from 1953 to 1964, followed Islamic law, which permits a man to have up to four wives at one time. Over the course of his life, he married and divorced many women, reportedly fathering over 100 children.
His reign was marked by both enormous oil wealth and serious financial mismanagement, which eventually led to his removal from power in favor of his brother, King Faisal. While his personal life followed traditional Islamic custom, the scale of his marriages was still extraordinary even by those standards.
He remains a complex and often controversial figure in Saudi history.
7. Shah Jahan (Mughal Empire): More Than Just the Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan is best known for building the Taj Mahal as a tribute to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, but he was not a man of just one relationship. He had multiple wives and concubines, as was common among Mughal emperors of his era.
Mumtaz Mahal held a uniquely powerful place in his heart, and her death in 1631 devastated him deeply. Still, historical records confirm that Shah Jahan maintained other wives within his court.
His story is a layered one, showing that even a king capable of profound love could still follow the traditions of his time regarding royal marriage.
8. Charlemagne (Holy Roman Empire): Wives, Concubines, and an Empire
Charlemagne, king of the Franks and first Holy Roman Emperor, ruled much of Western Europe in the late 700s and early 800s. His personal life was anything but simple.
He had four or five official wives, married in succession, along with several concubines who bore him children.
Historians debate the exact number of his relationships, but the records are clear that Charlemagne’s household was large and politically strategic. His children from various relationships played key roles in governing different parts of his empire.
Despite his complex personal life, Charlemagne is remembered as one of Europe’s most influential leaders in shaping medieval civilization.
9. King Sobhuza II (Eswatini): The King with 70+ Wives
King Sobhuza II of Swaziland, now known as Eswatini, holds the record as one of history’s longest-reigning monarchs, ruling for nearly 83 years. He was also one of the most prolific in terms of marriage, having taken more than 70 official wives throughout his life.
His marriages were deeply tied to Swazi culture and tradition, where a king’s many wives often represented political bonds with different clans and regions. Sobhuza fathered hundreds of children, and his descendants continue to play important roles in Eswatini’s royal family today.
He passed away in 1982, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy in southern Africa.
10. King David (Israel): A King with Many Loves
King David, one of the most celebrated rulers in the Bible, was known for his courage, his psalms, and his complicated personal life. He had multiple wives, including Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, each of whom played a unique role in his story.
His relationship with Bathsheba is perhaps the most well-known and controversial, involving betrayal and consequences that haunted his reign. David is portrayed in scripture as a deeply flawed but genuinely faithful man who struggled with his own choices.
His marriages reflected both the politics and passions of ancient Israelite kingship, making him one of history’s most human rulers.
11. Edward VIII (UK): The King Who Gave Up Everything for Love
Edward VIII became King of the United Kingdom in January 1936 but abdicated just 11 months later, making him one of the shortest-reigning British monarchs. His reason was extraordinary: he chose love over the crown.
He wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, which was unacceptable to the British government and the Church of England.
Rather than give her up, Edward stepped down from the throne, a decision that shocked the world. He and Wallis married in 1937 and remained together until his death in 1972.
Their story became one of history’s most romanticized examples of a king choosing personal devotion above all else.
12. King George VI (UK): Strength Found in a Steady Partnership
King George VI never expected to be king. When his brother Edward VIII abdicated, George stepped into a role he felt unprepared for, and he leaned heavily on his wife, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, for support.
Their partnership was one of the most admired in British royal history.
Together they stayed in London during World War II, even as bombs fell on the city, choosing to stand with the British people rather than flee to safety. Their courage and unity during those dark years made them beloved figures.
George remained faithfully married to Elizabeth until his death in 1952, never showing interest in anyone else.
13. Prince Albert (Prince Consort, UK): The Man Behind Queen Victoria
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha may not have held the title of king, but he functioned as a true partner to Queen Victoria in governing the British Empire. Their love story began with Victoria’s proposal, and from the start, Albert committed himself entirely to her and to Britain.
