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List of former national capitals
List of former national capitals
List of former national capitals - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
List of former national capitals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Africa See also List of Egyptian capitals .
Asia Central and South-West Asia
Old capital city
Country , empire From
Until
Change, reason
Kandahar Afghanistan 1748
1772
moved to Kabul
Ashur Assyria 3rd Millennium BC
800s BC
moved to Calah
Calah Assyria 13th Century BC
710 BC
Moved to Nineveh
Nineveh Assyria 1800 BC
600 BC
Destroyed by Babylonians
Babylon Babylonia 24th Century BC
141 BC
Conquered by Assyrians, Persians, Parthians, Alexander the Great, later abandoned completely
Susa , Anshan Iran (Proto-Elamite , Elam )3200 BC
850 BC
Conquered by Mannaeans
Zirta (Izirtu )Iran (Mannaeans )850 BC
728 BC
Conquered by Median Empire
Ecbatana Iran (Median Empire )728 BC
550 BC
captured by Cyrus the Great
Pasargadae Iran (Persian Empire )559 BC
538 BC
Capital moved to Susa by Cambyses II
Susa Iran (Persian Empire )538 BC
515 BC
Capital moved to Persepolis by Darius
Persepolis Iran (Persian Empire )515 BC
331 BC
captured by Alexander the Great and incorporated into Macedonian Empire
Seleucia Iran (Seleucid Empire )305 BC
240 BC
moved to Antioch
Antioch Iran (Seleucid Empire )240 BC
64 BC
conquered by Parthia
Ctesiphon , Hecatompylos , Mithridatkird-Nisa , Asaak Iran (Parthian Empire )240 BC
224
conquered by Sassanid Empire
Firouzabad , Ctesiphon , Damghan Iran (Sassanid Empire )224
637
fell in Islamic conquest of Persia
Nishapur Iran (Tahirid dynasty )821
873
conquered by Saffarid dynasty
Zaranj , Amol Iran (Saffarid dynasty , Alavids )861
900
conquered by Samanid
Bukhara , Balkh , Samarkand , Herat Iran (Samanid dynasty )875
999
conquered by Ghaznavids
Ghazni Iran (Ghaznavids , Ghurids )963
1212
conquered by Seljuq dynasty
Nishapur , Rey , Konye-Urgench Iran (Seljuq dynasty , Khwarezmid dynasty )1037
1231
conquered by Ilkhanate
Maragheh , Soltaniyeh , Tabriz , Samarkand , Herat Iran (Ilkhanate , Timurid dynasty )1231
1506
conquered by Safavid Dynasty
Tabriz Iran (Safavid Dynasty )1501
1548
moved to Qazvin
Qazvin Iran (Safavid Dynasty )1548
1598
moved to Isfahan
Isfahan Iran (Safavid Dynasty )1598
1736
moved to Mashhad
Mashhad Iran (Afsharid dynasty )1736
1750
moved to Shiraz
Shiraz Iran (Zand dynasty )1750
1782
moved to Sari
Sari Iran (Qajar dynasty )1782
1795
moved to Tehran
Hebron Israel, Kingdom of c.1007 BC
c.1000 BC
moved to Jerusalem when the kingdom was reunited under King David
Tel Aviv Israel, State of May 6, 1948
Dec 30 1948
interim de facto capital, moved to Jerusalem after captured from Jordanian forces in 1948 Arab-Israeli War
Jerusalem Jerusalem, Kingdom of 1099
1187
moved to Acre (Jerusalem captured by Saladin )
Acre Jerusalem, Kingdom of 1187
1291
Kingdom ceased to exist
Semey Kazakhstan (Alash Orda )1917
1920
Entity named Kyrgyz ASSR established, capital moved to Orenburg
Orenburg Kazakhstan (Kyrgyz ASSR )1920
1925
moved to Qyzylorda
Qyzylorda Kazakhstan (Kazakh ASSR )1926
1929
moved to Alma-Ata
Almaty (Alma-Ata )Kazakhstan (Kazakh ASSR , Kazakh SSR , independent Kazakhstan)1929
1998
moved to Astana
Salalah Oman 1932
1970
moved to Musqat
Diriyah Saudi Arabia 1744
1818
moved to Riyadh after the Turks destroyed the city.
