9 – Amoghavarsha I

Amoghavarsha I
(Rashtrakuta Empire – Royal Indian Dynasty) 64 yrs

The Rashtrakuta empire ruled much of India between the sixth and tenth centuries. Amoghavarsha I was the most famous king of this dynasty. Under him religion and education prospered, and many literary works were produced. Throughout his reign he preferred to rule by diplomacy instead of force.

8 – Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar Al-Mashyhur Ibni Abu Bakar

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar Al-Mashyhur Ibni Abu Bakar
(Johor – Malaysia) 64 yrs

The 22nd Sultan of Johor, Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim was an Anglophile who encouraged friendly relations with the British crown in order to thwart and limit British influence in his kingdom. Believed to have been one of the world’s richest men during his reign, he ironically became unpopular with his subjects as he was seen to be against independence from the British.

7 – Ponhea Yat

Ponhea Yat
(Khmer Empire) 70 yrs

Chao Ponhea Yat was the last king of the Khmer Empire, reigning from 1393 to 1463. In the first year of his reign, he was forced to leave Angkor Thom by the Siamese. He eventually set up a new capital and palace at Chaktomuk (now part of Phnom Penh) as well as six Buddhist monasteries around the city.

6 – Shapur II The Great

Shapur II The Great
(Persian Empire – Sassanid Dynasty) 70 yrs

Shapur, who ruled from 309–379 AD , was the ninth king of the Sassanid Dynasty. He successfully subdued revolts and overcame invasions to form the strongest Persian Empire ever. The great town of Nishapur was founded by him. Under Shapur, heresy and apostasy were deemed heinous crimes, and many Christians were persecuted.

5 – Pandukabhaya

Pandukabhaya
(Rajarata – Sri Lanka) 70 yrs

The sixth king of Sri Lanka after the arrival of the Aryans, Pandukabhaya was revered as Sri Lanka’s first real king as he successfully ended the conflict between the Aryans and the local community. He founded the city of Anuradhapura and moved his capital there, devoting much of his time to the beautification and administration of this new city, as well as to agriculture for his people. His reign was a time of religious tolerance and peace.

4 – Trieu Vu Vurong

Trieu Vu Vurong
(Trieu Dynasty – Ancient Vietnam) 71 yrs

Reigning from 207-136 BC, was a general of the Tàn Quóc (Qin Dynasty) who made himself the king of Nam Viêt after conquering Au Lac, a neighbouring state. Under his rule, the state was divided into two regions and each region was allowed to send representatives to the government, encouraging a sense of decentralisation although he was still in control. This astute diplomat also ensured good relations with China.

3 – Tai Wu

Tai Wu
(Shang Dynasty, China) 75 years

Emperor Tai Wu was the ninth king and longest reigning monarch of the Shang Dynasty, which was known for its exceptionally fine bronze vessels and weapons. During this period, the earliest Chinese script found was inscribed on turtle shells and shoulder blades of deer and oxen.

2 – Angsu

 Angsu
(Goguryeo – Korea) 78 years

Also of Goguryeo, King Jangsu took over the reign at a time when there was a loose unification of the entire Korean peninsula. He moved the kingdom’s capital to Pyongyang and continued the expansion of Goguryeo into Manchuria, attaining its furthest ever expansion north, while continuing its influence over tribes in the south.

1 – Taejo

Taejo
(Goguryeo – Korea) 93 years

Goguryeo was an ancient Korean kingdom that developed from a league of Yemaek tribes that rapidly expanded its power base. King Taejo oversaw five local tribes that had been reorganised into five centrally ruled districts. He controlled foreign relations and the military, exacting tributes from tribal neighbours and dominating them