This article lists the many extinct states, countries, nations, empires or territories from Ancient History to just before the Early Modern period, grouped geographically. For the purposes of this list, the Early Modern period begins at the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. For earlier civilizations, see prehistory.
Europe, North Africa and the Near East
Ancient
Achaean League (280–146 BCE) Adiabene (15–116 CE) Aetolian League (367–189 BCE) Akkadian Empire Alamanni Ammon (10th century BCE-332 BCE) Kingdom of Hatra Kingdom of Armenia Assyria Neo-Assyrian Empire AtropateneSchippmann, K. (1989), "Azerbaijan III: Pre-Islamic History", Encyclopædia Iranica, 3.1, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Attalid kingdomShipley (2000). The Greek World After Alexander, 323-30 B.C. p. 313 Avar Kingdom Axumite Kingdom Babylonia Neo-Babylonian Empire Bithynia Bosporan KingdomThe Cambridge Ancient History, volume VI, chapter 9f. Kingdoms of Sub-Roman Britain Burgundian Kingdom Cappadocia Caucasian IberiaCourse of Ancient Geography, Henry Immanuel Smith, p. 279. Carthage Chaldea Characene CommageneChahin, Mark (2001). The Kingdom of Armenia. Routledge. ISBN ColchisGeorgia in Antiquity: A History of Colchis and Transcaucasian Iberia, 550 BC-AD 562, David Braund Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1994. pp. 359 Cyrene Dacia Delian League (Athenian Empire, 478 BC-404 BC) Edom Egrisi Egyptian Empire Elam Elymais Ancient Epirus Etruria Fatimid Caliphate Finnveden Kingdom of the Franks Frisian kingdom Galatia Gallic Empire Gepid Kingdom Ghassanid Kingdom Gordyene Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Hellenic city-states (such as Athens, Sparta, Syracuse) and their allied cities/colonies/territories. See List of ancient Greek cities for all Greek Poleis. Hellenistic Empires (Ptolemaic, Seleucid, Antigonid, etc.) Himyar Hittites Hunnic Empire Hurrians Illyria Hebrew kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and later kingdom of Judaea Kindah Kush Lakhmids Lombard Kingdoms Lycia LydiaHerodotus, bk I Macedon Mauritania Media Meroe Moab Nabataean kingdom Nekor Njudung The petty kingdoms of present-day Norway Nubia Numidian Kingdom Saxons Odrysian kingdom of Thrace Osroene Ostrogothic Kingdom Palmyra Parthia Philistines Phoenician city states Pontus Rome Roman Kingdom Roman Republic Roman Empire Rugiland Scythia Domain of Soissons Suebic Kingdom Sumerian city states Tartessos Thuringia Urartu Värend Vasconia Visigothic Kingdom Yamkhad Yemeni Kingdoms Qataban Hadramaut Sabaeans Minaeans Troy
There were also numerous Celtic, Germanic, and Slavic Tribes.
Medieval
England After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Romano-British territories became increasingly fragmented. This was a result of the traditional system of Celtic inheritance: the realm was split amongst all sons upon a king's death. This situation was made worse after c. 449 when Jutes and Anglo-Saxons began colonising the south-eastern seaboards. As Jutes and Anglo-Saxons drove further inland, remaining Celts fled to the far corners of the island. Eventually the Romano-Britons (now known to the Anglo-Saxons as "Welsh") were assimilated or driven into the highlands of Cambria (Wales) or Caledonia (Scotland).
Sub-Roman Brythonic kingdoms in England Dumnonia, a realm named after the Dumnonii in the southwest. Kingdom of Cornwall, ca. 720–870, rump state after the fall of Dumnonia to Wessex. Bryneich, a hypothesised kingdom in the modern-day northeast of England. The region is also thought to have been a part of Gododdin. Ebrauc, a small kingdom centred on York. Calchfynedd, a kingdom in the Chiltern or Cheviot Hills. Elmet, a substantial kingdom near Leeds extinguished in 616. Rheged, another substantial kingdom, divided into north and south, in the northwest of modern England. Pengwern, a significant kingdom in what is now Shropshire.
