A monarch is the leader of a monarchy, a position usually intended to last for life or until abdication or deposition.
The reigns of some monarchs have been notably short.
Many of these monarchs acceded to the throne as a result of being first in an order of succession, while other monarchs claimed the throne as a result of conflict.
The authenticity of some monarchs has been disputed, especially those who reigned during conflict.
One factor in such debates is whether the monarch held the throne in a symbolic or nominal capacity.