List of former national capitals

{{Short description|none}}

{{More citations needed|date=December 2010}}

{{Incomplete list|date=December 2010}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Lists of capitals}}

Throughout the world there are many cities that were once national capitals but no longer have that status because the country ceased to exist, the capital was moved, or the capital city was renamed. This is a list of such cities, sorted by country and then by date. Where a city name has changed, the name of the city when it was a capital is listed first, followed by its modern name in brackets.

Africa

= Northern Africa =

{{Further|List of historical capitals of Egypt}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Fez

| Dila'ite interlude, Alaouite dynasty

| Morocco

| 1659

| 1672

| Moved to Meknes

Mascara

| Abdelkader, Emirate of

| Algeria

| 1832

| 1835

| Moved to Tagdemt

Tagdemt

| Abdelkader, Emirate of

| Algeria

| 1835

| 1847

|

Fez

| Alaouite dynasty

| Morocco

| 1727

| 1912

| Moved to Rabat

Marrakesh

| Almoravid dynasty

| Morocco

| 1070

| 1147

| Moved to Fez

Tinmel

| Almohad Caliphate

| Morocco

| 1121

| 1147

| Moved to Marrakesh and Seville

Marrakesh

| Almohad Caliphate

| Morocco

| 1147

| 1269

| Moved to Fez

Altava

| Altava, Kingdom of

| Algeria

| 578

| 708

|

Béjaïa

| Béjaïa, Emirate of

| Algeria

| 1285

| 1510

|

Kalâa of Ait Abbas

| Beni Abbas, Kingdom of

| Algeria

| 1510

| 1872

|

Benghazi

| Cyrenaica, Emirate of

| Libya

| 1949

| 1951

|

Memphis

| Egypt, Ancient

| Egypt

|data-sort-value="-3150"| 3150 BC

|data-sort-value="-2160"| 2160 BC

| Moved to Henen-Nesut. The Ancient Greeks called the city Memphis, its native name was Inbu-Hedj.

Thebes

| Egypt, Ancient

| Egypt

|data-sort-value="-2134"| 2134 BC

|data-sort-value="-1292"| 1292 BC

| Moved to Pi-Ramesses. The Ancient Greeks called the city Thebes, its native name was Waset.

Fustat

| Egypt in the Middle Ages

| Egypt

| 641

| 750

| Moved to Al-Askar

Al-Qata'i

| Egypt

| Egypt

| 868

| 905

| Moved to Fustat

Fustat

| Egypt

| Egypt

| 905

| 969

| Moved to Cairo

Qal'at Bani Hammad

| Hammadid dynasty

| Algeria

|data-sort-value="1007"| c. 1007

| 1090

| Moved to Béjaïa

Béjaïa

| Hammadid dynasty

| Algeria

|data-sort-value="1090"| c. 1090

| 1152

|

Walili

| Idrisid dynasty

| Morocco

| 789

| 808

| Moved to Fez

Fez

| Idrisid dynasty

| Morocco

| 808

| 927

| Moved to Hajar an-Nasar, to try and restore power base

Kuku

| Kuku, Kingdom of

| Algeria

|data-sort-value="1515"| c. 1515

| 1730

|

Al Bayda

| Libya, Kingdom of

| Libya

| 1963

| 1969

| Formation of the Libyan Arab Republic under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi

Fez

| Marinid dynasty

| Morocco

| 1244

| 1465

| Moved to Marrakesh

Altava

| Masuna, Kingdom of

| Algeria

|data-sort-value="477"| {{circa|477}}

| 578

|

Meknes

| Morocco (under Ismail Ibn Sharif)

| Morocco

| 1672

| 1727

| Moved to Fez

Alexandria

| Ptolemaic Kingdom

| Egypt

|data-sort-value="-305"| 305 BC

|data-sort-value="-30"| 30 BC

| Ptolomaic Egypt was succeeded by the Roman Empire.

Tahert (Tiaret)

| Rustamid dynasty

| Algeria

| 777

| 909

|

Tidsi

| Saadi Sultanate

| Morocco

| 1510

| 1513

| Moved to Afughal

Afughal

| Saadi Sultanate

| Morocco

| 1513

| 1525

| Moved to Marrakesh

Marrakesh

| Saadi Sultanate

| Morocco

| 1525

| 1659

|

Fez

| Saadi Sultanate

| Morocco

| 1603

| 1627

| Fez was a rival capital to Marrakesh during this period.

Tlemcen

| Tlemcen, Emirate of

| Algeria

|data-sort-value="757"| c. 757

| 790

|

Tlemcen

| Tlemcen, Kingdom of

| Algeria

| 1235

| 1556

|

ʽAziziya

| Tripolitanian Republic

| Libya

| 1918

| 1922

|

Tuggurt

| Tuggurt, Sultanate of

| Algeria

| 1414

| 1871

| The sultanate was absorbed into French Algeria.

Al-Askar

| Tulunid Emirate

| Egypt

| 750

| 868

| Abbasid dynasty re-asserted control; provincial capital moved to Al-Qata'i

Hippo Regius (Annaba)

| Vandal Kingdom

| Algeria

| 435

| 439

| Capital moved to Carthage.

Carthage

| Vandal Kingdom

| Tunisia

| 439

| 534

| Vandal Kingdom was absorbed by Byzantine Empire.

Fez

| Wattasid dynasty

| Morocco

| 1472

| 1554

| Wattasid dynasty was succeeded by Saadi Sultanate

Achir

| Zirid dynasty

| Algeria

| 936

| 1014

|

al-Mansuriyya

| Zirid dynasty

| Tunisia

| 972

| 1057

|

Mahdia

| Zirid dynasty

| Tunisia

| 1057

| 1148

|

= Sub-Saharan Africa =

== Central Africa ==

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Jamba

| Angola, Democratic People's Republic of

| Angola

| 1975

| 1976

|

Jamba

| Angola, Democratic People's Republic of

| Angola

| 1979

| 2002

|

Halã-Vala, Bimbe-Katapi (Bailundo)

| Bailundo

| Angola

|data-sort-value="1700"| c. 1700

| 1903

|

Cabinda

| Cabinda, Republic of

| Angola

| 1975

| 1976

|

Boma

| Congo Free State

| Congo, Democratic Republic of the

|data-sort-value="1886"| 1886

| 1908

|

Boma

| Congo, Belgian

| Congo, Democratic Republic of the

|data-sort-value="1886"| 1908

| 1926

| moved to Léopoldville (Kinshasa)

Stanleyville (Kisangani)

| Congo, People's Republic of the

| Congo, Democratic Republic of the

| 1964

| 1965

|

Quinguele

| Kakongo

| Angola

| ?

| 1885

|

Njimi

| Kanem

| Chad

|data-sort-value="1000"| fl. 11th century

|data-sort-value="1396"| c. 1396

| lost to Bulala invaders (eventually moved to Ngazargamu)

Élisabethville (Lubumbashi)

| Katanga, State of

| Congo, Democratic Republic of the

| 1960

| 1963

|

São Salvador (M'banza-Kongo)

| Kongo, Kingdom of

| Angola

| 1483

| 1915

|

Lumbala N'guimbo

| Mbunda Kingdom

| Angola

|data-sort-value="1500"| c. 1500

|data-sort-value="1917"| 1917

|

Cabaça

| Ndongo, Kingdom of

| Angola

| ?

| 1657

|

Bakwanga (Mbuji-Mayi)

| South Kasai

| Congo, Democratic Republic of the

| 1960

| 1962

|

Kasongo

| Utetera, Sultanate of

| Congo, Democratic Republic of the

| 1860

| 1887

|

Cuíto

| Viye

| Angola

| 1750

| 1890

|

Ganda-a-Caué (Caála)

| Wambu

| Angola

|data-sort-value="1650"| c. 1650

| 1902

|

Huambo-Cabral Moncada (Lépi)

| Wambu

| Angola

| 1902

| 1903

|

== Eastern Africa ==

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Zanzibar City

| Zanzibar, Sultanate of

| Tanzania

| 1856

| 1964

| Sultanate ceased to exist; Zanzibar Revolution

Zanzibar City

| Zanzibar, People's Republic of

| Tanzania

| 1964

| 1964

| Zanzibar merged with Tanganyika in 1964. The city remains the capital of semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar.

Dar es Salaam

| Tanganyika

| Tanzania

| 1961

| 1964

| country merged with Zanzibar to form Tanzania

Dar es Salaam

| Tanzania

| Tanzania

| 1964

| 1996

| capital moved to Dodoma

Axum

| Aksum, Kingdom of

| Ethiopia

| 50

| ?

| city abandoned

Debre Berhan

| Ethiopian Empire

| Ethiopia

| 1456

|data-sort-value="1470"| mid-1470s

| Emperor returned to custom of a moving capital

Gondar

| Ethiopian Empire

| Ethiopia

| 1635

|data-sort-value="1850"| late 19th century

| moved to Addis Ababa

Bujumbura

| Burundi

| Burundi

| 1962

| 2018

| moved to Gitega

Entebbe

| Uganda, Protectorate of

| Uganda

| 1894

| 1962

| moved to Kampala

== Southern Africa ==

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Otjimbingwe

| German South-West Africa

| Namibia

| 1886

| 1892

| moved to Windhoek

Zomba

| British Central Africa Protectorate

| Malawi

| 1893

| 1907

| Protectorate renamed as Nyasaland Protectorate.

Zomba

| Nyasaland Protectorate

| Malawi

| 1907

| 1953

| Merged with Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Zomba

| Malawi

| Malawi

| 1964

| 1975

| Capital moved to Lilongwe.

Fort Jameson (Chipata)

| North-Eastern Rhodesia

| Zambia

| 1899

| 1911

| Merged with North-Western Rhodesia to form Northern Rhodesia.

Kalomo

| North-Western Rhodesia

| Zambia

| 1899

| 1907

| Moved to Livingstone.

Livingstone

| North-Western Rhodesia

| Zambia

| 1907

| 1911

| Merged with North-Western Rhodesia to form Northern Rhodesia.

Livingstone

| Northern Rhodesia

| Zambia

| 1911

| 1935

| Moved to Lusaka.

Island of Mozambique

| Portuguese Mozambique

| Mozambique

| 1498

| 1898

| Moved to Maputo.

