Meanings of reigned before in English

In London Händel reigned as never musician reigned before or since.

My blood courses through my veins; my nerves tingle; joy suffuses me where gloom reigned before.

A sad silence ensued the cheerfulness that had reigned before:-"Whythus dejected, my friend?"

On yet higher thrones sat Chronos and Xixouthros, who was contemporary with the deluge, and Tubal Cain, who reigned before it.

Ahab was more wicked than the kings that reigned before him, and had built a temple for the god Baal in Samaria.

After long counsel held, they said that he should be mighty in riches and power, and should surpass all that had reigned before him.

Was she searching my heart, and discovering the new love rising, an usurper already, in the place where the love of her had reigned before?

1: There is here some confusion in the chronology; as Teen-shun reigned before Ching-tung.

.Viz., from the death of his father Nabopolassar; for he had reigned before as partner with his father in the empire.

"The kings who reigned before me did as they thought best, and I choose to do as I please," said the little king.

"This Babylonian king conquered Egypt, and Syria, and Phenicia, and Arabia; and exceeded in his exploits all that had reigned before him in Babylon."