Aden South Yemen 1967
1990
San'a , country ceased to exist after unification of Yemen
Samarkand Uzbekistan (SSR )1925
1930
moved to Tashkent
Omsk Russia (White Movement )1918
1920
White Movement defeated by Reds
Shiloh Israel moved to Jerusalem
South and South-East Asia
Old capital city
Country , empire From
Until
Change, reason
Mysore Kingdom of Mysore 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
Agra Mughal Empire 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 1571
1585
moved to Agra
Calcutta India (British) 1772
1912
moved to New Delhi
Simla India (British) fl. 1850
1947
Summer capital
Yogyakarta Indonesia 1946
1948
Allied invasion, moved to Bukittinggi
Bukittinggi Indonesia 1948
1949
moved to Jakarta
Marawi Maguindanao Sultanate ~1205
1800s (?)
Annexed into the Spanish East Indies
Yangon Myanmar 1948
2005
moved to Naypyidaw
Bacolod Negros, Cantonal Republic of 1898
1899
absorbed by the Philippines .
Karachi Pakistan 1947
1959
moved to Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi Pakistan 1959
1967
moved to Islamabad
Malolos Philippine Republic (República Filipina ) 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, Japanese-sponsored 1943
1945
Liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese
Manila Philippines, Commonwealth of the 1934
1941
Japanese occupation. Moved back to Manila in 1945 after the liberation of the Philippines
Baguio Philippines 1946
1976
Summer Capital, moved back to Manila via Presidential Decree No. 940.
Quezon City 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 1562
1578 (?)
First Spanish settlement in the country. Moved to Manila (Formerly Maynilad) after capture.
Manila Spanish East Indies ~1578
1762
Captured by the British during the Seven Years' War , returned to Spain after the Treaty of Paris .
Bacolor Spanish East Indies 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 1764
1901
Ceded to the United States via Treaty of Paris
Anuradapura Lanka (Sri Lanka )
~382 BC
1018
Capital moved to possibly Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka ~1055
1284
Capital moved to Dambadeniya
Kotte Sri Lanka ~1415
~1565
Capital moved to Kandy
Kandy Sri Lanka 1592
1815
Capital moved to Colombo
Colombo Sri Lanka 1815
1982
Capital moved to Kotte
Jolo Sulu Sultanate 1450 (?)
1899
Annexed by the United States
Sukhothai Thailand (Kingdom of Siam )1238
1438
moved to Ayutthaya after sacked by Ayutthaya
Chiang Mai (Lanna)Thailand (Kingdom of Siam )1259
1939
Annexed by Siam
Ayutthaya Thailand (Kingdom of Siam )1350
1767
moved to Thonburi after the Burmese destroyed the city
Thonburi Thailand (Kingdom of Siam )1767
1782
moved to Bangkok after King Taksin was declared mad
Luang Prabang Lan Prabang 1707
Luang Prabang was one of three successors states to Lan Xang .
Luang Prabang Laos, Kingdom of 1949
1975
abdication of King Savang Vatthana ; the second capital
Vientiane Lan Xang 1354
TBA
moved to Luang Prabang
Vientiane Vientiane Lao
1707 (?)
1828
incorporated to Siam , then absorbed into French Indochina (in 1893)
Vientiane Kingdom of Laos 1949
1975
abdication of King Savang Vatthana
Champasak Champasak Kingdom 1713
1946
Became part of Kingdom of Laos .
