Ancient & Medieval European Kingdoms
If we are fortunate enough to start taking our family history back into the middle and dark ages in Europe, we soon find that place names are unfamiliar. For instance, where and what is West Francia, Austrasia, Gwenydd, etc.?
Let's take a quick overview of the development of Europe. If we roll back the clock for nearly 3,000 years, we find that the Mediterannean region was populated with established countries such as Rome, Greece, Palestine, etc. However, the rest of Europe was inhabited by hundreds of tribes of various ethnic groups. Large areas of Europe were inhabited by the Celts. Other areas by various Germanic or Scandinavian tribes. These tribes always had leaders or chiefs and existed as separate bands that traveled for commerce or war.
Eventually, these tribes began to establish territorial boundaries and kingdoms emerged and the tribal chief became a prince or king.
The small kingdoms developed governments, led by the friends and relatives of the leader. Thus a privileged group arose with titles and we begin to have nobility in these small kingdoms. As time went on, each kingdom wanted more territory, and warfare ensued. As kingdoms were conquered, boundaries changed and kingdoms were absorbed either by warfare or perhaps by inter-kingdom marriages. Eventually, these territories came under the leadership of more powerful centralized kings, and we started having counties and districts, and even nations. With these new larger kingdoms, came new titles of nobility. For instance, the kings sub-ruler over a district was an earl or baron. A sub-ruler over a county was a count. Warriors were knights.
There are many websites that have information about these petty kingdoms, showing their leaders and years of existence. The Geni project has a website that lists most of them. Its link is http://www.geni.com/projects/Medieval-Kingdoms-of-Western-Europe/3198
If you examine its website, you will notice that many of the listed kingdoms have a link. However, these links are to other geni websites which may or may not provide further information. However, most of the following kingdoms have other sites, mostly Wikipedia articles to provide more information. Please use Google or another search engine to look them up. Many of these sites show maps and names of rulers. Please note that dates are often approximations. I have used the Geni Project as a reference to prepare the following list, rearranging categories and adding additional information. Do not assume that the years or tribes/nationalities are completely accurate. Much is guesswork based on ancient documents.
In Celtic Ireland, very little archeological findings and no written records other than observations of Greeks and Romans. Ptolemy mentioned and mapped tribes of which we have no evidence of their existence outside of the mention, i.e., Venicnii, Robogdii, Darini, Magmatae., Voluntii, Eblani, Cauci, Autini, Gangani, Manapii, Omanapi, Velabori, Usdiae, and Iverni. If they existed, we do not know their location.
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KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND |
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Name | Present Location | Tribe or Nationality | Existed |
Kingdom of Bernicia or Bryneich | England & Scotland | Angles | 547-653 |
Kingdom of Cornwall | England | Britons | 710-926 |
Kingdom of Deira | England | Angles | 559-653 |
Kingdom of Dumnonia | England | Britons | 290-710 |
Kingdom of East Anglia | England | Angles |
6th Century-917 |
Kingdom of East Anglia (Saxon) | England | Saxons | 7th-917 |
Kingdom of Ebrauc | England-Yorkshire | Britons | 80 BC-5th AD |
Kingdom of Elmet | England | Britons | 5th-7th AD |
Kingdom of England | England | Saxons | 927-1707 |
Kingdom of Kent | England | Jutes | 450-871 |
Kingdom of Meonwara | England-Hampshire | Jutes | 7th Century |
Kingdom of Mercia | England | Saxons | 527-918 |
Kingdom of Middle Anglia (Midland) | England | Angles | 9th Century |
Kingdom of North Anglia See East Anglia | England | Angles | 9th Century |
Kingdom of Northumbria | England | Angles & Saxons | 653-954 |
Kingdom of Rheged | England | Britons | 450-634 |
Kingdom of the West Saxons | England | Saxons | 519-927 |
Kingdom of Wight | England | Jutes | 534-685 |
Viking Kingdom (Danelaw) |