He helped modernize the royal household, promoted science and the arts, and was Victoria’s most trusted advisor. When Albert died in 1861 at just 42 years old, Victoria was devastated and wore black mourning clothes for the rest of her life.
Their bond set a remarkable standard for royal devotion and mutual respect.
14. King Baldwin IV (Jerusalem): A King Who Chose Duty Over Romance
King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem led one of history’s most remarkable reigns under extraordinary personal hardship. Diagnosed with leprosy as a child, he became king at just 13 years old and ruled with courage and military brilliance despite his illness.
He never married and left no heirs.
Rather than pursue romance or alliances through marriage, Baldwin devoted his short life entirely to defending Jerusalem from Saladin’s forces. He died at around 24 years old, having never shared his life with a partner.
His reign is remembered not for love stories, but for selfless dedication to his people and kingdom above all personal desires.
15. King Louis XVI (France): Faithful Husband in a Turbulent World
King Louis XVI of France is often remembered for his role in the French Revolution and his eventual execution in 1793. But one less-discussed aspect of his character was his personal faithfulness.
Unlike many European kings of his era, Louis XVI had no known mistresses throughout his reign.
His marriage to Marie Antoinette was initially distant and awkward, but over time the two developed a genuine bond. They faced the collapse of the French monarchy together, and Louis remained by her side through imprisonment and trial.
His loyalty to Marie Antoinette, even in the face of death, paints a picture of a deeply faithful, if historically tragic, husband.
16. King Felipe VI (Spain): A Modern King with a Modern Commitment
King Felipe VI of Spain became king in 2014 and represents a new generation of European monarchs who govern in a more transparent and modern way. His marriage to Queen Letizia, a former journalist and news anchor, was unconventional by royal standards and drew enormous public attention.
Felipe has remained publicly committed to Letizia throughout their marriage, and the couple is known for presenting a united front on public matters. Unlike some of his royal predecessors, Felipe has shown no interest in the traditions of royal mistresses or multiple relationships.
His approach reflects changing expectations for modern royalty and the value placed on transparency in public life.
17. King Harald V (Norway): Love Was Worth Fighting For
King Harald V of Norway had to wait nearly nine years before he could marry the woman he loved. Sonja Haraldsen was a commoner, and Norwegian royal tradition at the time made such a marriage highly controversial.
Harald reportedly told his father that he would either marry Sonja or remain single for life.
His persistence paid off. The two married in 1968, and Harald became king in 1991.
Their marriage has been celebrated as one of the most genuine love stories in modern royal history. Harald has remained devoted to Sonja through decades of public life, showing that sometimes a king’s greatest act of courage is simply following his heart.
18. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Bhutan): Four Sisters, One Family
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan took an unusual approach to royal marriage: he married four sisters simultaneously in 1988. While technically polygamous, the king viewed the four women as a single family unit and treated them with equal respect and devotion throughout his reign.
The marriages were rooted in Bhutanese Buddhist tradition and were seen by many in Bhutan as a symbol of unity and fairness. Jigme Singye abdicated in 2006 in favor of his son.
His story is a reminder that the meaning of devotion can look different across cultures, and that his intentions were centered on unity rather than personal indulgence.
19. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (Bhutan): The Dragon King Chooses One
Known affectionately as the Dragon King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck became Bhutan’s fifth king in 2006. In 2011, he married Jetsun Pema, a young Bhutanese woman from a non-royal family, in a ceremony that captured hearts around the world.
He publicly committed to monogamy, breaking from his country’s tradition of royal polygamy.
The couple is widely admired both inside Bhutan and internationally for their approachable style and genuine warmth. Jigme Khesar’s choice to embrace one wife and build a modern royal family signals a meaningful shift in Bhutanese royal tradition.
His commitment to Jetsun Pema is seen as both a personal choice and a symbol of progress.