Angkor Khmer Empire 802
1431
Sacked by Ayutthaya
Lovek Lovek Kingdom 1525
1593
Move to Oudong (in 1618)
Phnom Penh Colonial Cambodia 1863
1887
annexed by France; moved to Saigon
Phong Châu (Phú Thọ )
Văn Lang (Hồng Bàng Dynasty )2879 BC
258 BC
annexed by Thục Dynasty
Phong Châu (Phú Thọ )
Vạn Xuân (Hậu Lý Nam Đế )571
602
Third Chinese domination
Cổ Loa (Hà Nội )Âu Lạc (Thục Dynasty )
257 BC
207 BC
First Chinese domination
Cổ Loa (Hà Nội )(Ngô Dynasty )
938
967
the upheavals of Twelve warlords
Đại La (Hà Nội )An Nam (Phung Hung )
8th Century
Annexed by Tang Dynasty
Đại La (Hà Nội )An Nam (Khúc family )
905
930
Dương Dinh Nghe was killed by his legion commander Kiều Công Tiễn and thus ending Khúc rule.
Đại La (Hà Nội )An Nam (Duong Dinh Nghe and Kieu Cong Tien )
931
937
Ngo Quyen defeated Southern Han Dynasty
Đông Đô (Hà Nội
Đại Việt (Later Lê Dynasty and Mạc Dynasty )
1428
1788
Mê Linh (Hà Nội )
(Trưng Sisters )
40
43
Second Chinese domination
Long Biên (Hà Nội )Vạn Xuân (Anterior Lý dynasty and Triệu Việt Vương )
544
571
moved to Phong Châu
Hoa Lư (Ninh Bình )Đại Cồ Việt (Đinh Dynasty )
968
980
Hoa Lư (Ninh Bình )Đại Cồ Việt (Early Lê Dynasty )
980
1009
moved to Đại La, then renamed into Thăng Long
Tây Đô (Thanh Hóa )
Đại Ngu (Hồ Dynasty )
1400
1407
Fourth Chinese domination ; it was the first capital of Hồ Dynasty
Tây Đô (Thanh Hóa )
Đại Việt-Nam Triều (Restored Lê Dynasty )
1533
1592
moved to Thăng Long after defeating Mạc Dynasty
Phú Xuân (Huế )Đại Việt-Đàng Trong (Nguyễn Lords )
1558
1777
Tây Sơn Dynasty unified Đại Việt
Phú Xuân (Huế )Đại Việt (Tây Sơn Dynasty )
1788
1802
Defeated by Nguyễn Ánh (Nguyễn Dynasty )
Phú Xuân (Huế )Vietnam (Nguyễn Dynasty )
1802
1945
moved to Hanoi after the abdication of Emperor Bảo Đại
Phú Xuân (Huế )Empire of Vietnam 1945
August Revolution
Hue An Nam (Nguyễn Dynasty )1874
1955
annexed by France, Geneva Conference (1954) led to the Partition of Vietnam
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City )French Indochina 1887
1901
moved to Hanoi
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City )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 1954
1975
Hanoi , country ceased to exist after unification of Vietnam
Thăng Long (Hanoi )Đại Việt (Lý & Trần Dynasties )1010
1400
Trần Dynasty renovated Thăng Long and renamed to Long Phượng
Thăng Long (Hanoi )Đại Việt (Later Lê Dynasty )
1428
1527
Southern and Northern Dynasties of Vietnam
Thăng Long (Hanoi )Đại Việt-Bắc Triều (Mạc Dynasty )
1533
1592
defeated by Trịnh Lords ; renamed again to Đông Đô
