regnal

American  

[reg-nl] / ˈrɛg nl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a sovereign, sovereignty, or reign.

   the second regnal year of Louis XIV.

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regnal British  

/ ˈrɛɡnəl /

adjective

1. of a sovereign, reign, or kingdom

2. designating a year of a sovereign's reign calculated from the date of his or her accession

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Etymology

Origin of regnal

1605–15; < Medieval Latin rēgnālis, equivalent to Latin rēgn ( um ) rule, kingdom + -ālis -al ¹; see reign

Example Sentences

Centuries ago, Swedish kings based their regnal numbers on a list of sovereigns that was partly made up.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2023

Tomorrow is the coronation of King Charles III, which I’ve come to understand as a sort of regnal equivalent of a bar mitzvah ceremony.

From New York Times • May 5, 2023

George VI was of course christened Albert, at least in part to mollify Queen Victoria, but went with tradition when suddenly obliged to choose a regnal name.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2013

It wasn’t until the end of Marcellus II’s reign, in May 1555, that choosing a regnal name became de rigueur.

From Newsweek • Mar. 13, 2013

It was established and set going as an era by his successor, who continued the reckoning so started, instead of breaking it by introducing another according to his own regnal years.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 "Hero" to "Hindu Chronology" by Various