== Western Africa ==

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Ribeira Grande (Cidade Velha)

| Portuguese Cape Verde

| Cape Verde

|data-sort-value="1462"| 1462

| 1770

| moved to Praia

Grand-Bassam

| Ivory Coast (French colony)

| Ivory Coast

| 1893

| 1900

| moved to Bingerville

Bingerville

| Ivory Coast (French colony)

| Ivory Coast

| 1900

| 1933

| moved to Abidjan

Abidjan

| Ivory Coast (French colony)

| Ivory Coast

| 1933

| 1983

| moved to Yamoussoukro

Cape Coast

| Gold Coast

| Ghana

| 1664

| 1877

| moved to Accra

Bolama

| Portuguese Guinea

| Guinea-Bissau

| 1879

| 1941

| moved to Bissau

Boe

| Guinea-Bissau

| Guinea-Bissau

| 1973

| 1974

| moved back to Bissau

Ngazargamu

| Kanem-Bornu Empire

| Nigeria

|data-sort-value="1472"| c. 1472

| 1808

| lost to Fulani invaders (eventually moved to Kukawa)

Kukawa

| Kanem-Bornu Empire

| Nigeria

| 1814

| 1893

| Kingdom ceased to exist

Lagos

| Colonial Nigeria

| Nigeria

| 1914

| 1960

|

Lagos

| Nigeria, Federation of

| Nigeria

| 1960

| 1991

| moved to Abuja

Igbo-Ukwu

| Nri, Kingdom of

| Nigeria

| 1043

| 1911

| Kingdom was absorbed by Colonial Nigeria

Aného

| Togoland

| Togo

|data-sort-value="1880"| 1880s

| 1897

| moved to Lomé

Asia

= Central Asia =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Semey

| Alash Orda

| Kazakhstan

| 1917

| 1920

| Entity named Kyrgyz ASSR established, capital moved to Orenburg

Bukhara

| Bukhara, Khanate of

| Uzbekistan

| 1533

| 1551

| moved to Samarqand

Bukhara

| Bukhara, Khanate of

| Uzbekistan

| 1556

| 1756

|

Bukhara

| Bukhara, Emirate of

| Uzbekistan

| 1785

| 1920

|

Bukhara

| Bukharan SRR

| Uzbekistan

| 1920

| 1924

|

Kandahar

| Durrani Empire

| Afghanistan

| 1748

| 1772

| moved to Kabul

Ghazni

| Ghaznavid Empire

| Afghanistan

| 977

| 1163

| moved to Lahore

Ghazni

| Ghurid dynasty

| Afghanistan

|data-sort-value="1170"| 1170s

| 1215

|

Bactra (Balkh)

| Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

| Afghanistan

|data-sort-value="-300"| 3rd century BC

|data-sort-value="-200"| 2rd century BC

|

Herat

| Herat, Emirate of

| Afghanistan

| 1793

| 1863

| Annexation of the country to the Emirate of Afghanistan

Kandahar

| Kandahar, Principality of

| Afghanistan

| 1818

| 1855

| Annexation of the country to the Emirate of Kabul

Alma-Ata (Almaty)

| Kazakh SSR

| Kazakhstan

| 1936

| 1991

|

Alma-Ata (Almaty)

| Kazakhstan

| Kazakhstan

| 1991

| 1993

| city renamed Almaty

Almaty

| Kazakhstan

| Kazakhstan

| 1993

| 1998

| moved to Astana

Khiva

| Khiva, Khanate of

| Uzbekistan

| 1511

| 1920

|

Khiva

| Khorezm SRR

| Uzbekistan

| 1920

| 1924

|

Kokand (Fergana)

| Kokand, Khanate of

| Uzbekistan

| 1709

| 1876

| Annexation of the country to the Russian Empire

Asadabad

| Kunar, Islamic Emirate of

| Afghanistan

| 1991

| 1991

| Fall of the state.

Bagram

| Kushan Empire

| Afghanistan

|data-sort-value="1"| 1st century AD

|data-sort-value="1"| 1st century AD

|

Maymana

| Maimana Khanate

| Afghanistan

| 1747

| 1892

| Annexation of the country to the Emirate of Kabul, preceded by the sacking of the city

Zaranj

| Mihrabanid dynasty

| Afghanistan

| 1236

| 1537

|

Omsk

| Russia (White Movement)

| Russia

| 1918

| 1920

| White Movement defeated by Reds

Samarkand

| Timurid Empire

| Uzbekistan

| 1370

| 1405

| Capital moved to Herat.

Zaranj

| Saffarid dynasty

| Afghanistan

| 861

| 1002

|

Herat

| Timurid Empire

| Afghanistan

| 1405

| 1507

| Invaded by Muhammad Shaybani.

Gurganj (Konye-Urgench)

| Khwarazmian Empire

| Turkmenistan

| 1077

| 1212

| moved to Samarqand

Iasy (Turkistan)

| Uzbek Khanate

| Kazakhstan

| 1469

| 1471

|

Samarkand

| Uzbek SSR

| Uzbekistan

| 1925

| 1930

| moved to Tashkent

Alexandria in the Caucasus (Bagram)

| Yavana Kingdom

| Afghanistan

|data-sort-value="-180"| 180 BC

|data-sort-value="10"| AD 10

|

= Eastern Asia =

{{Further|Historical capitals of China}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Anyang

| Shang dynasty

| China

|data-sort-value="-1600"| c. 1600 BC

|data-sort-value="-1046"| c. 1046 BC

| moved to Chang'an - end of Shang dynasty

Chang'an

| Zhou dynasty

| China

|data-sort-value="-1046"| c. 1046 BC

|data-sort-value="-722"| 722 BC

| moved to Luoyang

Luoyang

| Zhou dynasty

| China

|data-sort-value="-772"| 772 BC

|data-sort-value="-221"| 221 BC

| moved to Xianyang - fall of Zhou dynasty

Xianyang

| Qin dynasty

| China

|data-sort-value="-221"| 221 BC

|data-sort-value="-206"| 206 BC

| moved back to Chang'an - fall of Qin dynasty

Chang'an

| Han dynasty

| China

|data-sort-value="-206"| 206 BC

| 25

| moved back to Luoyang

Luoyang

| Han dynasty

| China

| 25

| 220

| Fall of the Han dynasty marking the beginning of the Six Dynasties period

Chang'an

| Sui dynasty and Tang dynasty

| China

| 581

| 907

| fall of the Tang dynasty marking the beginning of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period

Kaifeng

| Song dynasty

| China

| 960

| 1127

| moved to Hangzhou

Hangzhou

| Song dynasty

| China

| 1127

| 1279

| Kublai Khan integrated China into the Mongol Empire

Nanjing

| Ming dynasty

| China

| 1368

| 1421

| moved to Beijing

Nanjing

| China, Republic of

| China

| 1928

| 1937

| moved to Chongqing because of Japanese occupation

Ruijin

| China, Soviet Republic of

| China

| 1931

| 1934

| moved to Shaanxi due to the Long March

Chongqing

| China, Republic of

| China

| 1937

| 1945

| moved back to Nanjing

Nanjing

| China, Republic of

| China

| 1945

| 1949 (de facto)

| moved to Taipei after the loss of the mainland which caused the nationalist government fled to Taiwan and made Taipei the temporary capital of the Republic of China. Beijing was proclaimed the capital of the People's Republic of China.

Hakodate

| Republic of Ezo

| Japan

| 1868

| 1869

| Annexed by Japan

Middag

| Middag, Kingdom of

| Taiwan

| ?

| 1732?

| Middag annexed by Qing dynasty

Tainan

| Formosa, Republic of

| Taiwan

| 1895

| 1895

| Annexed by Japan

Tainan

| Tungning, Kingdom of

| Taiwan

| 1662

| 1683

| Kingdom of Tungning conquered by Qing dynasty. Tainan remained the seat of government until 1885.

Asuka

| Japan

| Japan

| ?

| 694

| moved to Fujiwara-kyō (Kashihara)

Fujiwara-kyō (Kashihara)

| Japan

| Japan

| 694

| 710

| moved to Heijō-kyō (Nara)

Heijō-kyō (Nara)

| Japan

| Japan

| 710

| 784

| moved to Nagaoka-kyō (Nagaoka)

Nagaoka-kyō (Nagaoka)

| Japan

| Japan

| 784

| 794

| moved to Heian-kyō (Kyoto)

Heian-kyō (Kyoto)

| Japan

| Japan

| 794

| 1868

| moved to Tokyo (see also: Capital of Japan)

Shuri

| Ryūkyū Kingdom

| Japan

| 1429

| 1879

| Annexed by Japan

Wanggeom (Pyongyang)

| Gojoseon

| North Korea

|data-sort-value="-194"| 194 BC

|data-sort-value="-108"| 108 BC

| fall of Gojoseon

Holbon (Mt. Wunü)

| Goguryeo

| China

|data-sort-value="-37"| 37 BC

| 3

| moved to Gungnae

Gungnae (Ji'an)

| Goguryeo

| China

| 3

| 427

| moved to Pyongyang

Pyongyang

| Goguryeo

| North Korea

| 427

| 668

| fall of Goguryeo

Seorabeol (Gyeongju)

| Silla

| South Korea

|data-sort-value="-57"| 57 BC

| 935

| fall of Silla

Wirye (Southern Seoul)

| Baekje

| South Korea

|data-sort-value="-18"| 18 BC

| 476

| moved to Ungjin

Ungjin (Gongju)

| Baekje

| South Korea

| 476

| 538

| moved to Sabi

Sabi (Buyeo)

| Baekje

| South Korea

| 538

| 660

| fall of Baekje

Sanggyeong (Ning'an)

| Balhae

| China

| 756

| 926

| fall of Balhae

Gaegyeong (Kaesong)

| Goryeo

| North Korea

| 919

| 1392

| moved to Hanyang (Seoul) - fall of Goryeo dynasty

Seoul

| North Korea

| South Korea

| 1948

| 1972

| de jure capital changed to Pyongyang in a new Constitution of North Korea{{cite book|author=Nick Eberstadt|title=The End of North Korea|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ppHmY0xLXHkC&pg=PA26|date=1999|publisher=American Enterprise Institute|location=Washington|isbn=978-0-8447-4087-4|pages=26, 32}}

= Northern Asia =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

! data-sort-type="number"| From

! data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Qashliq

| Sibir, Khanate of

| Russia

| 15th century

| 1598

| Country absorbed by Tsardom of Russia.

= Southeast Asia =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

{{Nowrap|Yaśodharapura (Angkor)}}

| Khmer Empire

| Cambodia

| 802

| 1431

| Sacked by Ayutthaya

Srey Sorchhor

| Cambodia

| Cambodia

| 1431

| 1434

| Move to Chaktomuk (in 1434)

Chaktomuk

| Cambodia

| Cambodia

| 1434

| 1525

| Move to Longvek (in 1525)

Longvek

| Cambodia

| Cambodia

| 1525

| 1593

| Move to Oudong (in 1618)

Oudong

| Cambodia

| Cambodia

| 1620

| 1863

| Move to Phnom Penh (in 1863)

Phnom Penh

| Colonial Cambodia

| Cambodia

| 1863

| 1887

| annexed by France; moved to Saigon

Batavia (Jakarta)

| Dutch East Indies

| Indonesia

| 1800

| 1945

| Independence of Indonesia, renamed to Jakarta

Jakarta

| Indonesia

| Indonesia

| 1945

| 1946

| NICA occupation, moved to Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta

| Indonesia

| Indonesia

| 1946

| 1948

| Dutch military occupation, moved to Bukittinggi

Bukittinggi

| Indonesia

| Indonesia

| 1948

| 1949

| moved to Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta

| Indonesia

| Indonesia

| 1949

| 1950

| United States of Indonesia dissolved, moved to Jakarta

Jakarta

| Indonesia

| Indonesia

| 1950

| TBA

| moved to Nusantara

Luang Prabang

| Lan Prabang

| Laos

| 1707

| ?

| Luang Prabang was one of three successors states to Lan Xang.