Thăng Long (Hanoi )Đại Việt-Đàng Ngoài (Later Lê Dynasty - Trịnh Lords )
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 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 1954
1976
unification of Vietnam
East Asia
Old capital city
Country , empire From
Until
Change, reason
Anyang China (Shang Dynasty )c. 1600 BC
c. 1046 BC
moved to Chang'an - end of Shang Dynasty
Chang'an China (Zhou Dynasty )c. 1046 BC
722 BC
moved to Luoyang
Luoyang China (Zhou Dynasty )772 BC
221 BC
moved to Xianyang - fall of Zhou Dynasty
Xianyang China (Qin Dynasty )221 BC
206 BC
moved back to Chang'an - fall of Qin Dynasty
Chang'an China (Han Dynasty )206 BC
25
moved back to Luoyang
Luoyang China (Han Dynasty )25
220
Fall of the Han Dynasty marking the beginning of the Six Dynasties period
Chang'an China (Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty )581
907
fall of the Tang Dynasty marking the beginning of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
Kaifeng China (Song Dynasty )960
1127
moved to Hangzhou
Hangzhou China (Song Dynasty )1127
1279
Kublai Khan integrated China into the Mongol Empire
Nanjing China (Ming Dynasty )1368
1421
moved to Beijing
Nanking (Nanjing) China, Republic of 1928
1937
moved to Chongqing
Chungking (Chongqing) China, Republic of 1937
1945
moved back to Nanjing
Nanking (Nanjing) China, Republic of 1945
1949
moved to Beijing - After the proclamation of the People's Republic of China , the Republic of China government fled to Taiwan and made Taipei the capital.
Hakodate Ezo, Republic of 1868
1869
Ezo annexed by Japan
Taipei Formosa, Republic of 1895
1895
moved to Tainan
Tainan Formosa, Republic of 1895
1895
Formosa annexed by Japan
Asuka Japan (Asuka period )538
710
Moved to Nara
Heijō-kyō (Nara)Japan (Nara Period) 710
784
moved to Nagaoka-kyō (Nagaoka)
Nagaoka-kyō (Nagaoka)Japan (Nara Period) 784
794
moved to Kyoto
Kyoto Japan 794
1868
moved to Tokyo (see also: Capital of Japan )
Wanggeom Korea (Gojoseon )Unknown
108 BC
fall of Gojoseon
Jolbon Korea (Goguryeo )37 BC
3
moved to Gungnae
Gungnae Korea (Goguryeo )3
427
moved to Pyongyang
Pyongyang Korea (Goguryeo )427
668
fall of Goguryeo
Gyeongju Korea (Silla )57 BC
935
fall of Silla
Wirye Korea (Baekje )18 BC
476
moved to Ungjin
Ungjin Korea (Baekje )476
538
moved to Sabi
Sabi Korea (Baekje )538
660
fall of Baekje
Gaegyeong Korea (Goryeo )919
1392
moved to Hanyang (Seoul ) - fall of Goryeo Dynasty
Shuri Ryūkyū 1429
1879
Annexed by Japan
Tainan Tungning, Kingdom of 1662
1683
Kingdom of Tungning conquered by Qing Dynasty .