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The Vikings invaded England and established a Viking Kingdom which included the following shires in England: Leicester, York, Nottingham, Derby, Lincon, Essex, Cambridge, Suffolk, Northampton, Huntingdon, Bedford, Hertford, Middlesex, and Buckingham from about 910 to 1085.KINGDOMS OF SCOTLAND |
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Kingdom of the Picts | Scotland | Picts | 430-878 |
Kingdom of Gododdin | England, Scotland | Britons | 7th-9th Centuries |
Kingdom of Dál Riata (Dalriada) | Ireland/Ulster - Antrim / Argyll, Bute & Lochaber | Gaelic Irish & Scots | 498-715 |
Kingdom of Strathclyde | Scotland | Scots | 900-1100 |
Kingdom of Bernicia | Scotland | Scots | 6th Century-654 |
Kingdom of Alba | Scotland | Scots & Picts | 900-1286 |
Kingdom of Scotland | Scotland | Scots | 843-1707 |
The Scots Kingdoms were Dál Riata, Strathclyde and Bernicia. The kingdoms combined with the Picts to form the Kingdom of Alba. |
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KINGDOMS OF WALES |
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Kingdom of Brycheiniog | Wales - Breconshire | Britons | 5th-7th Centuries |
Kingdom of Ceredigion | Wales - Cardiganshire | Britons | 5-10th Centuries |
Kingdom of Deheubarth | Wales | Britons | 909-1063 |
Kingdom of Dyfed | Wales - Pembrokeshire & Carmarthenshire | Britons | 410-920 |
Kingdom of Ergyng | Wales - Breconshire, Radnorshire & England - Herefordshire | Britons | 5th-650 |
Kingdom of Gwent | Wales - Monmouthshire | Britons | 500-942 |
Kingdom of Gwynedd | Wales - Gwynedd including Anglesey | Britons | 5th-1282 |
Kingdom of Morgannwg (Glamorgan) originally Kingdom of Glwysing | Wales - Glamorganshire | Britons | 1080-1536 |
Kingdom of Powys | Wales - Denbighshire, Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire | Britons | 410-1160 |
Kingdom of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren(Fferllys) | Wales - Area between the Wye and Severn Rivers | Britons | 10th-11th Centuries |
Kingdom of Seisyllwg | Wales | Britons | 680-920 |
KINGDOMS OF IRELANDNote: Even though there are lists of Irish Kingdoms, not all were kingdoms as we think of a kingdom.. Some were no more than a city with a local ruler who had the title of king. In some cases, some kingdoms of Ireland were simply family dynasties in a very limited area. Rather than kingdom in some cases, a better designation might have been clan if the Irish and Scots used the same designations. |
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High Kingdom of Ireland | Ireland | Gaelic Irish | BC - 1318 |
Kingdom of Ailech | Ireland - Donegal | Gaelic Irish | 700-1185 |
Kingdom of Airgíalla | Ulster - Louth & Monaghan | Gaelic Irish | 7th-8th Centuries |
Kingdom of Brega | Ireland - Meath, Louth & Dublin | Gaelic Irish | 6th-8th Centuries |
Kingdom of Breifne | Ireland - Leitrim, Cavan & Sligo | Gaelic Irish | 6th-13th Centuries |
Kingdom of Connacht | Ireland - Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon & Sligo | Gaelic Irish | 1st-12 Centuries |
Kingdom of Cork (see Kingdom of Desmond | Ireland - Cork | Gaelic Irish & Viking | 1st-12 Centuries |
Kingdom of Dál nAraidi | Ulster - Antrim | Gaelic Irish | 588-8th Century |
Kingdom of Deissi Mumhain (See Munster) | Ireland - Waterford | Gaelic Irish | 697-1244 |
Kingdom of Desmond (South Muinster) | Ireland - Kerry, Cork | Gaelic Irish | 1118-1596 |
Kingdom of Dublin | Ireland - Dublin | Gaelic Irish & Viking | 839-1171 |
Kingdom of East Breifne | Ireland - County Cavan | Gaelic Irish | 10th Century -1579 |
Kingdom of Fer Manach (Fermanagh) | Uster - Fermanagh | Gaelic Irish | 1st-12 Centuries |
Kingdom of Leinster | Ireland - Leinster | Gaelic Irish | 7th Century BC - Present |
Kingdom of Limerick (See Thomond) | Ireland - Limerick | Gaelic Irish & Viking | 1st-12 Centuries |
Kingdom of Luighne Connacht | Ireland - Mayo & Sligo | Gaelic Irish | 8th - 17th Centuries |
Kingdom of Magh Luirg | Ireland | Gaelic Irish | 734-1604 |
Kingdom of Mide (Meath) | Ireland - Meath, Westmeath, Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth and Offaly | Gaelic Irish | 743-1604 |
Kingdom of Munster | Ireland - Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary & Waterford | Gaelic Irish | 1st -16th Centuries |
Kingdom of Oriel (see Airgíalla) | Ireland | Gaelic Irish | 7th-8th Centuries |
Kingdom of Osraige (Ossary) | Ireland - Kilkenny Laois | Gaelic Irish | 1st -16th Centuries |