Luang Prabang

| Laos, Kingdom of

| Laos

| 1949

| 1975

| abdication of King Savang Vatthana; the second capital

Vientiane

| Lan Xang

| Laos

| 1354

| ?

| moved to Luang Prabang

Vientiane

| Vientiane Lao

| Laos

|data-sort-value="1707"| c. 1707 (?)

| 1828

| incorporated to Siam, then absorbed into French Indochina (in 1893)

Vientiane

| Kingdom of Laos

| Laos

| 1949

| 1975

| abdication of King Savang Vatthana

Champasak

| Champasak Kingdom

| Laos

| 1713

| 1946

| Became part of Kingdom of Laos.

Pagan (Bagan)

| Pagan Kingdom

| Myanmar

| 849

| 1297

| moved to Myinsaing, Mekkhaya and Pinle

Martaban (Mottama)

| Hanthawaddy Kingdom

| Myanmar

| 1287

| 1363

| moved to Donwun

Donwun

| Hanthawaddy Kingdom

| Myanmar

| 1363

| 1369

| moved to Pegu

Pegu (Bago)

| Hanthawaddy Kingdom

| Myanmar

| 1369

| 1538

| Captured by Toungoo forces

Pegu (Bago)

| Hanthawaddy Kingdom

| Myanmar

| 1550

| 1552

| Recaptured by Toungoo

Myinsaing, Mekkhaya and Pinle

| Myinsaing Kingdom

| Myanmar

| 1297

| 1313

| moved to Pinya

Pinya

| Pinya Kingdom

| Myanmar

| 1313

| 1365

| rowspan="2" | moved to Ava

Sagaing

| Sagaing Kingdom

| Myanmar

| 1315

| 1365

Ava (Inwa)

| Ava Kingdom

| Myanmar

| 1365

| 1555

| moved to Pegu

Launggyet

| Arakan, Kingdom of

| Myanmar

| 1429

| 1430

| moved to Mrauk-U

Mrauk-U

| Arakan, Kingdom of

| Myanmar

| 1430

| 1785

| Captured by Konbaung forces

Toungoo (Taungoo)

| Toungoo dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1510

| 1539

| moved to Pegu

Pegu

| Toungoo dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1539

| 1599

| moved to Ava

Ava

| Toungoo dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1599

| 1613

| moved to Pegu

Pegu

| Toungoo dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1613

| 1635

| moved to Ava

Ava

| Toungoo dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1635

| 1752

| moved to Shwebo

Shwebo

| Konbaung dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1752

| 1760

| moved to Sagaing

Sagaing

| Konbaung dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1760

| 1765

| moved to Ava

Ava

| Konbaung dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1765

| 1783

| moved to Amarapura

Amarapura

| Konbaung dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1783

| 1821

| moved to Ava

Ava

| Konbaung dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1821

| 1842

| moved to Amarapura

Amarapura

| Konbaung dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1842

| 1859

| moved to Mandalay

Mandalay

| Konbaung dynasty

| Myanmar

| 1859

| 1885

| moved to Rangoon (Yangon)

Rangoon (Yangon)

| Burma (Myanmar)

| Myanmar

| 1885

| 1989

| country renamed to Myanmar; city renamed to Yangon

Yangon

| Myanmar

| Myanmar

| 1989

| 2005

| moved to Naypyidaw

Marawi

| Maguindanao Sultanate

| Philippines

|data-sort-value="1205"| c. 1205

| 1888

| Annexed into the Spanish East Indies

Bacolod

| Negros, Cantonal Republic of

| Philippines

| 1898

| 1899

| Unrecognised state absorbed by the Philippines under American control.

Malolos

| Philippine Republic, First

| Philippines

| 1898

| 1899

| Headquarters of the Revolutionary movement (Note: Several other towns became capitals at a succeeding rate, namely San Isidro, Cabanatuan, Bamban, Tarlac, Bayambang and Palanan, to avoid capture from the Americans). Moved back to Manila after capture of Aguinaldo on 1901.

Manila

| Philippine Republic, Second

| Philippines

| 1943

| 1945

| Liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese

Manila

| Philippines, Commonwealth of the

| Philippines

| 1934

| 1941

| Japanese occupation. Moved back to Manila in 1945 after the liberation of the Philippines

Baguio

| Philippines

| Philippines

| 1946

| 1976

| Summer Capital, moved back to Manila via Presidential Decree No. 940.

Quezon City

| Philippines

| Philippines

| 1948

| 1976

| Moved back to Manila via Presidential Decree No. 940. Quezon City, with Manila, became parts of Metro Manila. Several government offices remained in Quezon City, including the Batasang Pambansa, and ultimately the House of Representatives. Manila is the current capital.

Cebu

| Spanish East Indies

| Philippines

| 1562

|data-sort-value="1578"| c. 1578

| First Spanish settlement in the country. Moved to Manila (Formerly Maynilad) after capture.

Manila

| Spanish East Indies

| Philippines

|data-sort-value="1578"| c. 1578

| 1762

| Captured by the British during the Seven Years' War, returned to Spain after the Treaty of Paris.

Bacolor

| Spanish East Indies

| Philippines

| 1762

| 1764

| Capital of the exiled government Governor-general Simon de Anda during the Seven Years' War. Moved back to Manila

Manila

| Spanish East Indies

| Philippines

| 1764

| 1901

| Ceded to the United States via Treaty of Paris

Jolo

| Sulu Sultanate

| Philippines

|data-sort-value="1450"| c. 1450

| 1899

| Annexed by the United States

Chiang Mai

| Lan Na

| Thailand

| 1259

| 1775

| Annexed by Burma

Chiang Mai

| Rattanatingsa

| Thailand

| 1802

| 1899

| Annexed by Siam

Sukhothai

| Sukhothai Kingdom

| Thailand

| 1238

| 1347

|

Phitsanulok

| Sukhothai Kingdom

| Thailand

| 1347

| 1583

| moved to Ayutthaya after sacked by Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya

| Ayutthaya Kingdom

| Thailand

| 1351

| 1666

|

Phitsanulok

| Ayutthaya Kingdom

| Thailand

| 1463

| 1488

|

Lopburi

| Ayutthaya Kingdom

| Thailand

| 1666

| 1688

|

Ayutthaya

| Ayutthaya Kingdom

| Thailand

| 1688

| 1767

| moved to Thonburi after the Burmese destroyed the city

Thonburi

| Thonburi Kingdom

| Thailand

| 1767

| 1782

| moved to Bangkok after King Taksin was declared mad

Phong Châu, Phú Thọ

| Văn Lang (Hồng Bàng dynasty)

| Vietnam

|data-sort-value="-2879"| 2879 BC

|data-sort-value="-258"| 258 BC

| annexed by Thục dynasty

Phong Châu, Phú Thọ

| Vạn Xuân (Hậu Lý Nam Đế)

| Vietnam

| 571

| 602

| Third Chinese domination

Cổ Loa (Hanoi)

| Âu Lạc (Thục dynasty)

| Vietnam

|data-sort-value="-257"| 257 BC

|data-sort-value="-207"| 207 BC

| First Chinese domination

Cổ Loa (Hanoi)

| (Ngô dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 938

| 967

| the upheavals of Twelve warlords

Đại La (Hanoi)

| An Nam (Phùng Hưng)

| Vietnam

|data-sort-value="700"| 8th century

| ?

| Annexed by Tang dynasty

Đại La (Hanoi)

| An Nam (Khúc clan)

| Vietnam

| 905

| 930

| Dương Dinh Nghe was killed by his legion commander Kiều Công Tiễn and thus ending Khúc rule.

Đại La (Hanoi)

| An Nam (Dương Đình Nghệ and Kiều Công Tiễn)

| Vietnam

| 931

| 937

| Ngô Quyền defeated Southern Han dynasty

Đông Đô (Hanoi)

| Đại Việt (Later Lê dynasty and Mạc dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 1428

| 1788

Mê Linh (Hanoi)

| Trưng Sisters

| Vietnam

| 40

| 43

| Second Chinese domination

Long Biên (Hanoi)

| Vạn Xuân (Anterior Lý dynasty and Triệu Việt Vương)

| Vietnam

| 544

| 571

| moved to Phong Châu

Hoa Lư (Hoa Lư)

| Đại Cồ Việt (Đinh dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 968

| 980

|

Hoa Lư (Hoa Lư)

| Đại Cồ Việt (Early Lê dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 980

| 1009

| moved to Đại La, then renamed into Thăng Long

Tây Đô, Thanh Hóa

| Đại Ngu (Hồ dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 1400

| 1407

| Fourth Chinese domination; it was the first capital of Hồ dynasty

Tây Đô, Thanh Hóa

| Đại Việt-Nam Triều (Restored Lê dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 1533

| 1592

| moved to Thăng Long after defeating Mạc dynasty

Phú Xuân (Huế)

| Đại Việt-Đàng Trong (Nguyễn lords)

| Vietnam

| 1558

| 1777

| Tây Sơn dynasty unified Đại Việt

Phú Xuân (Huế)

| Đại Việt (Tây Sơn dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 1788

| 1802

| Defeated by Nguyễn Ánh (Nguyễn dynasty)

Phú Xuân (Huế)

| Đại Nam (Nguyễn dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 1802

| 1945

| moved to Hanoi after the abdication of Emperor Bảo Đại

Phú Xuân (Huế)

| Empire of Vietnam

| Vietnam

| 1945

| 1945

| August Revolution

Huế

| An Nam (Nguyễn dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 1874

| 1955

| annexed by France, Geneva Conference (1954) led to the Partition of Vietnam

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

| French Indochina

| Vietnam

| 1887

| 1901

| moved to Hanoi

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

| Vietnam, State of

| Vietnam

| 1949

| 1955

| Geneva Conference (1954) led to the Partition of Vietnam; Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976.

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

| Vietnam, South

| Vietnam

| 1954

| 1975

| Hanoi, country ceased to exist after unification of Vietnam

Thăng Long (Hanoi)

| Đại Việt ( & Trần dynasties)

| Vietnam

| 1010

| 1400

| Trần dynasty renovated Thăng Long and renamed to Long Phượng

Thăng Long (Hanoi)

| Đại Việt (Later Lê dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 1428

| 1527

| Southern and Northern Dynasties of Vietnam

Thăng Long (Hanoi)

| Đại Việt-Bắc Triều (Mạc dynasty)

| Vietnam

| 1533

| 1592

| defeated by Trịnh lords; renamed again to Đông Đô

Thăng Long (Hanoi)

| Đại Việt-Đàng Ngoài (Later Lê dynasty - Trịnh lords)

| Vietnam

| 1593

| 1788

| Thăng Long was destroyed by Qing dynasty and Tây Sơn dynasty unified Đại Việt, then moved to Phú Xuân; renamed to Bắc Thành; renamed to Hanoi in 1831.

