This is a list of historical separatist movements in Europe. Separatism includes autonomism and secessionism.
Criteria What is and is not considered an autonomist or secessionist movement is sometimes contentious. Entries on this list must meet three criteria:
They are no longer an active movement with active members. They are demanded greater autonomy or self-determination for a geographic region (as opposed to personal autonomy). They were citizens/people of the conflict area and did not come from another country.
Under each region listed is one or more of the following:
De facto state (de facto entity): for unrecognized regions with de facto autonomy. Proposed state: proposed name for a seceding sovereign state. Proposed autonomous area: for movements towards greater autonomy for an area but not outright secession. De facto autonomous government: for governments with de facto autonomous control over a region. Government-in-exile: for a government based outside of the region in question, with or without control. Political party (or parties): for political parties involved in a political system to push for autonomy or secession. Militant organization(s): for armed organizations. Advocacy group(s): for non-belligerent, non-politically participatory entities. Ethnic/ethno-religious/racial/regional/religious group(s).
List
Albania
League of Prizren Northern Epirus
Belgium
Political parties Flemish Vlaams Belang, New Flemish Alliance Sociaal-Liberale Partij member of the European Free Alliance
Bulgaria
Militant organizations: Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee, Internal Revolutionary Organization, Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization
Czech Republic
Political party: Young Czech Party, Czech National Social Party
Finland
Political movement: Fennoman Political party: Finnish Party, Young Finnish Party Rebel organization: Kagal
Political movement: Åland movement
France
(also in Spain) Political parties: Basque Nationalist Party, Basque Unity, Patriot Unity Rebel organization: Basque homeland and Freedom (ETA), Iparretarrak
Political parties: Corsica Nazione, Partitu di a Nazione Corsa
Political parties: Union Démocratique Bretonne, Breton Party Rebel organization: Breton Revolutionary Army, Liberation Front of Brittany
Political parties : Alsace d'abord *
Germany
Short-lived Republic: Rhenish Republic Lower Saxony Alemannic Separatism Bavarian Soviet Republic Saarland Political parties: Christian People's Party of Saarland, Social Democratic Party of SaarlandJürgen Hannig: Die Saar 1945–1955 / La Sarre 1945–1955, Separatisten - Nationalisten? Zum Abstimmungskampf 1955, pp. 381–396, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 1995, doi.org/10.1515/9783486829563-035 (German). Goals: De facto independence of Saarland under status of a European territory, acceptance of the Saar statute
Greece (Gained independence from the Ottoman Empire after the Greek War of Independence)
Society: Filiki Eteria Unrecognized state: Areopagus of Eastern Continental Greece, Peloponnesian Senate, Senate of Western Continental Greece, Provisional Administration of Greece (after 1822) Militant organizations: Armatoloi/Klephts, Sacred Band, Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy Aromanians (Aromanian nationalism) Samarina Republic, Principality of the Pindus
Ireland (See also under UK, for pre-division Ireland)
Home Rule League Irish National League Irish Parliamentary Party Irish Republican Brotherhood Provisional Government of the Irish Republic Sinn Féin Society of United Irishmen United Irish League Young Ireland
Italy
(Sardinian nationalism) (Sicilian nationalism) (Venetian nationalism)
North Macedonia
Albanian-inhabited communities in SR Macedonia and the Republic of Macedonia
Ethnic group: Albanians Political parties: N/A Goals: Unification of Albanian-inhabited areas in western Macedonia with a proposed seventh Yugoslav republic Kosovo (1980s), autonomy or independence of Albanian-inhabited regions in western Macedonia (1990s) Events: Unofficial 1992 autonomy referendum, with 90 percent of Albanians voting and more than 99 percent being in favor Timespan: 1980s-1990s
Serbian-inhabited communities in the Republic of Macedonia
Ethnic group: Serbs Political parties: Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia, Radical Party of the Serbs in Macedonia Goals: Autonomy (Serbian Autonomous Region of Kumanovo Valley and Skopska Crna Gora) Timespan: 1992
Ottoman Empire