Kingdom of Síol Anmchadha | Ireland - Galway | Gaelic Irish | 357-1316 |
Kingdom of Sliabh Lugha - Mayo | Ireland | Gaelic Irish | |
Kingdom of Tara (in name only) | Ireland the whole island | Gaelic Irish | Mythical significance |
Kingdom of Thomond (Tuadhmhuman or north Munster | Ireland - Clare | Gaelic Irish | 1118-1543 |
Kingdom of Tír Chonaill Tyrconnell | Ireland - Donegal | Gaelic Irish | 5th Century to 1607 |
Kingdom of Tír Eógain (Tyrone) | Ulster - Tyrone | Gaelic Irish | 1185-1616 |
Kingdom of Tuisceairt see Airgíalla | Ulster | Gaelic Irish | 6-16th Centuries |
Kingdom of Uisnech (Mythological) | Ireland - Westmeath | Gaelic Irish | 7th - 8th Centuries |
Kingdom of Ulidh (Ulster) | Ireland/Ulster - Donegal, Derry, Antrim, Tyrone, Down, Armagh, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Cavan | Gaelic Irish | 6-16th Centuries |
Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig (Kinsella) | Ireland - Carlow & Wexford | Gaelic Irish | 9th Century |
Kingdom of Uí Díarmata | Ireland - Galway | Gaelic Irish | 9th Century |
Kingdom of Uí Failghe | Ireland - Offaly & Kildare | Gaelic Irish | 9th Century |
Kingdom of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne | Ireland - Galway | Gaelic Irish | 9th Century |
Kingdom of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe | Ireland - Mayo & Sligo | Gaelic Irish | 9th Century |
Kingdom of Uí Maine | Ireland - Connacht, Galway, & Roscommon | Gaelic Irish | 367 - 9th Century |
Kingdom of Umaill | Ireland - Mayo | Gaelic Irish | 9th Century |
Kingdom of Waterford | Ireland - Waterford | Gaelic Irish & Viking | |
Kingdom of Wexford | Ireland - Wexford | Gaelic Irish | |
Central Europe | |||
Kingdom of Armorica | Brittany | Gauls | 500-700 |
Kingdom of Armorica-Leon | Brittany | Gauls | 500-700 |
Kingdom of Armorica-Domnonia | Brittany | Gauls | 500-700 |
Kingdom of Armorica-Poher | Brittany | Gauls | 500-700 |
Kingdom of Armorica-Cornouaille | Brittany | Gauls | 500-700 |
Kingdom of Armorica-Bro Erech | Brittany | Gauls | 500-700 |
Kingdom of Armorica-Nantes | Brittany | Gauls | 500-700 |
Kingdom of Magna Firisia | Netherlands | Dutch | 600-734 |
Duchy of Normandy | France | Normans (Danes) | 9th-Present |
Duchy of Aquitaine | France | Franks | 629-632 |
Kingdom of Arles | France | Franks | 933-1378 |
Kingdom of Austrasia and Burgundy | France | Franks | 613-613 |
Kingdom of Burgundy | France | Franks | 561-613 |
Kingdom of France | France | Gauls Normans French | 987-1791 |
Kingdom of Neustria | France | Franks | 561-613 |
Kingdom of Orleans | France | Franks | 511-524 |
Kingdom of Paris (Francia) | France | Franks | 511-567 |
Kingdom of Reims | France | Franks | 511-555 |
Kingdom of Soissons (Noviodunum) | France | Franks | 511-558 |
Kingdom of the Burgundians | France | Germanic Franks | 4th-534 |
Kingdom of West Francia | France | Franks | 843-987 |
Kingdom of Alamannia | Germany France Switzerland | Germanic Alemannii | 213-9th Century |
Kingdom of Austrasia | France Germany Belgium Luxembourg Netherlands | Franks | 561-718 |
France Germany Belgium Luxembourg Netherlands | Franks | 486-840 | |
Kingdom of Middle Francia | Switzerland, France, Italy | Franks | 817-855 |
Kingdom of Lotharingia | Switzerland | Franks | 855-869 |
Kingdom of East Francia | Germany | Franks | 843-1477 |
Kingdom of Germany | Germany | Germanic Groups | 919-1792 |
Holy Roman Empire | Germany | Saxons | 800-1806 |
Kingdom of Thuringia | Germany | Thuringii | 250-532 |
Kingdom of the Saxons | Various | Saxons | 400-1066 |
Southern Europe | |||
Kingdom of the Vandals | Sicily Corsica Sardinia Malta Balearics | Germanic Vandals | 429-533 |
Kingdom of Candia | Crete | Italians | 1205-1669 |
Kingdom of Sicily | Italy/Sicily | Italians | 1130-1816 |
Kingdom of Italy | Italy | Italians | 476-493 |
Kingdom of the Lombards | Italy | Germanic Lombards | 568-774 |
Kingdom of Naples | Italy | Italians | 1282-1816 |
Kigdom of the Osrogoths | Italy | Vandals | 493-553 |
Kingdom of the Visigoths | Spain | Visigoths | 418-721 |
Kingdom of Aragon | Spain | Spanish | 1035-1516 |
Kingdom of Valencia | Spain | Spanish | 1238-1707 |
Kingdom of Majorca | Spain | Spanish | 1231-1344 |
Kingdom of Asturias | Spain | Spanish | 718-910 |
Kingdom of Castile | Spain | Spanish | 1035-1516 |
Kingdom of León | Spain | Spanish | 910-1230 |
Kingdom of Toledo | Spain | Spanish | 1085-1469 |
Suebic Kingdom of Galicia | Spain | Spanish | 410-585 |