Hanoi

| French Indochina

| Vietnam

| 1902

| 1953

| Geneva Conference (1954) led to the Partition of Vietnam; in 1831, Emperor Minh Mạng renamed Thăng Long to Hanoi (Hà Nội)

Hanoi

| Vietnam, North

| Vietnam

| 1954

| 1976

| Unification with South Vietnam to become the capital of unified Vietnam

= Southern Asia =

{{Further|List of capitals of India}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Madurai

| Pandya Empire

| India

| c. 6th century

| 1335

| Capital moved to Tenkasi

Thanjavur

| Chola Empire

| India

| c. 9th century

| 1279

| Chola Empire is disestablished

Dacca (legislative)

| Pakistan

| Bangladesh

| 1962

| 1971

| Country's constituent assembly should meet in East Pakistan due to the region's high population.{{cite book|title=Pakistan Affairs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hFIdAQAAMAAJ|year=1968|publisher=Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan.|page=19}}

Mujibnagar

| Bangladesh, Provisional Government of

| Bangladesh

| 1971

| 1972

| A provisional government was established and the leaders of Bangladesh swore their oaths in this town known as Baiydanathtala or Bhoborpara. This was later renamed to Mujibnagar in honour of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman{{Cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/genesis-bangladeshs-constitution-1209718|title=Genesis of Bangladesh's Constitution|website=The Daily Star|date=17 April 2016|access-date=19 April 2016}}

Hazrat Pandua

| Bengal Sultanate

| India

| 1352

| 1450

| First and longest capital of the Bengal Sultanate.

Sonargaon

| Bengal Sultanate

| Bangladesh

| 1390

| 1411

| Capital moved to Gaur

Gaur/Lakhnauti

| Bengal Sultanate

| Bangladesh

| 1450

| 1565

| Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah changed the capital from Pandua to nearby Gaur, probably due to change in river course.

Tanda

| Bengal Sultanate

| India

| 1565

| 1576

| Bengal Sultanate was defeated by the Mughal Empire in 1576, but Tanda remained as Bengal's provincial capital until the 1590s.

Daulatabad

| Tughlaq dynasty

| India

| 1327

| 1329

| Forcibly moved the entire population of Delhi to Daulatabad for a more centrally located capital. The decision was revoked and was moved back to Delhi within two years, due to lack of water.

Agra

| Mughal Empire

| India

| 1504

| 1653

| moved to Aurangabad, was moved to Delhi during the reign of Shah Jahan and to Fatehpur Sikri during 1571–1585, during part of Akbar's reign.

Fatehpur Sikri

| Mughal Empire

| India

| 1571

| 1585

| moved to Agra

Pune

| Maratha Empire

| India

| 1679

| 1818

| British captured the city and controlled from Calcutta

Calcutta

| British Raj

| India

| 1772

| 1911

| moved to Delhi

Delhi

| British Raj

| India

| 1911

| 1931

| moved to New Delhi, inaugurated 1931

New Delhi

| British Raj

| India

| 1931

| 1947

| became capital of independent Dominion of India in 1947, and later of Republic of India in 1950

Simla

| British Raj

| India

|data-sort-value="1850"| fl. 1850

| 1947

| Summer capital

Mysore

| Mysore, Kingdom of

| India

| 1524

| 1947

| Moved to New Delhi, Kingdom of Mysore dissolved- the capital of the state was moved temporarily to Bangalore 1831 to 1881 by Mark Cubbon.

Padmanabhapuram

| Travancore, Kingdom of

| India

| 1601

| 1795

| Moved to Thiruvanathapuram by Maharajah Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma I.

Trivandrum

| Travancore, Kingdom of

| India

| 1795

| 1947

| Moved to New Delhi as Travancore joined Dominion of India.

Hyderabad

| Hyderabad State

| India

| 1769

| 1948

| Moved to New Delhi in September 1948, after the launch of a military operation by the Dominion of India known as Operation Polo. Hyderabad continues to remain the capital of the Indian states Telangana and, provisionally, Andhra Pradesh.

Gorkha

| Gorkha Kingdom

| Nepal

| 1559

| 1769

| moved to Kathmandu after unification of Nepal

Kantipur

| Kantipur, Kingdom of

| Nepal

| 1560

| 1826

| Became/Renamed as Kathmandu after Unification of Nepal.

Karachi

| Pakistan

| Pakistan

| 1947

| 1959

| moved to Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi

| Pakistan

| Pakistan

| 1959

| 1967

| moved to Islamabad

Lahore

| Sikh Empire

| Pakistan

| 1799

| 1849

| Annexation of the Punjab by the East India Company.

Anuradhapura

| Lanka

| Sri Lanka

|data-sort-value="-382"| c. 382 BC

| 1018

| Capital moved to possibly Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa

| Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

| Sri Lanka

|data-sort-value="1055"| c. 1055

| 1284

| Capital moved to Dambadeniya

Kotte

| Kotte, Kingdom of

| Sri Lanka

|data-sort-value="1415"| c. 1415

|data-sort-value="1565"| c. 1565

| Capital moved to Kandy

Kandy

| Kandy, Kingdom of

| Sri Lanka

| 1592

| 1815

| Capital moved to Colombo

Colombo

| British Ceylon

| Sri Lanka

| 1815

| 1948

| colony acquired dominion status

Colombo

| Ceylon, Dominion of

| Sri Lanka

| 1948

| 1972

| Dominion became republic

Colombo

| Sri Lanka

| Sri Lanka

| 1972

| 1982

| Capital moved to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

= Western Asia =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Assur

| Assyria

| Iraq

|data-sort-value="-2600"| fl. 2600 BC

|data-sort-value="-900"| 9th century BC

| moved to Calah

Calah (Nimrud)

| Assyria

| Iraq

|data-sort-value="-1300"| 13th century BC

|data-sort-value="-710"| 710 BC

| Moved to Nineveh

Nineveh

| Assyria

| Iraq

|data-sort-value="-1800"| 1800 BC

|data-sort-value="-600"| 600 BC

| Destroyed by Babylonians

Babylon

| Babylonia

| Iraq

|data-sort-value="-2400"| 24th century BC

|data-sort-value="-141"| 141 BC

| Conquered by Assyrians, Persians, Parthians, Alexander the Great, later abandoned completely

Kufa

| Rashidun Caliphate

| Iraq

|data-sort-value="600"| 656

|data-sort-value="600"| 661

| Capital moved to Damascus by Umayyad Caliphate

Kufa

| Abbasid Caliphate

| Iraq

|data-sort-value="700"| 750

|data-sort-value="700"| 762

| Capital moved to Baghdad

Anbar

| Abbasid Caliphate

| Iraq

|data-sort-value="700"| 750s

|data-sort-value="700"| 762

| Alongside with Kufa, it briefly became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate before the founding of Baghdad.

Samarra

| Abbasid Caliphate

| Iraq

|data-sort-value="800"| 836

|data-sort-value="800"| 892

| Capital moved back to Baghdad

Mtskheta

| Iberia, Kingdom of

| Georgia

|data-sort-value="-300"| 3rd century BC

|data-sort-value="400"| 5th century

| Capital moved to Tbilisi by Dachi of Iberia

Susa, Anshan (Persia)

| Proto-Elamite, Elam

| Iran

|data-sort-value="-3200"| 3200 BC

|data-sort-value="-850"| 850 BC

| Conquered by Mannaeans

Zirta (Izirtu)

| Mannaeans

| Iran

|data-sort-value="-850"| 850 BC

|data-sort-value="-728"| 728 BC

| Conquered by Median Empire

Ecbatana

| Median Empire

| Iran

|data-sort-value="-728"| 728 BC

|data-sort-value="-550"| 550 BC

| captured by Cyrus the Great

Pasargadae

| Persian Empire

| Iran

|data-sort-value="-559"| 559 BC

|data-sort-value="-538"| 538 BC

| Capital moved to Susa by Cambyses II

Susa

| Persian Empire

| Iran

|data-sort-value="-538"| 538 BC

|data-sort-value="-515"| 515 BC

| Capital moved to Persepolis by Darius

Persepolis

| Persian Empire

| Iran

|data-sort-value="-515"| 515 BC

|data-sort-value="-331"| 331 BC

| captured by Alexander the Great and incorporated into Macedonian Empire

Seleucia

| Seleucid Empire

| Iran

|data-sort-value="-305"| 305 BC

|data-sort-value="-240"| 240 BC

| moved to Antioch

Antioch

| Seleucid Empire

| Iran

|data-sort-value="-240"| 240 BC

|data-sort-value="-64"| 64 BC

| conquered by Roman Republic

Ctesiphon, Hecatompylos, Mithridatkird-Nisa, Asaak

| Parthian Empire

| Iran

|data-sort-value="-240"| 240 BC

| 224

| conquered by Sassanid Empire

Firouzabad, Ctesiphon, Damghan

| Sassanid Empire

| Iran

| 224

| 637

| fell in Islamic conquest of Persia

Nishapur

| Tahirid dynasty

| Iran

| 821

| 873

| conquered by Saffarid dynasty

Zaranj, Amol

| Saffarid dynasty, Alavids

| Iran

| 861

| 900

| conquered by Samanid

Bukhara, Balkh, Samarkand, Herat

| Samanid dynasty

| Iran

| 875

| 999

| conquered by Ghaznavids

Ghazni

| Ghaznavids, Ghurids

| Iran

| 963

| 1212

| conquered by Seljuq dynasty

Nishapur, Rey, Konye-Urgench

| Seljuq dynasty, Khwarezmid dynasty

| Iran

| 1037

| 1231

| conquered by Ilkhanate

Maragheh

| Ilkhanate

| Iran

| 1256

| 1265

| Capital moved to Tabriz.

Tabriz

| Ilkhanate

| Iran

| 1265

| 1306

| Capital moved to Soltaniyeh.

Soltaniyeh

| Ilkhanate

| Iran

| 1306

| 1335

| After Abu Sa'id's death in 1335, the Ilkhanate began to disintegrate rapidly and split up into several rival successor states.

