Warrior kings?

[Baron Conal]

Who was the last European ruling sovereign that
actively participated in combat as a soldier?

Meaning he was 'swinging a sword' so to speak....

Not just an effective battlefield commander but
an armed combatant actually fighting.

[chef de chambre]

Who was the last European ruling sovereign that
actively participated in combat as a soldier?

Meaning he was 'swinging a sword' so to speak....

Not just an effective battlefield commander but
an armed combatant actually fighting.

Lets see

Gustavus Adolphus.
William III (I think)
Peter the Great (?)

Those might be it, if you narrow down the definition to 'while king'.

[Baron Conal]

Those might be it, if you narrow down the definition to 'while king'.

yeah..... While king.

[chef de chambre]

I forgot, Charles II led soldiers, while in exile, during the Battle of the Dunes (Dunkirk). He was not coronated, but he was king by right from his fathers execution.

You might want to broaden the definition as in going into combat with every intent to personally fight if required, that definitely covers Charles II and William III

[Baron Conal]

almost embarassed to have to ask....
( I'm mostly just being lazy.... )

A year of that battle would be nice also.



( Pulled Henry V off the shelf and watched it again
and it got me thinking. And yes I know it's English
propaganda and not accurate.... It's still inspiring )

[chef de chambre]

The Battle of the dunes, June 14, 1658

The Boyne July 1 1690 old Calander, July 12th modern.

[Blaine de Navarre]

Napoleon III's reign ended when he was captured by the Prussians at the Battle of Sedan, 1870. Kaiser Wilhelm was also personally present at the battle.

[kaiö]

LEONIDAS

[Blaine de Navarre]

Albert I of Belgium commanded troops in WW I, but I doubt he spent much time personally in the trenches.

[Jan]

According to Wiki (yeah....I know....) Jan III Sobieski actually fought at the battle of Vienna, which would be July of 1683.

"The charge was planned and led by King of Poland Jan III Sobieski at the head of 3,000 Polish heavy lancers, the famed "Winged Hussars""

I don't have access to my books right now so I can't corroborate.

[chef de chambre]

Napoleon III's reign ended when he was captured by the Prussians at the Battle of Sedan, 1870. Kaiser Wilhelm was also personally present at the battle.

Yeah, but he and Kaiser Bill (and King Albert) were not combattants. Napolean III was a befuddled spectator at Sedan, not even understanding the basic course of the battle (with marshal MacMahon mounted nearby, slapping his face in his hand, seeing the French army about to be destroyed in the vally, in the circle of hills surrounding, saying 'nous sommes du Pot-Chamber... ' - We are in a chamber pot, and about to be shat upon)

The last British monarch to lead troops as a commander while monarch was George I, at Dettingen, but there was no way he ever intended to swing a sword, or shoot a pistol personally.

You find that personal leadership with actual threat of physical combat dissapear in Europe around the end of the 17th century.

[Baron Conal]

You might want to broaden the definition as in going into combat with every intent to personally fight if required, that definitely covers Charles II and William III

I'm actually wanting a fairly tight definition.

Fulfilled intent to personally engage the enemy in hand to hand combat.

And planned that way right from the start.

[Jonathan Atkin]

max got down and dirty aswell

[Josh W]

This probably doesn't count, but one of the current claimants to the French throne is known to have served in the Algerian War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri,_Com ... _de_France