List of state leaders in 1542

This is a list of heads of state, government leaders, and other rulers in the year 1542.

Africa

• Kingdom of Baguirmi – Lubatko (1536–1548)
• Ethiopian Empire – Gelawdewos (1540–1559)
• Kingdom of Kongo – Alfonso I, Manikongo (1509–1543)
• Sennar Sultanate – Nayil (1533/4 - 1550/1)
• Songhai Empire – Askia Ishaq I, Askia of the Songhai Empire (1539–1549)

Asia

• Aceh Sultanate – Alauddin al-Kahar (1539–1571)
• Ahom Kingdom – Suklenmung (1539–1552)
• China (Ming dynasty) - Jiajing Emperor (1521–1566)
• Jaffna Kingdom – Cankili I (1519–1561)
• Japan (Sengoku period)
  • Monarch – Emperor Go-Nara (1526–1557)
  • Ashikaga shogunate - Ashikaga Yoshiharu (1521–1546)
• Joseon (Korea) – Jungjong (1506–1544)
• Ryukyu Kingdom – Shō Sei (1527–1555)
• Safavid Empire – Tahmasp I, Shah of Iran (1524–1576)
• Sultanate of Sulu – Muizzul-Mutawadi-in (1527–1548)
• Vijayanagara Empire –
  1. Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542)
  2. Aliya Rama Raya (1542–1565)

Europe

• Crimean Khanate – Sahib I Giray, Khan of Crimea (1532–1551)
• Kingdom of Denmark and Norway – Christian III (1534–1559)
• Kingdom of England – Henry VIII (1509–1547)
• Kingdom of France – Francis I (1515–1547)
• Holy Roman Empire – Charles V (1519–1558)
• Hungary -
  • Royal Hungary – Ferdinand I (1526–1564)
  • Eastern Hungarian Kingdom – John II Sigismund Zápolya (1540–1571)
• Moldavia – Petru Rareş, Voivode of Moldavia (1526–1538, 1540–1546)
• Kingdom of Navarre – Henry II d'Albret (1516–1555)
• Ottoman (Turkish) Empire – Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566)
• Papal States – Pope Paul III (1534–1549)
• Kingdom of Poland – Sigismund I the Old (1506–1548)
• Kingdom of Portugal – John III the Pious (1521–1557)
• Grand Duchy of Moscow – Ivan IV, the Terrible (1533/1547–1547/1584)
• Duchy of Savoy – Charles III (1504–1553)
• Kingdom of Scotland –
  1. James V (1513–1542)
  2. Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1567)
• Crown of Spain -
  • Queen - Joanna the Mad (1504–1555)
  • Regent – Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1516–1556)
• Kingdom of Sweden – Gustav I Vasa (1521–1560)
• Republic of Venice – Pietro Lando, Doge of Venice (1538–1545)
• Principality of Wallachia – Radu Paisie, Voivode of Wallachia (1535–1545)

North Africa

• Sultanate of Morocco – Ahmad al-Araj (1517–1544)