Throughout history, the vast majority of kings have had multiple wives or consorts. Polygamy was common practice for rulers across many cultures as a means of forming alliances, producing heirs, and demonstrating power and wealth. However, there are some rare cases of kings who chose to take just one wife. In this article, we will explore some of the few monogamous rulers throughout history and examine the possible reasons behind their unconventional marital status.
King Edward VII of England
One of the most famous examples of a king with only one wife is King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Edward reigned from 1901 to 1910 and was married to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. They wed in 1863 when Edward was still the Prince of Wales and remained devoted to one another throughout their marriage. This was despite Edward’s numerous affairs, which were typical behavior for aristocratic men at the time.
As the heir apparent waiting decades to take the throne, Edward did not need to form strategic alliances through marriage. He was able to choose to marry for love instead. While royal mistresses were tolerated, bigamy was not allowed for British monarchs. Divorce was also difficult. So although Edward had mistresses, he stayed faithfully married to Alexandra alone.
Other Possible Factors
In addition to marrying for love, there are some other potential reasons why Edward VII did not take on other wives:
- His long wait to ascend to the throne – he did not need multiple wives to produce heirs quickly
- Alexandra’s popularity with the British public
- Edward’s desire to avoid political controversies and scandals
- Alexandra’s tolerance of Edward’s affairs may have prevented the need for additional marital alliances
King George VI of England
The father of Queen Elizabeth II provides another example of a modern British king who only had one wife. King George VI was monarch of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952. He was married to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, known commonly as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother after her daughter Elizabeth II ascended the throne.
Like his grandfather King Edward VII, George VI only had one wife despite affairs and dalliances earlier in his marriage. George and Elizabeth wed in 1923 when George was still the Duke of York and heir presumptive. While theirs was an arranged royal marriage, they grew devoted to each other. This devotion overcame their early marital difficulties and allowed their marriage to endure.
Reasons for King George’s Monogamy
Some factors that may have influenced King George VI’s choice to have just one wife include:
- The preference of the Church of England for monogamous royal marriages
- His limited powers as a 20th century constitutional monarch – multiple wives were unnecessary for political alliance building
- His strong commitment to Elizabeth despite temptation
- Divorce being highly undesirable and controversial for the royal family at the time
King Sobhuza II of Swaziland
An unusual example of monarchical monogamy comes from King Sobhuza II of Swaziland. Sobhuza was paramount ruler of Swaziland from 1921 until 1982, making him one of the longest reigning monarchs in history.
Unlike British royal tradition, kings in Swaziland commonly practiced polygamy as a reflection of power and wealth. However, King Sobhuza II broke this tradition by marrying only one wife, Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe. They married in 1926 and remained together until her death in 1980.
King Sobhuza’s Reasons for Monogamy
King Sobhuza II never explained his decision to take just one wife. Some possible reasons include:
- His Christian faith and church marriage to Queen Dzeliwe
- True love and devotion between Sobhuza and Dzeliwe
- Sobhuza’s interest in modernizing and ‘westernizing’ Swazi culture and institutions
- The high cost of supporting multiple wives during difficult economic times
Regardless of the motivation, Sobhuza’s monogamy was highly unusual for a Swazi king.
King Jigme Wangchuck of Bhutan
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan also saw a monarch who defied tradition by taking only one wife – King Jigme Wangchuck. He ruled Bhutan from 1926 to 1952 and is credited with beginning Bhutan’s modernization.
Despite polygamy being common practice for kings in Bhutan, Jigme Wangchuck married only one woman, Queen Phuntsho Choden. They wed in 1922. The king’s monogamy was seen as furthering his drive to reform and westernize Bhuddist institutions and culture in Bhutan.
Speculated Reasons for King Jigme’s Choice
Historians speculate King Jigme limited himself to one wife for several reasons:
- His relationships with British India and desire to modernize Bhutan’s institutions
- Phuntsho Choden’s refusal to accept polygamy
- Jigme’s own religious outlook favoring monogamy
- The expense of supporting multiple wives
Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
In contrast to the other monarchs highlighted so far, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia practiced polygamy for most of his early reign. He then chose to become monogamous later in life.
Selassie was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. Early in his reign he married several wives and fathered numerous children. However, after the death of his second wife Empress Menen Asfaw in 1962, he did not marry again for the last 12 years of his rule.
The Emperor’s Change to Monogamy
Some possible explanations for Emperor Selassie’s shift to monogamy later in his reign include:
- His strong grief after Empress Menen’s death
- His advanced age diminishing interest in new marriages
- Political sensitivities around polygamy in the modern era
- Influence from his British allies favoring monogamy
While less cut and dry than lifelong monogamous kings, Selassie’s case reflects how cultural views surrounding marriage and monarchy were modernizing across the world in the 20th century.
King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia
A present day example of a king with one wife can be seen in King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. Sihamoni became king in 2004 and remains reigning today. He has been married to only one woman throughout his life, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath.
Like some of the other monarchs noted already, King Sihamoni contrasts with Cambodian history and tradition that saw kings with many consorts and wives as a sign of virility and prestige. As a constitutional monarch with limited power, Norodom Sihamoni has less basis for polygamy compared to past absolute rulers of Cambodia.
Motivations for King Sihamoni’s Monogamy
Speculated reasons why King Norodom Sihamoni has stayed monogamous with Queen Monineath include:
- Modern constitutional and cultural norms in Cambodia discouraging polygamy
- Sihamoni’s own reportedly introverted and scholarly personality
- A strong mutual devotion between Sihamoni and Monineath
- Sihamoni’s lack of male heirs possibly reducing concerns over producing many children
While a celibate bachelor into his 50s prior to taking the throne, King Sihamoni has proven quite content with his sole wife Queen Monineath in a sign of the changing times.
King Letsie III of Lesotho
The small kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa provides one final contemporary example of a monarch who has remained monogamous. King Letsie III has reigned Lesotho since 1996. He remains married to just one woman, Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso, whom he wed in 2000.
As with King Sihamoni of Cambodia, Letsie III contrasts with a long history of polygamy amongst Lesotho’s past kings and chiefs. But as a modern constitutional monarch, Letsie III has continued adhering to monogamy like his immediate predecessors.
King Letsie’s Monogamy in Context
Some reasons why King Letsie III has remained married to only Queen ‘Masenate include:
- Christian-based values and education discouraging polygamy
- Strict bigamy laws in Lesotho’s constitution and legal code
- Modern cultural expectations in Lesotho against polygamy
- Letsie III’s monogamous relationship dynamic with Queen ‘Masenate
King Letsie III’s situation reflects broader trends across sub-Saharan Africa toward monogamy and nuclear family structures in the modern era.
Conclusion
While the practice of polygamy was once commonplace amongst rulers across the globe, cultural views slowly changed over the centuries, particularly in the 20th century. As a result, there are select examples of kings throughout history who settled with just one wife against prevailing norms and traditions.
Motivations ranged from true love and devotion, political calculation, aligning with outside cultural influences, personal beliefs, and simple personality and preference. But the monogamous marriages highlighted above represent rare exceptions proving the far more common rule of polygamy for kings, potentates, emperors and any man afforded the privilege to support multiple wives.