List of state leaders in 1491

This is a list of heads of state, government leaders, and other rulers in the year 1491.

Africa

• Ethiopian Empire – Eskender (1478–1494)
  • Adal Sultanate – Muhammad ibn Azhar ad-Din, Sultan (1488–1518)
• Kingdom of Kongo – João I, Manikongo (1470–1509)
• Songhai Empire – Sonni Ali (1464–1492)

Americas

• Aztec Empire – Ahuitzotl (1486–1502)
• Inca Empire – Tupac (1471–1493)
• Texcoco – Nezahualpilli, King of Texcoco (1472–1515)

Asia

• China (Ming dynasty) - Hongzhi Emperor (1487–1505)
• Japan (Muromachi period)
  • Monarch – Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado (1464–1500)
  • Ashikaga shogunate - Ashikaga Yoshitane (1490–1493)
• Joseon (Korea) – Seongjong (1469–1494)
• Kingdom of Manipur – Meidingu Kiyamba (1467–1508)
• Kingdom of Mrauk U – Min Dawlya (1482–1492)
• Ryukyu Kingdom – Shō Shin (1477–1526)

Europe

• Crimean Khanate – Meñli I Giray (1478–1515)
• Kingdom of Denmark and Norway – Hans (1481–1513)
  • Duchy of Schleswig – Frederick I (1490–1533) and John I (1481–1513) in condominial rule
• Kingdom of England – Henry VII and Lord of Ireland (1485–1509)
• Kingdom of France – Charles VIII (1470–1498)
• Holy Roman Empire – Frederick III (1452–1493)
  • Duchy of Bavaria - Albert IV (1463–1508)
  • Duchy of Bavaria-Landshut - George the Rich (1479–1503)
  • County of Burgundy and Duchy of Burgundy –
    • Duke - Philip IV, the Fair (1482–1506)
    • Regent – Maximilian I, King of the Romans (1482–1594)
  • Kingdom of Germany – Frederick III (1440–1493)
  • Duchy of Holstein – Frederick I (1490–1533) and John I (1481–1513) in condominial rule
• Grand Duchy of Lithuania – Casimir IV (1440–1492)
• Kingdom of Naples – Ferdinand I (1458–1494)
• Ottoman (Turkish) Empire – Bayezid II, Ottoman Sultan (1481–1512)
• Kingdom of Poland – Casimir IV (1447–1492)
• Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves – John II (1477–1495)
• Grand Duchy of Moscow – Ivan III, Grand Prince of Moscow (1462–1505)
• Kingdom of Scotland (House of Stuart): James IV (1488–1513)
• Kingdom of Spain
  • King - Ferdinand II of Aragon (1479–1516)
  • Queen - Isabella I of Castile (1479–1504)
• Republic of Venice – Agostino Barbarigo, Doge of Venice (1486–1501)

Middle East and North Africa

• Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt – Qait Bay (1468–1496)