The Oldest Thrones on Earth

The imperial house of Japan is generally counted as the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy, with a legendary founding in 660 BC and solid records from the sixth century AD.

The Danish monarchy traces to Gorm the Dark in the early tenth century, the British to Alfred and his successors in Wessex, and Sweden to Eric the Victorious.

Each of these crowns has survived conquest, reform and the twentieth century, a durability no other human institution can match.