yearletters

Yearletters, also known as regnal dates or dating by reign, is a system of dating events based on the regnal year of a monarch or ruler. Instead of using a calendar year, such as 2023, events are recorded as occurring in the "first year of the reign of King Arthur" or the "tenth year of the reign of Empress Victoria." This system was prevalent throughout much of history in various cultures and empires.

The practice of using yearletters provided a direct link between the ruler and the passage of time, emphasizing the monarch's authority and the duration of their rule. It was particularly common in monarchies and empires where the succession of rulers was a fundamental aspect of governance and historical record-keeping. For example, ancient Egyptian pharaohs were documented using this method, as were Roman emperors. In medieval Europe, yearletters were widely used in legal documents, chronicles, and administrative records.

The advantage of yearletters was its inherent connection to the reigning power. However, its main disadvantage is the difficulty it presents for modern historians and researchers. To understand the precise date of an event recorded using yearletters, one must know the exact start date of the ruler's reign and the end date of their reign. This requires careful genealogical research and historical context. The transition to standardized calendar years, like the Gregorian calendar, offered greater universality and ease of chronological understanding. While no longer the primary method of dating, yearletters remain a valuable historical artifact, offering insights into the political and social structures of the times in which they were used.