Kingdom of Galicia | Spain | Spanish | 910-1157 |
Kingdom of Portugal | Portugal | Portugese | 1139-1815 |
Scandinavia | |||
Kingdom of Denmark | Denmark | Danish | 756 - Present |
Kingdom of Reitgotaland | Denmark or Sweden | Danish? | 5th Century |
Kingdom of Norway | Norway | Norwegian | 872-Present |
Kingdom of Agder | Norway | Norwegian | 7th-987 |
Kingdom of Fjordane | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Grenland | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Gudbrandsdal | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Hadeland | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Hardanger | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Hedmark | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Hordaland | Norway | Norwegian | 7th-9th |
Kingdom of Hålogaland | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Land | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Namdalen | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Nordmøre | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Oppland | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Orkdalen | Norway | Norwegian | 7th |
Kingdom of Ranrike | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Raumarike | Norway | Norwegian | 8th-9th |
Kingdom of Ringerike | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Rogaland | Norway | Norwegian | 6th-9th |
Kingdom of Romsdal | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Sogn | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Solør | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Sunnmøre | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Telemark | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Toten | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Trøndelag | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Vestfold | Norway | Norwegian | 10th-13th |
Kingdom of Vestmar | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Vingulmark | Norway | Norwegian | 10th-11th |
Kingdom of Viken | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Voss | Norway | Norwegian | 7th? |
Kingdom of Sweden | Sweden | Swedish | 973-Present |
kingdom of Angeln | Sweden | Swedish | 5th Century |
EASTERN EUROPEAN KINGDOMS
Defining that part of Europe that is considered Eastern Europe is difficult. It is often defined in various ways: geo-political, by ethnic groups, by geographic landmarks, and by religion There are four defined areas for grouping countries: Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, Caucasus and Baltic. There are many countries in Eastern Europe. Some are ancient and had kingdoms, some are modern and even very recent. This section lists by kingdom. As I researched each country, if I could not find any listed kingdoms, I list the country name, its region and specify "No Kingdoms Found"
Kingdom | Country | Tribe or Nationality | Existed |
EASTERN EUROPE REGION |
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None | Belarus | Eastern Slav | 6th Century to Present |
None | Moldova (Moldavia) | Eastern Slav | 1346-Present |
Rus Khagan | Russia | Viking | 830 |
Rus Staraya Ladoga | Russia | Viking | 8th Century |
Rus Kiev | Russia | Viking-Danish | 862-1598 |
Rus Veliky Novgorod | Russia | Viking | 859 |
Grand Duchy of Moscow | Russia | Russian of Danish Descent | 1283 |
Tsardom of Muscovy | Russia | Polish-Lithuanian | 1547-1917 |
Russia in ancient times was a nomadic territory, various tribes travelled through without establishing permanent settlements or Kingdoms. Eventually Vikings called Varangians arrived as merchants and pirates establishing trade centers which became city-states. These city-states had rulers, but are not considered as kingdoms. These Vikings are considered the ancestors of later dynasties. The population was composed of Slavic, Finno-Ugric, Turkic, Baltic, Finnic, Hungarian and Norse people. The 800's is thought to be the times where a distinct Rus ethnos developed giving rise to later states from which modern Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine developed. | |||
None | Transistria (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) | Moldovan | Modern State |
None | Ukraine | Ukrainian East Slavic | 13th Century-Present |
CAUCASUS REGION |
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None | Abhazia | Georgian | Modern State 1980's |
Bagratid Kingdom | Armenia | Armenian | 862-1022 |
