List of state leaders in 1523

This is a list of heads of state, government leaders, and other rulers in the year 1523.

Africa

• Kingdom of Baguirmi – Birni Besse (1522–1536)
• Ethiopian Empire – Dawit II (1508–1540)
• Kingdom of Kongo – Alfonso I, Manikongo (1509–1542)
• Sennar Sultanate – Amara Dunqas (1503–1533/4)
• Songhai Empire – Askia Mohammad I, Askia of the Songhai Empire (1493–1528)
• Warsangali Sultanate – Gerad Liban (1503–1525)
• Wolof Empire – Bukaar Biye-Sungule (1492–1527)

Americas

• Inca Empire – Huayna Capac (1493–1527)
• Muisca Confederation
  • zipa - Tisquesusa (1514–1537)
  • zaque - Quemuenchatocha (1490–1538)

Asia

• Ahmadnagar Sultanate – Burhan Shah I (1510–1553)
• Ahom Kingdom – Suhungmung(1497–1539)
• Ava Kingdom – Shwenankyawshin (1501–1527)
• Sultanate of Brunei – Bolkiah (1485–1524)
• Bengal Sultanate – Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah (1519–1533)
• Berar Sultanate – Aladdin Imad Shah (1504–1529)
• Bijapur Sultanate – Ismail Adil Shah (1510–1534)
• Cambodia (Kingdom of Charktomok) - Chey Chettha Thirach, ruled 1512–1525
• China (Ming dynasty) - Jiajing Emperor (1521–1567)
• Kingdom of Cochin – Unniraman Koyikal II (1503–1537)
• Golconda Sultanate – Quli Qutb Mulk (1518–1543)
• Japan (Sengoku period)
  • Monarch – Emperor Go-Kashiwabara (1500–1526)
  • Ashikaga shogunate - Ashikaga Yoshiharu (1521–1546)
• Khanate of Khiva – Ilbars I (1515–1525)
• Kamata Kingdom – Biswa Singha (1515–1540)
• Joseon (Korea) – Jungjong (1506–1544)
• Sultanate of Maguindanao – Sharif Kabungsuwan (1520–1543)
• Ryukyu Kingdom – Shō Shin (1477–1526)
• Sibir Khanate – Kuluk (1502–1530)

Europe

• Kingdom of Denmark–Norway –
  1. Christian II (1513–1523)
  2. Frederick I (1523–1533)
  • Duchy of Schleswig –
    1. Christian II (1513–1523) and Frederick I (1490–1533) in condominial rule
    2. Christian III (1523–1559) and Frederick I (1490–1533) in condominial rule
• Kingdom of England – Henry VIII (1509–1547)
• Kingdom of France – Francis I (1515–1547)
• Holy Roman Empire – Charles V (1519–1556)
  • Duchy of Holstein –
    1. Christian II (1513–1523) and Frederick I (1490–1533) in condominial rule
    2. Christian III (1523–1559) and Frederick I (1490–1533) in condominial rule
• Kingdom of Hungary – Louis II (1516–1526)
• Grand Duchy of Lithuania – Sigismund I the Old (1506–1548)
• Grand Duchy of Moscow – Vasili III of Russia (1505–1533)
• Duchy of Naxos – John IV Crispo (1517–1564)
• Ottoman (Turkish) Empire – Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566)
• Kingdom of Poland – Sigismund I the Old (1506–1548)
• Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves – John III (1521–1557)
• Qasim Khanate – Canghali (1519–1531)
• Kingdom of Scotland – James V (1513–1542)
• Kingdom of Spain
  • Kingdom of Aragon – Charles I (1516–1556)
  • Crown of Castile
    • Queen - Joanna (1504–1555)
    • Regent – Charles I, King of Aragon (1556–1556)
• Kingdom of Sweden – Gustav I Vasa, viceroy and king of Sweden (1521–1560)
• Republic of Venice –
  1. Antonio Grimani, Doge of Venice (1521–1523)
  2. Andrea Gritti, Doge of Venice (1523–1538)