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England Northumbria, formed out of the two northern Anglian kingdoms: Beornice or Bernicia, a small kingdom comprising the northern part of Northumbria. Dere or Deira, a small kingdom comprising the southern part of Northumbria. Mercia, which absorbed the smaller kingdoms of Lindsey and Hwicce. East Anglia. Kent. Sussex, kingdom of the South Saxons. Wessex, kingdom of the West Saxons. Essex, kingdom of the East Saxons. Haestingas, a Saxon tribe in part of Sussex. Magonsaete, an Anglian tribe in the hills of Shropshire. Hwicce, an Anglian tribe in modern Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Middle Saxons, a Saxon tribe in modern Middlesex and Hertfordshire. Suthrege, the Saxons of modern Surrey. Hicca, a small Middle Angle tribe in modern Cambridgeshire. Wreoconsaete, an Anglian tribe in the hills of Shropshire. Gyre, a small Middle Angle tribe in modern Cambridgeshire. Wihtwara, the Jutes of the Isle of Wight.
Kingdom of England
Wales Sub-Roman and Medieval Brythonic kingdoms in Wales Wales experienced a similar history during this time, although the Welsh population successfully resisted the influx of Anglo-Saxon settlers into the British Isles. The country was home to a number of princedoms until England's ultimate conquest of the region in the later medieval period.
Kingdom of Gwynedd, a kingdom that eventually became the core of the Principality of Wales Dyfed Deheubarth Powys Brycheiniog, became modern Brecknockshire Ceredigion Gwent Morgannwg, became modern Glamorgan Gwrtheyrnion Meirionnydd, became modern Merionethshire Seisyllwg Rhufoniog Rhos Dogfeiling Dunoting Maelienydd Principality of Wales a feudal confederation of Welsh principalities and a vassal of England between 1267 and 1282.
Scotland Sub-Roman Cumbric kingdoms in Scotland Valentia, an entity between Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall during the period following the departure of the Romans until c. 450. Alt Clud (Strathclyde), also known as the "Kingdom of the Rock" referring to the stronghold of Dumbarton Rock in the Firth of Clyde Gododdin Manau Gododdin
Pictish kingdoms in Scotland Cait — situated in modern Caithness and Sutherland Ce — situated in modern Mar and Buchan Circinn — perhaps situated in modern Angus and the Mearns Fib — the modern Fife, known to this day as 'the Kingdom of Fife' Fidach — location unknown Fotla — modern Atholl (Ath-Fotla) Fortriu — cognate with the Verturiones of the Romans; recently shown to be centered around Moray
Gaelic kingdoms in Scotland Dál Riata, the proto-state that became Scotland. (this kingdom spanned western Scotland and northeastern Ireland)
Other Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of the Isles Kingdom of Galloway Kingdom of the Rhinns
Ireland Extinct kingdoms in Ireland Ireland during the early medieval period consisted of some two hundred tuathas or minor kingdoms, which were in turn vassals of the rulers of an over-kingdom, called a cóiced (usually translated as a portion, a fifth, or a province). The most prominent of these kingdoms were
Aileach – later Tír Conaill and Tír Eógain Airgíalla Ulaid Mide Laighin Osraighe Munster – including Ormond, Desmond and Thomond Uí Maine Connacht
Between the 8th and 12th centuries, various Ard Rí attempted unsuccessfully to impose their rule over all the kingdoms in Ireland. Among those whose efforts almost made this a reality were Flann Sinna, reigned 877–916); Niall Glúndub mac Áedo (916–919); Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig (1002–1014); Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain (1055–1086; and Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair (1119–1156). The last of these kingdoms ceased to exist in the early 17th century. Further Irish kingdoms included:
Aidhne Breifne Dál Fiatach Dál nAraidi Dál Riata (this kingdom spanned western Scotland and northeastern Ireland) Desmond Dublin Fir Manach Meath Moylurg Uí Failghe
For further information see Irish kings.