Tabriz

| Safavid dynasty

| Iran

| 1501

| 1548

| moved to Qazvin

Qazvin

| Safavid dynasty

| Iran

| 1548

| 1598

| moved to Isfahan

Isfahan

| Safavid dynasty

| Iran

| 1598

| 1736

| moved to Mashhad

Mashhad

| Afsharid dynasty

| Iran

| 1736

| 1750

| moved to Shiraz

Shiraz

| Zand dynasty

| Iran

| 1750

| 1782

| moved to Sari

Sari

| Qajar dynasty

| Iran

| 1782

| 1795

| moved to Tehran

Gibeah

| Israel, Kingdom of

| Israel

|data-sort-value="-1030"| c. 1030 BC

|data-sort-value="-1010"| c. 1010 BC

| moved to Mahanaim

Mahanaim

| Israel, Kingdom of

| Jordan

|data-sort-value="-1010"| c. 1010 BC

|data-sort-value="-1007"| c. 1007 BC

| moved to Hebron

Hebron

| Israel, Kingdom of

| West Bank

|data-sort-value="-1007"| c. 1007 BC

|data-sort-value="-1000"| c. 1000 BC

| moved to Jerusalem; after the kingdom had been reunited by King David, he is said to have conquered the city from a Canaanite tribe

Jerusalem

| Israel, Kingdom of

| Israel

|data-sort-value="-1000"| c. 1000 BC

|data-sort-value="-930"| c. 930 BC

| country split in two

Jerusalem

| Judah, Kingdom of (southern part)

| Israel

|data-sort-value="-930"| c. 930 BC

|data-sort-value="-586"| 586 BC

| Kingdom ceased to exist (Jerusalem destroyed; Babylonian exile 586 BC - 538 BC)

Shechem

| Israel, Kingdom of (northern part)

| West Bank

|data-sort-value="-930"| c. 930 BC

|data-sort-value="-930"| c. 930 BC

| moved to Penuel

Penuel

| Israel, Kingdom of (northern part)

| Jordan

|data-sort-value="-930"| c. 930 BC

|data-sort-value="-909"| c. 909 BC

| moved to Tirzah

Tirzah

| Israel, Kingdom of (northern part)

| West Bank

|data-sort-value="-909"| c. 909 BC

|data-sort-value="-880"| c. 880 BC

| moved to Samaria

Samaria

| Israel, Kingdom of (northern part)

| West Bank

|data-sort-value="-880"| c. 880 BC

|data-sort-value="-720"| c. 720 BC

| Kingdom ceased to exist (much of its population was taken into captivity and deported by Assyrian empire)

Tel Aviv

| Israel, State of

| Israel

|data-sort-value="1948"| 6 May 1948

|data-sort-value="1948"| 30 December 1948

| interim de facto capital, moved to Jerusalem after captured from Jordanian forces in 1948 Arab–Israeli War

Jerusalem

| Jerusalem, Kingdom of

| Israel

| 1099

| 1187

| moved to Acre (Jerusalem captured by Saladin)

Acre

| Jerusalem, Kingdom of

| Israel

| 1187

| 1291

| Kingdom ceased to exist

Salalah

| Oman, Imamate of

| Oman

| 1932

| 1970

| moved to Musqat

Diriyah

| Diriyah, Emirate of

| Saudi Arabia

| 1744

| 1818

| moved to Riyadh after the Turks destroyed the city.

Aden

| South Yemen

| Yemen

| 1967

| 1990

| San'a, country ceased to exist after unification of Yemen

Damascus

| Umayyad Caliphate

| Syria

| 661

| 744

| Moved to Harran.

Harran

| Umayyad Caliphate

| Turkey

| 744

| 750

| Moved to Córdoba.

Goris

| Mountainous Armenia, Republic of

| Armenia

| 1920

| 1921

| {{cite web|url=http://www.armtown.com/news/am/yer/20060427/23325/|title=Լեռնահայաստանի 85-ամյակը նշեցին միայն Սյունիքի մարզկերտում|publisher=Armtown.com|date=27 April 2006|language=hy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716082413/http://www.armtown.com/news/am/yer/20060427/23325/|archive-date=16 July 2011|access-date=25 October 2024}}

Ganja

| Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

| Azerbaijan

| May 1918

| September 1918

| Moved to Baku.

Europe

= Central Europe =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Prague

| Czechoslovakia

| Czech Republic

| 1918

| 1993

| became capital in Czech Republic

Székesfehérvár and Esztergom

| Hungary, Kingdom of

| Hungary

|data-sort-value="972"| 972 (or 973)

| 1256

| The capital moved from Esztergom to Buda after most of the city was destroyed by the Mongols in 1242

Buda

| Hungary, Kingdom of

| Hungary

| 1361

| 1536

| moved to Pressburg (Pozsony) after part of the nation captured by Ottoman Empire

Pozsony
(Bratislava)

| Hungary, Royal

| Slovakia

| 1536

| 1784

| The Capital was here because Turks captured Buda, in 1784 it was moved back to Buda

Buda

| Hungary, Kingdom of

| Hungary

| 1784

| 1849

| Became part of Austrian Empire, capital in Vienna.

Buda

| Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen (under Austria-Hungary)

| Hungary

| 1867

| 1873

| united with Óbuda and Pest to become Budapest

Płock

| Masovia (under Miecław)

| Poland

|data-sort-value="1038"| c. 1038

| 1047

| Masovia reincorporated into Poland

Płock

| Masovia, Duchy of

| Poland

| 1138

| 1313

| moved to Czersk

Czersk

| Masovia, Duchy of

| Poland

| 1313

| 1413

| moved to Warsaw

Warsaw

| Masovia, Duchy of

| Poland

| 1413

| 1526

| Masovia reincorporated into Poland

Gniezno

| Poland, Kingdom of

| Poland

|data-sort-value="900"| 10th century

| 1038

| moved to Kraków

Poznań

| Poland, Kingdom of

| Poland

|data-sort-value="900"| 10th century

| 1038

| moved to Kraków

Kraków

| Poland, Kingdom of

| Poland

| 1038

| 1079

| moved to Płock

Płock

| Poland, Kingdom of

| Poland

| 1079

| 1138

| moved to Kraków

Kraków

| Poland, Kingdom of

| Poland

| 1138

| 1290

| moved to Poznań

Poznań

| Poland, Kingdom of

| Poland

| 1290

| 1296

| moved to Kraków

Kraków

| Poland, Kingdom of

| Poland

| 1296

| 1795

| informally moved in 1596 to Warsaw

Toruń

| Warsaw, Duchy of

| Poland

| 1809

| 1809

| de facto capital{{cite web|url=https://nowahistoria.interia.pl/drogi-do-wolnosci/news-torun-stolica-polski-przez-trzy-tygodnie,nId,2946535|title=Toruń stolicą Polski? Przez trzy tygodnie|website=Interia Nowa Historia|access-date=25 October 2024|language=pl}}

Lublin

| Polish Committee of National Liberation

| Poland

| 1944

| 1945

| de facto capital

Łódź

| Polish People's Republic

| Poland

| 1945

| 1947

| de facto capital

= Eastern Europe =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Phanagoria

| Old Great Bulgaria

| Russia

| 632

| 665

|

Novgorod

| Kievan Rus'

| Russia

| 862

| 882

| moved to Kiev

Kiev (Kyiv)

| Kievan Rus'

| Ukraine

| 882

| 1169

| state broke up, moved to Vladimir, Halych and Novgorod

Vladimir

| Grand Duchy of Vladimir

| Russia

| 1169

| 1327

| moved to Moscow

Bolghar

| Volga Bulgaria

| Russia

|data-sort-value="700"| 8th century

|data-sort-value="1240"| 1240s

| Volga Bulgaria lost sovereignty

Kazan

| Kazan Khanate

| Russia

| 1438

| 1552

| Kazan Khanate lost sovereignty

Moscow

| Moscow, Grand Duchy of

| Russia

| 1327

| 1547

|

Moscow

| Russia, Tsardom of

| Russia

| 1547

| 1712

| moved to Saint Petersburg

Yaroslavl

| Russia, Tsardom of

| Russia

| 1611

| 1612

| de facto

Saint Petersburg

| Russia, Tsardom of

| Russia

| 1712

| 1721

| The Russian Tsardom became the Russian Empire.

Saint Petersburg

| Russian Empire

| Russia

| 1721

| 1727

| Empire was officially proclaimed by Tsar Peter I, following the Treaty of Nystad (1721).

Moscow

| Russian Empire

| Russia

| 1727

| 1731

| moved to Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

| Russian Empire

| Russia

| 1731

| 1914

| City renamed Petrograd.

Petrograd (Saint Petersburg)

| Russian Empire

| Russia

| 1914

| 1918

| moved to Moscow

Moscow

| Soviet Union

| Russia

| 1922

| 1991

| State union dissolved, Became capital of Russia

Volodymyr

| Galicia–Volhynia, Kingdom of

| Ukraine

| 1199

| 1238

| moved to Halych

Halych

| Galicia–Volhynia, Kingdom of

| Ukraine

| 1238

| 1241

| moved to Kholm (Chełm)

Kholm (Chełm)

| Galicia–Volhynia, Kingdom of

| Poland

| 1241

| 1272

| moved to Lev (Lviv)

Lev (Lviv)

| Galicia–Volhynia, Kingdom of

| Ukraine

| 1272

| 1349

| Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia lost its sovereignty

Chyhyryn

| Cossack Hetmanate

| Ukraine

| 1648

| 1669

| moved to Baturyn

Baturyn

| Cossack Hetmanate

| Ukraine

| 1669

| 1708

| moved to Hlukhiv after demolition of the city by Russian forces

Hlukhiv

| Cossack Hetmanate

| Ukraine

| 1708

| 1722

| Cossack Hetmanate lost its sovereignty

Hlukhiv

| Cossack Hetmanate

| Ukraine

| 1727

| 1734

| Cossack Hetmanate lost its sovereignty

Baturyn

| Cossack Hetmanate

| Ukraine

| 1750

| 1764

| Cossack Hetmanate lost its sovereignty

Kiev (Kyiv)

| Ukrainian People's Republic

| Ukraine

| 1917

| 1920

| Ukrainian People's Republic lost its sovereignty

Taganrog

| Ukrainian Soviet Republic

| Russia

| 1918

| 1918

| German forces captured the city.{{cite web|url=https://day.kyiv.ua/ru/article/istoriya-i-ya/granicy-razdeleniya-3|title=Границы разделения-3|language=uk|access-date=25 October 2024}} Republic dissolved.

Lviv

| West Ukrainian People's Republic

| Ukraine

| 1918

| 1918

| Polish forces captured the city

Ternopil

| West Ukrainian People's Republic

| Ukraine

| 1918

| 1919

|

Stanislaviv (Ivano-Frankivsk)

| West Ukrainian People's Republic

| Ukraine

| 1919

| 1919

|

Kharkiv

| Ukrainian SSR

| Ukraine

| 1919

| 1934

| moved to Kiev (Kyiv)

Uzhhorod

| Carpatho-Ukraine

| Ukraine

| 1938

| 1938

| Parts of the territory including Uzhhorod were transferred to the Kingdom of Hungary as a result of First Vienna Award. Capital moved to Khust.

Khust

| Carpatho-Ukraine

| Ukraine

| 1938

| 1939

| Carpatho-Ukraine lost its sovereignty.

= Northern Europe =

{{Further|List of historical capitals of Norway}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Roskilde

| Denmark

| Denmark

|data-sort-value="1020"| c. 1020

| 1443

| moved to Copenhagen

Ribe

| North Sea Empire

| Denmark

| 1016

| 1035

| Empire collapsed with the death of Cnut the Great.

