Rulers
How did the caliphs and sultans die?
Every ruler of six dynasties, 117 in all, from the Rashidun caliphs to the Mughal emperors and the kings of Saudi Arabia. 24 of them, about 21%, were killed. Select a dynasty for the full list.
How reigns ended
Rashidun Caliphs5 rulers · 632 to 661
131
60% killed
Umayyad Caliphs14 rulers · 661 to 750
1121
14% killed
Abbasid Caliphs of Baghdad37 rulers · 750 to 1258
22105
27% killed
Ottoman Sultans36 rulers · 1299 to 1922
21510
14% killed
Mughal Emperors18 rulers · 1526 to 1857
1134
17% killed
Kings of Saudi Arabia7 rulers · 1932 to today
4111
14% killed
Died naturallyKilledDeposed or abdicatedStill reigning
Six dynasties
The lists, one by one
Rashidun Caliphs632 to 661
- Rulers
- 5
- Average reign
- 5.8 years
- Killed
- 3 (60%)
- Longest
- Uthman ibn Affan, 12 years
- Rulers
- 14
- Average reign
- 6.4 years
- Killed
- 2 (14%)
- Longest
- Abd al-Malik, 20 years
- Rulers
- 37
- Average reign
- 13.7 years
- Killed
- 10 (27%)
- Longest
- al-Nasir, 45 years
- Rulers
- 36
- Average reign
- 17.0 years
- Killed
- 5 (14%)
- Longest
- Suleiman I, 46 years
- Rulers
- 18
- Average reign
- 17.5 years
- Killed
- 3 (17%)
- Longest
- Akbar, 49 years
- Rulers
- 7
- Average reign
- 13.4 years
- Killed
- 1 (14%)
- Longest
- Fahd, 23 years
Reign years follow the usual dates in the standard histories; a few rulers who were deposed and later killed are counted as killed. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
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