List of state leaders in 1540

This is a list of heads of state, heads of governments, and other rulers in the year 1540.

Africa

• Kingdom of Baguirmi – Lubatko (1536–1548)
• Ethiopian Empire –
  1. Dawit II (1508–1540)
  2. Gelawdewos (1540–1559)
• Kingdom of Kongo – Alfonso I, Manikongo (1509–1542)
• Merina Kingdom - Andriamanelo (1540-1575)
• Sennar Sultanate – Nayil (1533/4 - 1550/1)
• Songhai Empire – Askia Ishaq I, Askia of the Songhai Empire (1539–1549)

Asia

• Aceh Sultanate – Alauddin al-Kahar (1539–1571)
• Ahom Kingdom – Suklenmung (1539–1552)
• Ayutthaya Kingdom (Siam) – Chairachathirat (1534–1546)
• China (Ming dynasty) - Jiajing Emperor (1521–1567)
• Jaffna Kingdom – Cankili I (1519–1561)
• Japan (Sengoku period)
  • Monarch – Emperor Go-Nara (1526–1557)
  • Ashikaga shogunate - Ashikaga Yoshiharu (1521–1546)
• Joseon (Korea) – Jungjong (1506–1544)
• Sultanate of Maguindanao – Sharif Kabungsuwan (1520–1543)
• Mughal Empire –
  1. Humayun (1530–1540)
  2. Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545)
• Ryukyu Kingdom – Shō Sei (1527–1555)
• Sultanate of Sulu – Muizzul-Mutawadi-in (1527–1548)
• Vijayanagara Empire – Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542)

Europe

• Crimean Khanate – Sahib I Giray (1532–1551)
• Kingdom of Denmark and Norway – Christian III (1534–1559)
• Kingdom of England – Henry VIII (1509–1547)
• Kingdom of France – Francis I (1515–1547)
• Holy Roman Empire – Charles V (1519–1556)
  • Duchy of Mantua –
    1. Federico I Gonzaga (1530–1540)
    2. Francesco III Gonzaga (1540–1550)
  • Duchy of Modena – Ercole II (1534–1559)
  • Duchy of Savoy – Charles III (1504–1553)
• Hungary -
  • Royal Hungary – Ferdinand I (1526–1564)
  • Eastern Hungarian Kingdom –
    1. John Zápolya (1526–1540)
    2. John II Sigismund Zápolya (1540–1571)
• Khanate of Kazan – Safa Giray (1535–1546)
• Moldavia – Petru Rareş, Voivode of Moldavia (1526–1538, 1540–1546)
• Grand Duchy of Moscow – Ivan IV, Grand Prince of Moscow (1533–1547) then Tsar of Russia (1547–1584)
• Kingdom of Naples – Charles I (1516–1556)
• Kingdom of Navarre – Henry II d'Albret (1516–1555)
• Ottoman (Turkish) Empire – Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566)
• Papal States – Pope Paul III (1534–1549)
• Polish–Lithuanian union – Sigismund I the Old, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland (1506–1548)
• Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves – John III (1521–1557)
• Kingdom of Scotland – James V (1513–1542)
• Kingdom of Spain – Charles I (1516–1556)
• Kingdom of Sweden – Gustav I Vasa (1521–1560)
• Republic of Venice – Pietro Lando, Doge of Venice (1538–1545)

Middle East

• Safavid Empire – Tahmasp I, Shah of Iran (1524–1576)
• Morocco – Ahmad al-Araj (1517–1544)