France Frankish Kingdom/Carolingian Empire (~419–843) West Francia, which eventually developed into the Kingdom of France Visigothic Kingdom of Tolosa, encompassing southwestern France (418–507) Central Francia Kingdom of Lotharingia (855–869) Duchy of Lorraine Duchy of Burgundy (880–1482), dynastic pivot – in personal union – of most of the Low Countries and much of eastern and northern France Duchy of Brittany (841 to 1532) Papal states of Avignon Peñíscola under antipope Benedict XIII Republic of St. Tropez (1470–1672) Duchy of Normandy – this state technically continues to exist as the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey, British crown dependencies not a part of the United Kingdom, while the rest was incorporated into France. Duchy of Bar
Low Countries in the Low Countries (present Belgium and/or Netherlands, but not Luxembourg) Seventeen Provinces was transformed Batavian Republic Countship of Flanders Duchy of Gelre (roughly Guelders), another claimant to archducal rank Countship of Holland Duchy of Bouillon Countship of Namur Drenthe Prince-bishopric of Liège Duchy of Brabant, claiming the rank of archduchy as premier principality in the former duchy of Lower Lotharingia Countship of Hainaut (its personal union with Holland was not a state as such) Countship of Hoorn Breda Bergen op Zoom Arkel Thorn Montfoort Friesland (Frisia) Groningen Oostergo Westergo Gemert Woerden Prince-bishopric of Utrecht Countship of Zutphen
Germany and neighbouring countries in historic and present-day Germany and neighbouring countries/regions East Francia Holy Roman Empire (843–1806) List of states in the Holy Roman Empire, nearly all of those (largely Kleinstaaterei) were merged into larger states, eventually into modern Germany, Austria, and other large modern states, remarkable exceptions including Liechtenstein and Luxembourg Pomerania ruled by the Dukes of Pomerania (1121–1637) Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights Great Moravia
Spain and Portugal
Iberian states Christian Hispania Crown of Aragon (−1716) Aragon (1035–1707) Ribagorza Sobrarbe Principality of Catalonia (1173-1714) Countship of Barcelona (801–1162) Urgell Pallars Sobirà Pallars Jussà Empúries Kingdom of Valencia Kingdom of Majorca Kingdom of Asturias (716–913) afterwards Kingdom of León (913–1037, 1195–1230) Kingdom/County of Galicia Kingdom of Galicia and Portugal County of Portugal (Portucale, in old Portuguese) County of Coimbra Kingdom of Castile (11th century – 1479) Kingdom of Navarre Kingdom of the Suebi (409–585) Visigothic Kingdom (418–711) Vandalic and Alanic kingdoms in Iberia Moorish Al Andalus Caliphate of Córdoba, originally an emirate Taifa kingdoms, mainly emirates Albarracín Algeciras Almería Alpuente Badajoz Baeza Balearic Islands or Mallorca Beja and Évora Carmona Constantina and Hornachuelos Córdoba Denia Granada Guadix and Baza Huelva Jaén Jérica Lisbon Lorca Málaga Menorca Mértola Molina de Segura Morón Murcia Murviedro and Sagunto Niebla Orihuela Purchena Ronda Saltés and Huelva Algarve Santarém Segorbe Segura Seville Silves Tavira Tejada Toledo Tortosa Valencia Zaragoza
Italy Main Article:List of historical states of Italy in present Italy Roman states Roman monarchy (787–525 BC) Roman Republic (525–27 BC) Roman Empire (27 BC-476 AD) Post-Roman Kingdom of Italy Republic of Venice (727–1797) Republic of Genoa (~1000–1797) Carantania Duchy of Lucca Duchy of Modena and Reggio Duchy of Parma Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont Duchy (first Countship) of Savoy (1416–1714) Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily (1043–1410, 1442–1500, 1735–1816) Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1816–1860) Tuscany Papal States – partially annexed by the kingdom of Italy in 1860, completely annexed in 1870 and many minor city states and feudal principalities in present Sicily Etruscan civilization Roman Republic Roman Empire Western Roman Empire Ostrogoths Byzantine Empire Emirate of Cordoba
Russia and Ukraine
In and around present-day European Russia and Ukraine: Volga Bulgaria (660–1236) Novgorod Republic Golden Horde – in 1430s into Kazan Khanate, Crimean Khanate, Astrakhan Khanate, Siberia Khanate, Big Horde; Russia finally became independent Khazar Empire (652–1016) Kievan Rus (860 – 12th century)