List of state leaders in 1642

This is a list of heads of state, heads of governments, and other rulers in the year 1642.

Africa

• Kingdom of Dahomey – Dakodonou (1620–1645)
• Ethiopian Empire – Fasilides (1632–1667)

Asia

• China (Ming dynasty) - Chongzhen Emperor (1627–1644)
• Empire of Japan –
  • Monarch – Meishō (1629–1643)
  • Tokugawa shogunate – Tokugawa Iemitsu (1623–1651)
  • Ryukyu Kingdom – Shō Ken (1640–1647)
• Joseon (Korea) – Injo (1623–1649)
• Mughal Empire – Shah Jahan (1627–1658)
• Qing dynasty (Manchu Empire) - Hong Taiji (1626–1643)

Europe

• Kingdom of Denmark–Norway – Christian IV (1588–1648)
• Kingdom of England – Charles I (1625–1649)
• Kingdom of France – Louis XIII (1610–1643)
  • Principality of Catalonia – Louis I, Count of Barcelona (1641–1643)
• Holy Roman Empire – Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor (1637–1657)
  • Electorate of Bavaria - Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria (1623-1651)
  • Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen –
    1. Frederick II (later Frederick III of Denmark), Lutheran Administrator of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen (1635–1645)
    2. Archduke Leopold William of Austria, rivalling Catholic Administrator of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen (1635–1645)
  • Prince-Bishopric of Halberstadt – Archduke Leopold William of Austria, Catholic Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Halberstadt (1628–1648)
  • Prince-Archbishopric of Magdeburg – Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, Lutheran Administrator of the Prince-Archbishopric of Magdeburg (1638–1680)
  • Bishopric of Olomouc – Archduke Leopold William of Austria, Catholic Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Olomouc (1637–1662)
  • Prince-Bishopric of Passau – Archduke Leopold William of Austria, Catholic Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Passau (1625–1662)
  • Prince-Bishopric of Strasbourg – Archduke Leopold William of Austria, Catholic Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Strasbourg (1626–1662)
  • Prince-Bishopric of Verden – Frederick II (later Frederick III of Denmark), Lutheran Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Verden (1623–1629 and again 1635–1644)
• Ottoman (Turkish) Empire – İbrahim, Ottoman Sultan (1640–1648)
• Papal States – Pope Urban VIII (1623–1644)
• Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth – Ladislaus IV (1632–1648)
• Tsardom of Russia – Michael I (1613–1645)
• • Sedan - Frédéric Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne, Prince of Sedan (1623-1642)
  • During this year Sedan was annexed by France
• Monarchy of Spain – Philip IV (1621–1665)
• Kingdom of Sweden – Christina (1632–1654)
• United Provinces
  • Estates of Friesland, Groningen, Guelders, Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (1581–1795)
  • Stadtholder - Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, Stadtholder of Gelre, Holland, Utrecht and Zeeland(1625–1647).
    • Holland – Grand Pensionary - Jacob Cats (1629–1631, 1636–1651)