Cilician Kingdom | Armenia | Armenian | 1080-1375 |
Kingdom of Ararat (Orartu) | Armenia | Urartian | 860 BC - 590 BC |
Kingdom of Armenia | Armenia | Armenian | 321 BC to 428 AD |
None | Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) | Armenian | Modern State 1980's |
None | Azerbaijan | Azerbaijani | Modern 1918-Present |
Kingdom of Colchis | Georgia | Greek | Ended 165 BC |
Kingdom of Kartii-Kakheti (Iberia) |
Georgia | Georgian | 302 BC - 580 AD |
None | South Osseta (Alania) | Ossetian | Modern State - 1990's |
BALTIC REGION |
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None | Estonia | Estonian Viking | BC - Present |
None | Latvia | Latvian or Letts | 1918-Present |
Grand Duchy of Lithuania | Lithuania | Lithuanian | 1253-1569 |
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE REGION |
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Kingdom of Albania | Albania | Albanian | 1271-1392 |
Kingdom of Bosnia | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bosnian | 1377-1527 |
Kingdom of Bulgaria | Bulgaria | Bulgarian | 681-Present |
Kingdom of Croatia | Croatia (Alsco in Central Europe) | Croatian | 925-1102 |
City-Kingoms of Cyprus | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Paphos | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Salamis | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Soloi | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Kourion | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Chytroi | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Kition | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Amathus | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Idalion | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Ledrai | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Tamassos | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Kyrenia | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Lapethos | Cyprus | Greek-Phoenician | BC |
Marion | Cyprus | Greek | BC |
Kingdom of Greece | Greece | Greek | BC |
City-Kingdoms of Greece | Greece | Greek | BC |
Athens | Greece | Greek | 1796 BC-86 BC |
Sparta | Greece | Greek | 900's BC-146 BC |
Corinth | Greece | Greek | 700 BC-146 BC |
Thebes | Greece | Greek | ?-146 BC |
Eretria | Greece | Greek | ?-146 BC |
Chalcis | Euboea Island Greece | Greek | ?-146 BC |
Syracuse | Sicily | Greek | 734 BC-212 BC |
Massalia (Marseilles) | Gaul (France) | Greek | 600 BC -49 BC |
None | Kosovo | Albanian/Serbian | Modern 1946-Present |
Kingdom of Montenegro | Montenegro | Montenegrin | Modern 1910-1918 |
None | North Macedonia | Macedonian/Albanian | Modern 1991-Present |
Kingdom of Macedonia | Macedonia | Greek | 808 BC 0 146 BC |
Kingdom of Romania | Romania (Also in Central Europe) | Romanian | 1859-PresentSer |
Kingdom of Serbia | Serbia (Also in Central Europe) | Serbian | 1217-1346 |
None | Slovenia (Also in Central Europe) | Slovene | Modern 1918-Present |
See Odrysian below | Turkey | Thracian & Turkish | BC-Present |
Turkey is split between Europe and Asia. Only 3% of Turkey lies in Europe and consists of East Thrace, West of the Dardanelles, Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus. However one of the most important cities in the world was in the European area, the city of Constantinople, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire from 330-396 and the Ottoman Empire. In 1923 when Turkey moved its capital to Ankara, Constaninople was renamed Istanbul. | |||
Kingdom of Odrysian | Turkey(Thrace) | Thracian | 480 BC - 46 AD |
Kingdom of Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | Serbo-Croato Slovenian | 1918-2003 |
Yugoslavia came into existence in 1918 under the name of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes formed from territories of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. The concept was to create a country for all South Slavic peoples. In 1929 the name was changed to Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1963 it was renamed as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and consisted of six republics - Bosnia & Herzegovin, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. The country was broken up because of civil war and after its political and military leaders were tried for war crimes. The various republics had combinations and splits through 2008. |
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