Copenhagen

| Kalmar Union

| Denmark

| 1443

| 1524

|

Copenhagen

| Denmark–Norway

| Denmark

| 1524

| 1814

|

Turku

| Finland, Grand Duchy of

| Finland

| 1809

| 1812

| moved to Helsinki

Vaasa

| Finland, Republic of

| Finland

| 1918

| 1918

| Temporary capital during the Civil War

Ferns

| Laighin (Leinster) (under Dermot MacMurrough)

| Ireland

|data-sort-value="500"| 6th century

|data-sort-value="1100"| 12th century

| Ireland invaded by Normans

Cashel

| Munster, Kingdom of

| Ireland

| data-sort-value="100 BC"| 1st century BC

| 1118

| Division of Munster into Desmond and Thomond

Kilkenny

| Ireland, Confederate

| Ireland

| 1642

| 1651

| Cromwellian conquest of Ireland

Kernavė

| Lithuania, Grand Duchy of

| Lithuania

| 1279

| 1321

| moved to Trakai

Trakai

| Lithuania, Grand Duchy of

| Lithuania

| c. 1321

| c. 1323

| moved to Vilnius

Kaunas

| Lithuania, Republic of (details)

| Lithuania

| 1922

| 1940

| moved back to Vilnius

Nidaros (Trondheim)

| Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)

| Norway

| 997

| 1217

| moved to Bergen

Bjørgvin (Bergen)

| Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)

| Norway

| 1217

| 1299

| moved to Oslo

Christiania (Oslo)

| Norway

| Norway

| 1905

| 1925

| (also written Kristiania from ca. 1877), renamed Oslo

Gamla Uppsala

| Sweden, Kingdom of

| Sweden

|data-sort-value="800"| 9th century

| 1273

| moved to Uppsala

Uppsala

| Sweden, Kingdom of

| Sweden

| 1273

| 1436

| moved to Stockholm

Din Guardi (Bamburgh Castle)

| Bryneich

| United Kingdom

| 420

| 547

| conquering of the Kingdom

Chelmsford

| England, Kingdom of

| United Kingdom

| 1 July 1381

| 6 July 1381

| Briefly moved from London due to Peasants' Revolt

Bebbanburgh (Bamburgh)

| Bernicia

| United Kingdom

| 547

| 634

| merged with Deira to become Northumbria

Ebrauc (York)

| Deira

| United Kingdom

|data-sort-value="400"| 5th century

| 866

| merged with Bernicia to become Northumbria

Lisnaskea

|Fermanagh

|Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

|10th century

|1607

| Disestablished alongside the kingdom following the Flight of the Earls

York

| Northumbria

| United Kingdom

| 834

| 866

| fall of the Kingdom

Dorchester on Thames

| Wessex

| United Kingdom

| 634

| 686

| moved to Winchester

Rendlesham

| East Anglia, Kingdom of

| United Kingdom

|data-sort-value="500"| 6th century

| 1017

| absorbed into England

Winchester

| Wessex

| United Kingdom

| 686

| 927

| formation of England

Winchester

| England, Kingdom of

| United Kingdom

| 927

| 1066

| moved to London

Castletown

| Man, Isle of

| United Kingdom

| 1090

| 1874

| moved to Douglas

Tamworth

| Mercia

| United Kingdom

|data-sort-value="600"| 7th century

| 927

| fall of Kingdom, superseded by Winchester

Dumbarton

| Strathclyde, Kingdom of

| Scotland, United Kingdom

| c 5th Century

| 870

| Moved to Govan, now part of Glasgow, following 4 months of Viking military assault in 870.

Govan

| Strathclyde, Kingdom of

| Scotland, United Kingdom

| 870

| c 1034

| Conquered by Duncan II, and became part of Scotland.

Kirkjuvagr

| Norðreyjar, Territory of the Norwegian Realm

| Scotland, United Kingdom

| c 872

| 1472

| Absorbed into Scotland.

Scone, near Perth

| Scotland, Kingdom of

| United Kingdom

| 846

| 1452

| moved to Edinburgh

Edinburgh

| Scotland, Kingdom of

| United Kingdom

| 1452

| 1707

| Scotland was united with England under one monarch in 1603. Edinburgh remains the capital of Scotland within the United Kingdom.

Machynlleth

| Wales, Principality of

| United Kingdom

| 1404

| 1416

| seat of Owain Glyndŵr's self-proclaimed parliament. Capital declared to be Cardiff in 1955

York

| Scandinavian York

| United Kingdom

| 875

| 954

| fall of kingdom

Camulodunum (Colchester)

| Roman Britain

| United Kingdom

| 43

| 61

| moved to Londinium (London) after being destroyed by Boudica.

= Southern Europe =

== South-central Europe ==

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Corte

| Corsica, Republic of

| France

| 1755

| 1769

| Corsican Republic annexed by France

Corte

| Anglo-Corsican Kingdom

| France

| 1794

| 1795

| moved to Bastia

Bastia

| Anglo-Corsican Kingdom

| France

| 1795

| 1796

| Corsican Kingdom annexed by France

Chambéry

| Savoy, Duchy of

| France

| 1416

| 1562

| moved to Turin

Tharros

| Arborea, Giudicato of

| Italy

|data-sort-value="800"| 9th century

| 1070

| moved to Oristano

Oristano

| Arborea, Giudicato of

| Italy

| 1070

| 1410

| moved to Sassari

Sassari

| Arborea, Giudicato of

| Italy

| 1410

| 1420

| remaining territories sold to the Kingdom of Sardinia

Santa Igia

| Cagliari, Giudicato of

| Italy

|data-sort-value="800"| 9th century

| 1258

| country dissolved, territories annexed by Arborea, Gallura, Pisa and Gherardesca

Milan

| Cisalpine Republic

| Italy

| 1797

| 1802

| became the Italian Republic

Florence

| Etruria, Kingdom of

| Italy

| 1801

| 1807

| Kingdom of Etruria annexed by France

Ferrara

| Ferrara, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1471

| 1597

| annexed by the papacy

Florence

| Florence, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1532

| 1569

| became Grand Duchy of Tuscany

Florence

| Florence, Republic of

| Italy

| 1115

| 1532

| became Duchy of Florence

Olbia

| Gallura, Giudicato of

| Italy

|data-sort-value="800"| 9th century

| 1296

| country dissolved, territories annexed by Pisa and Arborea

Genoa

| Genoa, Republic of

| Italy

|data-sort-value="1000"| 11th century

| 1805

| annexed by France

Milan

| Italian Republic

| Italy

| 1802

| 1805

| Became the Kingdom of Italy

Salò

| Italian Social Republic

| Italy

| 1943

| 1945

| Republic ceased to exist

Milan

| Italy, Kingdom of (Napoleonic)

| Italy

| 1805

| 1814

| Kingdom ceased to exist

Turin

| Italy, Kingdom of (Sardinian)

| Italy

| 1861

| 1865

| moved to Florence

Florence

| Italy, Kingdom of (Sardinian)

| Italy

| 1865

| 1871

| moved to Rome

Rome

| Italy, Kingdom of (Sardinian)

| Italy

| 1871

| 1946

| Kingdom became Republic

Milan

| Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom

| Italy

| 1815

| 1859

| Milan ceded to Kingdom of Sardinia

Venice

| Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom

| Italy

| 1859

| 1866

| Kingdom annexed by Kingdom of Italy

Lucca

| Lucca, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1815

| 1847

| Duchy annexed by Grand Duchy of Tuscany

Lucca

| Lucca, Republic of

| Italy

| 1288

| 1805

| Republic annexed by France

Mantua

| Mantua, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1433

| 1708

| attached to the Duchy of Milan

Milan

| Milan, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1395

| 1797

| became part of the Cisalpine Republic

Modena

| Modena, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1452

| 1860

| became part of united Italy

Naples

| Naples, Kingdom of

| Italy

| 1282

| 1816

| Kingdom of Naples merged into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Piacenza

| Parma, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1545

| 1547

| moved to Parma, following the assassination of the Duke Pierluigi Farnese

Parma

| Parma (and Piacenza), Duchy of

| Italy

| 1547

| 1860

| Became part of united Italy

Cagliari

| Sardinia, Kingdom of

| Italy

| 1324

| 1720

| moved to Turin

Turin

| Sardinia, Kingdom of

| Italy

| 1720

| 1861

| Became part of unified Italy

Sassari

| Sassari, Republic of

| Italy

| 1294

| 1323

| Became part of Kingdom of Sardinia

Turin

| Savoy, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1562

| 1720

| Became part of Kingdom of Sardinia

Palermo

| Sicily, Kingdom of

| Italy

| 1130

| 1816

| Kingdom merged into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Catania

| Trinacria, Kingdom of

| Italy

| 1282

| 1401

| Capital moved to Palermo. After 1302 the Kingdom of Sicily was sometimes called the Kingdom of Trinacria.

Porto Torres

| Torres, Giudicato of

| Italy

|data-sort-value="800"| 9th century

|data-sort-value="1000"| 11th century

| moved to Ardara

Ardara

| Torres, Giudicato of

| Italy

|data-sort-value="1000"| 11th century

| 1272

| moved to Sassari

Sassari

| Torres, Giudicato of

| Italy

| 1272

| 1280

| country dissolved, territories annexed by Malaspina, Doria, Pisa and Arborea

Trieste

| Trieste, Free Territory of

| Italy

| 1947

| 1954

| Territory dissolved, integrated into Italy and Yugoslavia

Florence

| Tuscany, Grand Duchy of

| Italy

| 1569

| 1860

| became part of unified Italy

Siena

| Siena, Republic of

| Italy

| 1125

| 1555

| Conquered by Florence

Naples

| Two Sicilies, Kingdom of the

| Italy

| 1816

| 1861

| became part of unified Italy

Urbino

| Urbino, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1443

| 1523

| moved to Pesaro

Pesaro

| Urbino, Duchy of

| Italy

| 1523

| 1625

| annexed by the papacy

Venice

| Venice, Republic of

| Italy

|data-sort-value="800"| fl. 9th century

| 1797

| annexed by Austria

Rabat

| Gozitan Nation

| Malta

| 1798

| 1801

| became part of the British Protectorate of Malta

Mdina

| Part of Kingdom of Sicily

| Malta

|data-sort-value="-700"| 700 BC

| 1530

| moved to Birgu upon arrival of the Order of Saint John

Birgu

| History of Malta under the Order of Saint John

| Malta

| 1530

| 1571

| moved to Valletta

== South-eastern Europe ==

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Gjirokastër

| Arbanon, Principality of

| Albania

| 1190

| 1255

|

Durrës

| Albania, Kingdom of

| Albania

| 1272

| 1368

|

Durrës

| Albania, Principality of

| Albania

| 1368

| 1392

|

Krujë

| Gjirokastër, Principality of

| Albania

| 1286

| 1418

|

Berat

| Berat, Lordship of

| Albania

| 1335

| 1444

| Berat became part of the League of Lezhë.

Lezhë

| Dukagjini, Principality of

| Albania

| 1387

| 1444

| Dukagjini became part of the League of Lezhë.

Krujë

| Kastrioti, Principality of

| Albania

| 1389

| 1444

| Kastrioti became part of the League of Lezhë

Lezhë

| Lezhë, League of

| Albania

| 1444

| 1450

|

Vlorë

| Albania, Independent

| Albania

| 1912

| 1914

| moved to Durrës

Durrës

| Albania, Principality of

| Albania

| 1914

| 1920

| moved to Tirana

Pliska

| Bulgarian Empire, First

| Bulgaria

|data-sort-value="681"| 681 AD

|data-sort-value="893"| 893 AD

| moved to Preslav

Preslav

| Bulgarian Empire, First

| Bulgaria

|data-sort-value="893"| 893 AD

|data-sort-value="972"| 972 AD

| capital of First Bulgarian Empire (moved to Skopie)

Tarnovo

| Bulgarian Empire, Second

| Bulgaria

| 1185

| 1393

| moved to Vidin

Vidin

| Bulgarian Empire, Second

| Bulgaria

| 1393

| 1396

| Empire ceased to exist after the Ottoman conquest

Tarnovo

| Bulgaria, Principality of

| Bulgaria

| 1878

| 1879

| moved to Sofia

Plovdiv

| Eastern Rumelia

| Bulgaria

| 1878

| 1885

| annexed as part of the Unification of Bulgaria

Ragusa (Dubrovnik)

| Ragusa, Republic of

| Croatia

|data-sort-value="600"| 7th century

| 1808

| annexed by France

Varaždin

| Croatia, Kingdom of

| Croatia

| 1756

| 1776

| Moved back to Zagreb, when a fire destroyed most of the city.

