Anyhow, I was wondering about other examples of royal men who never really reigned, insofar as they never exercised the constitutional functions and powers of sovereigns, but who have nonetheless been recognized at least nominally as kings.
I've already mentioned King Otto of Bavaria, who was already declared mentally incapacitated when in 1886 his older brother (King Ludwig II) died under mysterious circumstances. So his entire reign was under a regency. Can anybody name other examples of adult monarchs who never exercised any sovereign powers during their reigns? I believe some were deposed later on for being mentally unfit (e.g. Emperor Ferdinand of Austria), or had regencies declared (e.g. King George III of Great Britain). But they don't really count, since they presumably were mentally competent earlier on in their lives and reigns.
Now: some boy kings might count, if they never obtained their legal majority -- defined differently in different countries. Simeon of the Bulgarians, for instance, reigned for only three years, from the age of 6 to 9; so he might count. But King Peter II of Yugoslavia eventually obtained his legal majority after coming to the throne as a boy, and ruled briefly getting deposed. I don't know if King Edward VI of England would count, since he died at the age of 16 -- whether he ever exercised any real power (it was a day when monarchs ruled, not just reigned).
Can anybody point out other examples of monarchs who reigned in name only, whether because of age or disability -- or other circumstances (e.g. politics, revolution)?
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