List of state leaders in 1566

This is a list of heads of state, heads of governments, and other rulers in the year 1566.

Africa

Ethiopian Empire – Sarsa Dengel (1563–1597)
Kingdom of Kongo –
1. Bernardo I, Manikongo (1561–1566)
2. Henrique I, Manikongo (1566–1568)
Sennar Sultanate – Abu Sakikin (1557/8 - 1568)
Songhai Empire – Askia Daoud, Askia of the Songhai Empire (1549–1582)

Aceh Sultanate, Alauddin al-Kahar (1539–1571)
Arakkal kingdom – Ali Raja Ali, Raja of Arakkal (1545–1591)
Banten Sultanate, Hasanudin (1552–1570)
Sultanate of Brunei – Abdul Kahar (1521–1575)
China (Ming dynasty) - Jiajing Emperor (1522–1567)
Japan (Sengoku period)
- Monarch – Emperor Ōgimachi (1557–1586)
- Shogun (Ashikaga shogunate) - Vacant
Korea (Joseon dynasty) – Myeongjong (1545–1567)
Mughal Empire – Jalaluddin Muhammed Akbar (1556–1605)
Ryukyu Kingdom – Shō Gen (1556–1572)
Philippines (Las islas Filipinas)

Kingdom of Denmark – Frederick II (1559–1588)
Kingdom of England – Elizabeth I (1558–1603)
Kingdom of France – Charles IX (1560–1574)
Holy Roman Empire – Maximilian II (1564–1576)
Hungary -
- Royal Hungary – Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor as Maximilian I (1563–1576)
- Eastern Hungarian Kingdom – John II Sigismund Zápolya (1540–1571)
Kingdom of Navarre – Jeanne d'Albret (1555–1572)
Ottoman (Turkish) Empire

Kingdom of Poland – Sigismund II Augustus (1548–1572)
Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves – Sebastian (1557–1578)
Russia - Ivan the Terrible (1547–1584)
Kingdom of Scotland Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1567)
Kingdom of Spain – Philip II (1556–1598)
Kingdom of Sweden – Eric XIV (1560–1568)
Republic of Venice – Giorolamo Priuli, Doge of Venice (1559–1567)
Principality of Wallachia – Petru cel Tânăr, Voivode of Wallachia (1559–1568)