Ethnic group: Greeks Organization: Filiki Eteria Ethnic group: Serbs Organization: Serbian rebels Ethnic group: Bulgarians Organization: Bulgarian revolutionaries, Opalchentsi
Poland
Narodowa Demokracja Towarzystwo Demokratyczne Polskie (Polish Democratic Society) Union of Upper Silesians Silesian People's Party
Russian Empire
Armenia
Armenian National Council
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani National Council
Bashkortostan
Bashkir Regional Bureau Millät Mäclese
Belarus
Belarusian National Council
Crimea
Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People
Don
Krug for the Salvation of the Don
Estonia
Estonian Provisional Government
Finland
Parliament of Finland White Guard
Georgia
Social Democratic Party of Georgia
Idel-Ural
Collegium for the implementation of the Idel-Ural State
North Ingermanland
Provisional Committee of Northern Ingria
Karelia
Union of White Sea Karelians
Kuban
Kuban Military Council Kuban Rada
Latvia
People's Council of Latvia
Lithuania
Council of Lithuania
Moldova
Sfatul Țării
Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus
Union of the Peoples of the Northern Caucasus Executive Committee
Poland
Regency Council Polish political parties
Transcaucasia
Transcaucasian Commissariat
Ukraine
Central Council of Ukraine General Secretariat of Ukraine
Slovakia
Political party: Slovak National Party
Soviet Union
Political parties: Azerbaijani Popular Front Party Belarusian People's Front Rahvarinne Popular Front of Latvia, Latvian National Independence Movement Sąjūdis Moldovan Popular Front People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists Ukrainian Insurgent Army
Spain
Basque Country (also in France) Political parties: Aralar Party, Basque Nationalist Party, Batasuna, Eusko Abertzale Ekintza, Eusko Alkartasuna, Nafarroa Bai Rebel organizations: Basque homeland and Freedom (ETA), SEGI
Political parties: Convergence and Union (Democratic Convergence of Catalonia + Democratic Union of Catalonia), Republican Left of Catalonia, Catalan State, Popular Unity Candidacy, Democrats of Catalonia, Left Movement, Catalan Solidarity for Independence, Reagrupament, National Front of Catalonia Rebel organizations: Terra Lliure (disbanded), Exèrcit Popular Català (disbanded) Organizations: Assemblea Nacional Catalana, Òmnium Cultural Labour unions: Intersindical-CSC, Coordinadora Obrera Sindical
Political Parties: Galician Nationalist Bloc, Nós-Unidade Popular
Political parties: Bloque por Asturies, Unidá Nacionalista Asturiana, Andecha Astur Rebel organization: Andecha Obrera (disbanded)
Political party: Congreso Nacional de Canarias, Frepic-Awañak, Unión del Pueblo Canario Organizations: MPAIAC Armed groups: Fuerzas Armadas Guanches
Sweden
Fennia Ethnic Groups: Forest Finns, Tornedalians Location: Värmland, Dalarna Political movement: Forest Finn Autonomism/Nationalism
United Kingdom
: New Cornish Tertia army, An Gof, Cornish Solidarity : Vectis National Party : Irish Republican Brotherhood, Clan na Gael, Young Ireland, Home Rule League, Irish Socialist Republican Party, Irish Parliamentary Party, All-for-Ireland League, Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland), Irish Independence Party : Scottish National Liberation Army : Cymru Fydd, Cymru Goch, Welsh Socialist Alliance, Welsh Republican Movement
Isle of Man
: Fo Halloo, Manx National Party
Yugoslavia
Croatia (SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia) Ethnic group: Croats Political parties: Croatian Democratic Union, Croatian Party of Rights, Croatian Peasant Party Armed organizations: Croatian National Guard Events: Croatian Spring, War in Croatia Goals: Independence
Republic of Kosovo (AP Kosovo and Metohija, SR Serbia, FR Yugoslavia)
Ethnic group: Albanians in Kosovo Political parties: Democratic League of Kosovo, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Democratic Party of Kosovo, National Movement for the Liberation of Kosovo, The People's Movement for Kosovo Armed organizations: Kosovo Liberation Army, Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo Events: Insurgency in Kosovo (1993–98), Kosovo War Goals: Larger autonomy (until 1989); Independence (1990–2003)
Preševo Valley (Serbia, FR Yugoslavia)
Ethnic group: Albanians in southern Serbia Events: Insurgency in the Preševo Valley
See also
List of historical unrecognized states and dependencies List of active separatist movements recognized by intergovernmental organizations Lists of separatist movements
References