Fiume (Rijeka)

| Fiume, Free State of

| Croatia

| 1920

| 1924

| annexed by Kingdom of Italy

Chania

| Cretan State

| Greece

| 1898

| 1913

| Cretan State united with Greece

Corfu

| Septinsular Republic

| Greece

| 1800

| 1815

| Succeeded by the United States of the Ionian Islands, an amical protectorate of the United Kingdom, which had Corfu as its capital, too, until 1864, when the island country became part of the Kingdom of Greece.

Nafplio

| Hellenic Republic, First

| Greece

| 1821

| 1836

| moved to Athens

Aegina

| Hellenic Republic, First

| Greece

| 1827

| 1829

| moved back to Nafplio

Siret

| Moldavia, Principality of

| Romania

| 1354

| 1388

| moved to Suceava

Suceava

| Moldavia, Principality of

| Romania

| 1388

| 1564

| moved to Iași

Iași

| Moldavia, Principality of

| Romania

| 1564

| 1859

| unified with Wallachia to form United Principalities of Romania

Iași

| Romanian United Principalities

| Romania

| 1859

| 1862

| one of the two capitals of the United Principalities, then moved to Bucharest

Bucharest

| Romanian United Principalities

| Romania

| 1859

| 1916

| moved to Iași after partial occupation of the Kingdom of Romania during World War I

Iași

| Romania, Kingdom of

| Romania

| 1916

| 1918

| moved back to Bucharest

Curtea de Argeș

| Wallachia, Principality of

| Romania

|data-sort-value="1200"| fl.13th century

|data-sort-value="1400"| fl.15th century

Câmpulung

| Wallachia, Principality of

| Romania

|data-sort-value="1200"| fl.13th century

|data-sort-value="1400"| fl.15th century

| moved to Târgoviște

Târgoviște

| Wallachia, Principality of

| Romania

| 1418

| 1659

| moved to Bucharest

Bucharest

| Wallachia, Principality of

| Romania

| 1659

| 1859

| unified with Moldavia to form United Principalities of Romania

Constantinople (Istanbul)

| Byzantine Empire

| Turkey

|data-sort-value="330"| 330 AD

|data-sort-value="661"| 661 AD

| Emperor Constans II relocated his capital to Syracuse in Sicily.

Syracuse

| Byzantine Empire

| Italy

|data-sort-value="661"| 661 AD

|data-sort-value="668"| 668 AD

| Constans II was assassinated and the seat of Byzantine government was returned to Constantinople.

Constantinople (Istanbul)

| Byzantine Empire

| Turkey

|data-sort-value="668"| 668 AD

| 1204

| The Fourth Crusade set out to replace the Greek Orthodox Byzantine Empire with a Latin version and there were several Byzantine successor states, the most memorable of which being the Empire of Nicaea.

Nicaea (İznik)

| Byzantine Empire

| Turkey

| 1204

| 1261

| When the Empire of Nicaea recaptured Constantinople, they relocated the capital there as well

Constantinople (Istanbul)

| Byzantine Empire

| Turkey

| 1261

| 1453

| Byzantine Empire fell and conquered by the Ottoman Empire.

Bursa

| Ottoman Empire

| Turkey

| 1335

| 1365

| moved to Edirne

Edirne

| Ottoman Empire

| Turkey

| 1365

| 1453

| moved to Istanbul (Constantinople)

Istanbul

| Ottoman Empire

| Turkey

| 1453

| 1923

| The Ottoman Empire became the Republic of Turkey. The capital moved to Ankara.

Cetinje

| Montenegro, Prince-Bishopric of

| Montenegro

| 1696

| 1852

|

Cetinje

| Montenegro, Principality of

| Montenegro

| 1852

| 1910

|

Cetinje

| Montenegro, Kingdom of

| Montenegro

| 1910

| 1918

| Became part of Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Capital of SR Montenegro moved to Titograd (Podgorica) in 1946.

Stari Ras

| Serbia, Grand Principality of

| Serbia

|data-sort-value="950"| 950 AD

| 1234

| capital of the Grand Principality of Serbia, and the historical region of Raška

Prapratna

| Duklja

| Montenegro

| ...

| 1042

| moved to Skadar

Skadar (Shkodër)

| Duklja, Zeta

| Albania

| 1042

| 1385

| moved to Ulcinj (Olcinium)

Debrc

| Serbia, Kingdom of

| Serbia

| 1276

| 1289

| moved to Belgrade

Prizren

| Serbia, Kingdom of

| Serbia

| 1300

| 1345

| moved to Skopje

Skoplje

| Serbian Empire

| North Macedonia

| 1345

| 1371

| capital of Serbian Empire, now capital of North Macedonia

Kruševac

| Serbia, Moravian

| Serbia

| 1371

| 1405

| capital of Serbia, moved to Belgrade

Ulcinj (Olcinium)

| Zeta

| Montenegro

| 1385

| 1403

| moved to Bar (Antivari)

Bar (Antivari)

| Zeta

| Montenegro

| 1403

| 1408

Belgrade

| Serbian Despotate

| Serbia

| 1405

| 1427

|

Skadar (Shkodër)

| Zeta

| Montenegro

| 1408

| 1474

| moved to Žabljak (Žabljak Crnojevića)

Smederevo

| Serbian Despotate

| Serbia

| 1430

| 1453

|

Žabljak Crnojevića

| Zeta

| Montenegro

| 1474

| 1475

| moved to Obod

Obod

| Zeta

| Montenegro

| 1475

| 1482

| moved to Cetinje

Subotica

| Jovan Nenad's Empire

| Serbia

| 1526

| 1527

|

Kragujevac

| Serbia, Principality of

| Serbia

| 1818

| 1841

| moved to Belgrade

Belgrade

| Yugoslavia, Kingdom of

| Serbia

| 1918

| 1945

|

Belgrade

| Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of

| Serbia

| 1945

| 1992

|

Belgrade

| Yugoslavia, Federal Republic of/ Serbia and Montenegro, State Union of

| Serbia

| 1992

| 2006

| State union dissolved, became capital of Serbia

== South-western Europe ==

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Barcelona

| Barcelona, County of

| Spain

| 801

| 1162

|

Burgos

| Castile, Crown of

| Spain

|data-sort-value="1000"| 11th century

|data-sort-value="1400"| 15th century

| moved to Valladolid

Toledo

| Castile, Crown of

| Spain

|data-sort-value="1400"| 15th century

| 1469

| moved to Valladolid

Valladolid

| Castile, Crown of

| Spain

| 1469

| 1561

| moved to Madrid. Was briefly the Spanish capital again from 1601 to 1606.

Barcelona

| Catalonia, Principality of

| Spain

| 1173

| 1714

|

Córdoba

| Córdoba, Emirate of

| Spain

| 756

| 929

| Succeeded by Caliphate of Córdoba.

Córdoba

| Córdoba, Caliphate of

| Spain

| 929

| 1031

| country dissolved, became part of Taifa of Córdoba

Santiago

| Couto Mixto

| Spain

|data-sort-value="1100"| 12th century

| 1864

| Couto Mixto annexed by Spain and Portugal

Granada

| Granada, Emirate of

| Spain

| 1250

| 1492

| Emirate ceased to exist after the Reconquista and incorporated into Castile

Guimarães

| Portugal, Kingdom of

| Portugal

| 1128

| 1179

| moved to Coimbra

Coimbra

| Portugal, Kingdom of

| Portugal

| 1179

| 1255

| moved to Lisbon

Valencia

| Spanish Republic, Second

| Spain

| 1936

| 1937

| Government of the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War

Barcelona

| Spanish Republic, Second

| Spain

| 1937

| 1939

| Government of the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War

Barcelona

| Visigothic Kingdom

| Spain

| 507

| 546

| moved to Toledo

Barcelona

| Crown of Aragon and Catalan Republic

| Spain

| 801

| 1715

| annexed by Spain and France

= Western Europe =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Vienna

| Austrian Empire

| Austria

| 1806

| 1867

| became capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Vienna

| Austro-Hungarian Empire

| Austria

| 1867

| 1918

| became capital of the Republic of Austria after Empire collapsed

Tournai

| Francia

| Belgium

| 431

| 486

| Under kings Childeric I and Clovis I, Tournai was the capital of the Frankish empire. In the year 486, Clovis moved the centre of power to Paris, as a result, the Low Countries region ceased to be the political centre of the Frankish empire.

Kelmis

| Neutral Moresnet

| Belgium

| 1816

| 1919

| Moresnet annexed by Belgium

Vichy

| France, State of

| France

| 1940

| 1944

| capital of Vichy France régime, defeated by Allies

Aachen

| Carolingian Empire

| Germany

| 800

| 814

| became capital of Charlemagne as Imperator Augustus and Emperor of the Carolingian Empire

Karlsruhe

| Baden, Grand Duchy of

| Germany

| 1771

| 1918

| Baden became part of the German Empire in 1871, and lost sovereignty fully in 1918. Karlsruhe remained the capital of the German state of Baden until 1945.

Munich

| Bavaria, Kingdom of

| Germany

|data-sort-value="1300"| 14th century

| 1918

| Bavaria became part of the German Empire in 1871, and lost sovereignty fully in 1918. Munich remains the capital of the German state of Bavaria.

Braunschweig
(Brunswick)

| Brunswick, Duchy of

| Germany

| 1815

| 1918

| Brunswick became part of the German Empire in 1871, and lost sovereignty fully in 1918. Braunschweig remained the capital of the German Free State of Brunswick until 1946 when it became part of the German state of Lower Saxony.

Frankfurt

| Rhine, Confederation of the

| Germany

| 1806

| 1815

| Confederation dissolved

Frankfurt

| German Confederation

| Germany

| 1815

| 1866

| German Confederation dissolved

Berlin

| German Empire

| Germany

| 1871

| 1918

|

Berlin

| Germany (Weimar Republic)

| Germany

| 1919

| 1933

|

Berlin

| Germany (Nazi Germany)

| Germany

| 1933

| 1945

| Separation of Germany into occupation zones for the Allied powers. Capital moved to Flensburg temporarily under control of then-president Karl Dönitz.

Flensburg

|Germany (Nazi Germany)

|Germany

|1945

|1945

|Lost all of its jurisdictions after the Surrender of Germany, still operated until 23 May when cabinet members were arrested.

Bonn

| Germany, West

| Germany

| 1949

| 1990

| Moved to Berlin after re-unification of Germany. Bonn retained as the German seat of government until 1999.

