List of monarchs of Eswatini

This article lists the monarchs (Ngwenyamas) of Eswatini (known as Swaziland for most of its history).

The King of Eswatini (also known as Ingwenyama) rules alongside the Queen Mother (also known as Ndlovukati). The role of the king has historically been as the head or father of the nation while the Queen Mother is the spiritual leader of the nation.^[1]

Ancient Kings / Chiefs of the Swazi people (pre–1745)

Mkhulunkosi
Qomizitha
Sukuta
Madlasomo
Ndlovu
Ngwekati
Mawawa
Sidvwabasilutfuli
Sukumbili
Mbokane
Gebase
Kunene
Nkabingwe
Madlabane
Hhili
Dulunga
Dondobola
Sihuba
Mlangeni
Msimudze
Mbhondlo
Tembe
Sikhulumaloyo
Langa Samuketi
Nkomo: 1200–1300
Khabako: 1300–1355
Nkosi I: 1355–1400
Ngwane I: 1400–1435
Dlamini I (Matalatala): 1435–1465
Mswati I: 1480–1520
Ngwane II: 1520–1550
Dlamini II: 1555–1600
Nkosi II: 1600–1640
Mavuso I: 1645–1680
Magudulela: 1685–1685
Ludvonga I: 1685–1715
Dlamini III: 1720–1744

Kings of Swaziland (1745–1906)

Ngwane III: 1745–1780 (The first King of modern Swaziland)
LaYaka Ndwandwe (Queen Regent): 1780
Ndvungunye (Zikodze, Mavuso II): 1780–1815
Lomvula Mndzebele (Queen Regent): 1815
Sobhuza I (Somhlolo, also known as Ngwane IV): 1815–1839
Lojiba Simelane (Queen Regent): 1836–1840
Mswati II (Mavuso III): 1840–1865
Tsandzile Ndwandwe (Queen Regent): August 1865 – June 1875
Crown Prince Ludvonga II (Macaleni) – Never became King
Dlamini IV (Mbandzeni): 1875–1889
Tibati Nkambule (Queen Regent): 7 April 1889 – 1894
Ngwane V (Mahlokohla): January 1895 – 10 December 1899
Labotsibeni Mdluli (Queen Regent): 10 December 1899 – 31 March 1906
Sobhuza II: 10 December 1899 – 21 August 1982

Paramount Chiefs of the Swaziland Protectorate (1906–1968)

Labotsibeni Mdluli (Queen Regent): 31 March 1906 – 22 December 1921
Sobhuza II: 31 March 1906 – 2 September 1968 (assumed power on 22 December 1921)

Kings of Swaziland / Eswatini (1968–present)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Sobhuza II	(1899-07-22)22 July 1899 – 21 August 1982(1982-08-21) (aged 83)	2 September 1968	21 August 1982† (13 years, 353 days)	Son of Ngwane V	House of Dlamini
Mswati III	(1968-04-19) 19 April 1968 (age 56)	25 April 1986	Incumbent (38 years, 116 days)	Son of Sobhuza II	House of Dlamini

"Authorized Person" during the minority of King Mswati III

Prince Sozisa Dlamini: 21 August 1982 – 1 November 1985 (suspended from July 1984)

Regents during the minority of King Mswati III

Queen Dzeliwe: 21 August 1982 – 9 August 1983
Prince Sozisa Dlamini: 9 August 1983 – 18 August 1983 (acting)
Queen Ntfombi: 18 August 1983 – 25 April 1986

Timeline

Royal Standard

Royal Standard of Mswati III.

References

^ Kuper, Hilda (1980). An African Aristocracy: Rank Among the Swazi. Africana Pub. ISBN 0841905819.

External links

[Kuper80-1] Kuper, Hilda (1980). An African Aristocracy: Rank Among the Swazi. Africana Pub. ISBN 0841905819.

[1]

v t e Monarchs of Eswatini (Swaziland)
Pre-modern Swaziland (until 1745)	Mkhulunkosi Qomizitha Sukuta Madlasomo Ndlovu Ngwekati Mawawa/Kuwawa Sidvwabasilutfuli Gebase Kunene Nkabingwe Madlabane Hhili Dulunga Dondobola Sihuba Mlangeni Msimudze Mbhondlo/Mbhondlo/Mbhoholo Tembe Sikhulumaloyo Langa Samuketi Nkomo Khabako Nkosi I: (1355–1400) Ngwane I: 1400–1435 Dlamini I (Matalatala): 1435–1465 Mswati I: 1480–1520 Ngwane II: 1520–1550 Dlamini II: 1555–1600 Nkosi II: 1600–1640 Mavuso I: 1645–1680 Magudulela: 1685–1685 Ludvonga: 1685–1715 Dlamini III: 1720–1744
Modern Swaziland (1745–1906)	Ngwane III: 1745–1780 (the first King of modern Swaziland) LaYaka Ndwandwe (Queen Regent): 1780 Ndvungunye (Zikodze, Mavuso II): 1780–1815 Lomvula Mndzebele (Queen Regent): 1815 Sobhuza I (Somhlolo): 1815–1839 Lojiba Simelane (Queen Regent): 1836–1840 Mswati II (Mavuso III): 1840–1868 Tsandzile Ndwandwe (Queen Regent): July 1868 – June 1875 Crown Prince Ludvonga II (Macaleni) – never became King Dlamini IV (Mbandzeni): 1875–1889 Tibati Nkambule (Queen Regent): 7 April 1889 – 1894 Ngwane V (Mahlokohla): January 1895 – 10 December 1899 Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli (Queen Regent): 10 December 1899 – 31 March 1906
Paramount Chiefs under British rule (1906–1968)	Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli (Queen Regent): 31 March 1906 – 22 December 1921 Sobhuza II: 22 December 1921 – 2 September 1968
Kings of Swaziland (1968–2018)	Sobhuza II (1968–1982) Queen Dzeliwe (regent): 21 August 1982 – 9 August 1983 Prince Sozisa Dlamini (acting regent): 9 August 1983 – 18 August 1983 Queen Ntfombi (regent): 18 August 1983 – 25 April 1986 Mswati III (1986–present)
Kings of Eswatini (2018–present)	Mswati III (1986–present)
tiNdlovukati (Queen Mother/Doctor)	LaYaka Ndwandwe, 1745–1780 (Regent 1780) Lomvula Mndzebele, 1780–1815 (Regent 1815) Lojiba Simelane, 1815–1840 (Regent 1836–1840) Tsandzile Ndwandwe (LaZidze), 1840–1875 (Regent 1868–1875) Sisile Khumalo (Lamgangeni), 1875 Tibati Nkambule (Madvolomafisha), 1875–1894 (Regent 1889–1894) Labotsibeni Mdluli (Gwamile, Lamvelase), 1894–1925 (Regent 1899–1921) Lomawa Ndwandwe, 1925–1938 Nukwase Ndwandwe, 1938–1957 Zihlathi Ndwandwe/Mkhatjwa, 1957–1975 Seneleleni Ndwandwe, 1975–1982 Dzeliwe Shongwe (Regent 1982–1983) Ntfombi Tfwala, 1983–present (Regent 1983–1986)