Victoria

Reign: 1837 – 1901
Life: 1819–1901

Her reign of 63 years and 216 days, which was longer than those of any of her predecessors, constituted the Victorian era, a period of industrial, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. In 1876, the British parliament voted to grant her the additional title of Empress of India. After the deaths of her father and grandfather in 1820, she was raised under close supervision by her mother, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and her comptroller, John Conroy. She inherited the throne aged 18 after her father's three elder brothers died without surviving legitimate issue.

During Victoria's reign, Franz Joseph I of Austria ruled Austria, William III of the Netherlands ruled Netherlands, and Emperor Meiji ruled Japan.

Want to learn more? Further reading

Queen Victoria: A Personal History by Christopher Hibbert

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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From the library

Go deeper on Victoria

Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.

Queen Victoria: A Personal History

Christopher Hibbert

Hibbert's readable portrait of the queen who gave her name to an era of empire and reform.

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Victoria: The Queen
Julia Baird
A modern, deeply researched life that balances Victoria's power, grief, and political influence.
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