List of state leaders in 1559

This is a list of heads of state, heads of governments, and other rulers in the year 1559.

Africa

• Ethiopian Empire –
  1. Gelawdewos (1540–1559)
  2. Menas (1559–1563)
• Kingdom of Kongo – Diogo I, Manikongo (1545–1561)
• Sennar Sultanate – Abu Sakikin (1557/8 - 1568)
• Songhai Empire – Askia Daoud, Askia of the Songhai Empire (1549–1582)

Asia

• Aceh Sultanate, Alauddin al-Kahar (1539–1571)
• Arakkal kingdom – Ali Raja Ali, Raja of Arakkal (1545–1591)
• Ayutthaya Kingdom (Siam) – Maha Chakkraphat (1548–1564)
• Banten Sultanate, Hasanudin (1552–1570)
• Sultanate of Brunei – Abdul Kahar (1521–1575)
• China (Ming dynasty) - Jiajing Emperor (1521–1567)
• Japan (Sengoku period)
  • Monarch – Emperor Ōgimachi (1557–1586)
  • Ashikaga shogunate - Ashikaga Yoshiteru (1546–1565)
• Joseon (Korea) – Myeongjong (1545–1567)
• Malwa Sultanate – Baz Bahadur (1555–1561)
• Mughal Empire – Jalaluddin Muhammed Akbar (1556–1605)
• Ryukyu Kingdom – Shō Gen (1556–1572)
• Sultanate of Sulu – Sultan Nasir ud-Din I (1548–1568)

Europe

• Kingdom of Denmark and Norway –
  1. Christian III (1534–1559)
  2. Frederick II (1559–1588)
  • Duchy of Schleswig –
    1. Adolphus (1544–1586), Christian III (1523–1559), and John II (1544–1580) in condominial rule
    2. Adolphus (1544–1586), Frederick II (1559–1588) and John II (1544–1580) in condominial rule
• Kingdom of England – Elizabeth I (1558–1603)
• Kingdom of France
  1. Henry II (1547–1559)
  2. Francis II (1559–1560)
• Holy Roman Empire – Ferdinand I (1556–1564)
  • Duchy of Holstein –
    1. Adolphus (1544–1586), Christian III (1523–1559), and John II (1544–1580) in condominial rule
    2. Adolphus (1544–1586), Frederick II (1559–1588) and John II (1544–1580) in condominial rule
• Hungary -
  • Royal Hungary – Ferdinand I (1526–1564)
  • Eastern Hungarian Kingdom – John II Sigismund Zápolya (1540–1571)
• Polish–Lithuanian union – Sigismund II, Grand Duke of Lithuania (1544–1572) and King of Poland (1548–1572)
• Moldavia – Alexandru Lăpușneanu, Voivode of Moldavia (1552–1561)
• Kingdom of Navarre – Jeanne III (1555–1572)
• Ottoman (Turkish) Empire – Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566)
• Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves –
  • Monarch – Sebastian (1557–1578)
  • Regent – Catherine of Austria (1557–1562)
• Tsardom of Russia – Ivan IV, the Terrible, Tsar of Russia (1547–1584)
• Kingdom of Scotland - Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1567)
• Kingdom of Spain – Philip II (1556–1598)
• Kingdom of Sweden – Gustav I Vasa (1521/1523–1560)
• Republic of Venice –
  1. Lorenzo Priuli, Doge of Venice (1556–1559)
  2. Giorolamo Priuli, Doge of Venice (1559–1567)

Middle East and North Africa

• Morocco (Saadi dynasty) - Abdallah al-Ghalib (1557–1574)
• Safavid Empire – Tahmasp I, Shah of Iran (1524–1576)