East Berlin

| Germany, East

| Germany

| 1949

| 1990

| East Berlin and West Berlin merged to form reunified Berlin, country ceased to exist after reunification of Germany

Hanover

| Hanover, Kingdom of

| Germany

| 1814

| 1866

| Hanover annexed by Prussia, became capital of the Prussian Province of Hanover, currently the capital of the German state of Lower Saxony

Darmstadt

| Hesse-Darmstadt, Landgraviate of, Hesse, Grand Duchy of

| Germany

| 1567

| 1918

| Hesse-Darmstadt became part of the German Empire in 1871, and lost sovereignty fully in 1918. Darmstadt remained the capital of the German People's State of Hesse until 1945.

Kassel

| Hesse-Darmstadt, Landgraviate of, Hesse-Kassel, Landgraviate of, Hesse, Electorate of

| Germany

| 1277

| 1866

| Hesse-Kassel annexed by Prussia in 1866; Kassel became capital of the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau

Wiesbaden

| Nassau, Duchy of

| Germany

| 1816

| 1866

| Nassau annexed by Prussia, currently the capital of the German state of Hesse

Oldenburg

| Oldenburg, Duchy of

| Germany

| 1180

| 1918

| Oldenburg became part of the German Empire in 1871, and lost sovereignty fully in 1918. Oldenburg remained the capital of the German Free State of Oldenburg until 1946 when it became part of the German state of Lower Saxony.

Heidelberg

| Palatinate, Electorate of the

| Germany

|data-sort-value="1300"| 14th century

| 1720

| moved to Mannheim

Mannheim

| Palatinate, Electorate of the

| Germany

| 1720

| 1777

| Palatinate inherited by the Electors of Bavaria.

Dresden

| Saxony, Kingdom of

| Germany

| 1485

| 1918

| Saxony became part of the German Empire in 1871, and lost sovereignty fully in 1918. Dresden remained the capital of the German state of Saxony until Saxony itself lost its statehood in 1952 when it was part of East Germany. Dresden became again the capital of Saxony in 1990 following reunification.

Bückeburg

| Schaumburg-Lippe, Principality of

| Germany

| 1643

| 1918

| Schaumburg-Lippe became part of the German Empire in 1871, and lost sovereignty fully in 1918. Bückeburg remained the capital of the German Free State of Schaumburg-Lippe until 1946 when it became part of the German state of Lower Saxony.

Kassel

| Westphalia, Kingdom of

| Germany

| 1807

| 1813

| dissolved in 1813

Stuttgart

| Württemberg, Kingdom of

| Germany

|data-sort-value="1300"| c. 1300

| 1918

| Württemberg became part of the German Empire in 1871, and lost sovereignty fully in 1918. Stuttgart remained the capital of the German state of Württemberg until 1945 when it became the capital of newly established state of Württemberg-Baden, and then became capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

Zürich

| Old Swiss Confederacy

| Switzerland

| 1415

| 1530

| Vorort of the Swiss diet, after 1530 partially replaced by Lucerne.{{HDS|10077|Vorort}}

Aarau

| Helvetic Republic

| Switzerland

| 1798

| 1798

| moved to Lucerne

Lucerne

| Helvetic Republic

| Switzerland

| 1798

| 1803

| Helvetic Republic abolished

North America

{{For|the historical capitals of the United States, the Confederate States of America, the Republic of Texas, the Vermont Republic, the Kingdom and Republic of Hawaii, as well as various unrecognised nations and various recognised nations (kingdoms, empires, duchies, etc.) within the present United States|List of capitals in the United States#Former national capitals}}

{{For-text|the many capitals of the former Province of Canada|that article}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country, empire

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

James Town

| Barbados

| 1625

| 1628

| moved to Bridgetown, purpose-built

St. George

| Bermuda

| 1612

| 1815

| moved to Hamilton

Belize City

| British Honduras

| 1638

| 1970

| moved to Belmopan because of the devastating effects of Hurricane Hattie in 1961 and Belize City earthquake in 1968

Chan Santa Cruz

| Chan Santa Cruz

|data-sort-value="1852"| c. 1852

| 1901

| became part of Mexico

Cartago

| Costa Rica

| 1562

| 1823

| moved to San José

Santiago de Cuba

| Cuba

| 1522

| 1589

| moved (after 1607 in Havana)

Santiago de los Caballeros

| Dominican Republic

| 1863

| 1865

| Dominican Restoration War

Antigua

| Guatemala

| 1525

| 1776

| New capital of Guatemala City founded after Antigua destroyed three times by major earthquakes.

Spanish Town

| Jamaica

| 1534

| 1872

| moved to Kingston

Cap-Français

| Saint-Domingue

| 1711

| 1804

| moved to Port-au-Prince

Quetzaltenango

| Los Altos

| 1838

| 1840

| country ceased to exist

Granada and León

| Nicaragua

| 1821

| 1857

| moved to Managua

St. John's

| Newfoundland

| 1855

| 1949

| entered confederation within Canada and became the country's 10th province

Washington, D.C.

| Philippine Commonwealth

|data-sort-value="1942"| May 1942

|data-sort-value="1944"| October 1944

| returned to the Philippines subsequent to the end of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II

Old Road Town

| Saint Kitts

| 1623

| 1727

| capital moved to Basseterre

San Jose de Oruña (Saint Joseph)

| British Trinidad

| 1592

| 1783

| moved to Port of Spain

Caparra

| Puerto Rico

| 1508

| 1521

| moved to San Juan

Port of Spain and Chaguaramas

| West Indies Federation

| 1958

| 1962

| country ceased to exist

Mérida

| Republic of Yucatán

| 1840

| 1847

| Yucatán annexed by Mexico

Comayagua, Comayagua

| Republic of Honduras

| 1540

| 1937

| Tiburcio Carias Andino changed the capital because of its proximity to the San Juancito mines

St. John's

| British Leeward Islands

| 1671 and 1833

| 1816 and 1958

|

Oceania

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Melbourne

| Australia

| Australia

| {{nowrap|1901–1908}}

| 1927

| Melbourne was the de facto seat of Government from 1901 until 1927, when in 1908, it was decided that the planned city of Canberra be the capital city and seat of Government.{{cite web |url=https://www.nca.gov.au/canberra-seat-government#:~:text=Since%201913%20Canberra%20has%20actively,known%20as%20Old%20Parliament%20House. |title=Canberra, the Seat of Government |last= |first= |date= 25 August 2016|website=nca.gov.au |publisher=National Capital Authority |access-date=13 February 2021 |quote=}}{{efn|Melbourne is sometimes said to have been the inaugural capital of Australia, from 1901 until 1927, when Parliament House, Canberra was opened. This is not so. Section 125 of the Constitution of Australia states that the seat of government is to be within the state of New South Wales but not less than {{convert|100|mi|km|abbr=off}} from Sydney, and that until that place (Canberra) was built, the Parliament of Australia would meet at Melbourne. That made Melbourne the de facto (but not de jure) seat of government 1901–1927, but it did not amount to Melbourne being declared the capital, and it was never so described in contemporary documents.}}

Levuka

| Colony of Fiji

| Fiji

| 1874

| 1877

| moved to Suva

Jabor, Jaluit Atoll

| Marshall Islands District

| Marshall Islands

| 1885

| 1978

| moved to Majuro Atoll

Kolonia

| Federated States of Micronesia

| Federated States of Micronesia

| 1986

| 1989

| moved to Palikir

Okiato (Russell)

| Colony of New Zealand

| New Zealand

| 1840

| 1841

| moved to Auckland. Several Māori chiefs offered land at Tāmaki-makau-rau (Auckland) so a capital could be established there.{{Cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/capital-city|title = Capital city}}

Auckland

| Colony of New Zealand

| New Zealand

| 1841

| 1865

| moved to Wellington. In 1863 it was proposed that the capital be moved somewhere on the shores of Cook Strait. An independent tribunal decided on the location. They visited a number of sites and chose Wellington.{{Cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/capital-city|title = Capital city}}

Koror

| Palau

| Palau

| 1994

| 2006

| moved to Ngerulmud

Tulagi

| British Solomon Islands

| Solomon Islands

| 1896

| 1942

| moved to Honiara

;Notes

{{notelist}}

South America

class="wikitable sortable"

! Old capital city

! Country

! Today a part of

!data-sort-type="number"| From

!data-sort-type="number"| Until

! Change, reason

Cuzco

| Inca Empire

| Peru

|data-sort-value="1200"| fl. 13th century

| 1534

| Inca Empire conquered and taken over by the Spanish, who designated Jauja as their administration site

Coro

| Venezuela, Captaincy General of

| Venezuela

| 1527

| 1578

| moved to Caracas to prevent an invasion due to its large coastline.

Cidade do Acre (Porto Acre)

| Acre, Republic of

| Brazil

| 1899

| 1900

| returned to Bolivia, then incorporated into Brazil

Jauja

| New Castile Governorate

| Peru

| 1534

| 1535

| moved to Lima along the coastline in 1535

Perquenco

| Araucanía and Patagonia, Kingdom of

| Chile

| 1860

| 1862

| incorporated to Chile and Argentina

Paraná

| Argentine Confederation

| Argentina

| 1853

| 1861

| moved to Buenos Aires, after the secessionist State of Buenos Aires rejoined Argentina

Salvador da Bahia

| Colonial Brazil

| Brazil

| 1549

| 1763

| moved to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

| Portugal, Kingdom of

| Brazil

| 1808

| 1815

| became capital of Portugal when the Portuguese king John VI moved to the colony of Brazil during the war with Napoleonic France in 1808.

Rio de Janeiro

| Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves; Kingdom of

| Brazil

| 1815

| 1825

| It came into being when the colony of Brazil was elevated to the rank of a Kingdom, and the Kingdoms of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarve were united as a single State by the title of The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarve by a Law issued on 16 December 1815.

Rio de Janeiro

| Brazil

| Brazil

| 1763

| 1960

| moved to Brasília

Concepción

| Chile, Captaincy General of

| Chile

| 1565

| 1575

| moved to Santiago

Concepción del Uruguay

| Entre Ríos, Republic of

| Argentina

| 1820

| 1821

| country dissolved (and incorporated to Argentina) after the death of Francisco Ramírez

Laguna

| Juliana Republic

| Brazil

| 1836

| 1836

| reincorporated into the Brazilian Empire after the Ragamuffin War

{{ill|Purification Camp|es|Campamento de Purificación|lt=Purificación}} (near Paysandú)

| Liga Federal

| Uruguay

| 1815

| 1820

| country dissolved

San Miguel de Tucumán

| Tucumán, Republic of

| Argentina

| 1820

| 1821

| country dissolved and incorporated to Argentina

Tacna

| Peru–Bolivian Confederation

| Peru

| 1837

| 1839

| country ceased to exist

Piratini

| Riograndense Republic

| Brazil

| 1836

| 1845

| reincorporated into the Brazilian Empire after the Ragamuffin War

Pasto

| Grenadine Confederation

| Colombia

| 1862

| 1862

| country ceased to exist

Tunja

| United Provinces of New Granada

| Colombia

| 1811

| 1814

| moved to Bogotá

{{Incomplete list|date=December 2010}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Former National Capitals}}

National