Europe Northern Europe Southern Europe
Old capital city
Country , empire From
Until
Change, reason
Tharros Arborea, Giudicato of 9th century
1070
moved to Oristano
Oristano Arborea, Giudicato of 1070
1410
moved to Sassari
Sassari Arborea, Giudicato of 1410
1420
remaining territories sold to the Kingdom of Sardinia
Santa Igia Cagliari, Giudicato of 9th century
1258
country dissolved, territories annexed by Arborea , Gallura , Pisa and Gherardesca
Burgos Castile 11th century
15th century
moved to Valladolid
Corte Corsica, Republic of 1755
1769
Corsican Republic annexed by France
Corte Anglo-Corsican Kingdom 1794
1795
moved to Bastia
Bastia Anglo-Corsican Kingdom 1795
1796
Corsican Kingdom annexed by France
Milan Cisalpine Republic 1797
1802
became the Italian Republic
Santiago Couto Mixto 12th century
1864
Couto Mixto annexed by Spain
Florence Florence, Duchy of 1532
1569
became Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Florence Florence, Republic of 1115
1532
became Duchy of Florence
Olbia Gallura, Giudicato of 9th century
1296
country dissolved, territories annexed by Pisa and Arborea
Genoa Genoa, Republic of 11th century
1805
annexed by France
Granada Granada, Kingdom of 1250
1492
Kingdom ceased to exist after the Reconquista and incorporated into Castile
Milan Italian Republic 1802
1805
Became the Kingdom of Italy
Milan Kingdom of Italy 1805
1814
kingdom ceased to exist
Turin Italy 1861
1865
moved to Florence
Florence Italy 1865
1871
moved to Rome
Salerno Italy 1944
1944
temporarily; moved to Rome after the latter's liberation
Milan Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom 1815
1859
Milan ceded to Kingdom of Sardinia
Mdina Malta 1566
moved to Valletta
Mantua Mantua, Duchy of 1433
1708
attached to the Duchy of Milan
Milan Milan, Duchy of 1395
1797
became part of the Cisalpine Republic
Modena Modena, Duchy of 1452
1860
became part of united Italy
Naples Naples, Kingdom of 1282
1816
Kingdom of Naples merged into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Piacenza Piacenza and Parma, Duchy of 1545
1547
moved to Parma , following the assassination of the Duke Pierluigi Farnese
Parma Parma and Piacenza, Duchy of 1547
1860
Became part of united Italy
Guimarães Portugal 1095
1131
moved to Coimbra
Coimbra Portugal 1131
1255
moved to Lisbon
Cagliari Sardinia, Kingdom of 1324
1720
moved to Turin
Turin Sardinia, Kingdom of 1720
1861
Became part of unified Italy
Sassari Sassari, Republic of 1294
1323
Became part of Kingdom of Sardinia
Turin Savoy, Duchy of 1563
1720
Became part of Kingdom of Sardinia
Palermo Sicily 1130
1816
Kingdom merged into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Toledo Spain 15th Century
1561
moved to Madrid
Valladolid Spain 1600
1606
moved to Madrid
Valencia Spain 1936
1939
Government of the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War
Porto Torres Torres, Giudicato of 9th century
11th century
moved to Ardara
Ardara Torres, Giudicato of 11th century
1272
moved to Sassari
Sassari Torres, Giudicato of 1272
1280
country dissolved, territories annexed by Malaspina , Doria , Pisa and Arborea
Trieste Trieste, Free Territory of 1947
1954
Territory dissolved, integrated into Italy and Yugoslavia
Florence Tuscany 1569
1860
became part of unified Italy
Naples Two Sicilies, Kingdom of the 1816
1861
became part of unified Italy
Venice Venice, Republic of fl. 9th century
1797
annexed by Austria
Western Europe
Old capital city
Country , empire From
Until
Change, reason
Aachen Holy Roman Empire Carolingian Empire 800
814
became capital of Charlemagne as Imperator Augustus of the Holy Roman Empire and the Emperior of the Carolingian Empire
Zürich Switzerland (Old Swiss Confederacy )
1415
1530
Vorort after 1530 partially replaced by Lucerne .
Vienna Holy Roman Empire 1558
1806
became capital in Austrian Empire
Vienna Austrian Empire 1806
1867
became capital in Austro-Hungarian Empire
Vienna Austro-Hungarian Empire 1867
1918
became capital in Republic of Austria
Karlsruhe Baden 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 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.
Brunswick Brunswick 1815
1946
Brunswick merged into Niedersachsen
Frankfurt Confederation of the Rhine 1806
1815
dissolved in 1815
Vichy France 1940
1944
capital of Vichy France régime
Frankfurt German Confederation 1815
1866
German Confederation was dissolved in 1866
Berlin German Empire 1871
1945
Separation of Germany to occupation zones for the Allied powers
Bonn Germany, West 1949
1990
moved to Berlin after re-unification of Germany
East Berlin Germany, East 1949
1990
Berlin , country ceased to exist after re-unification of Germany
Hanover Hanover 1814
1866
Hanover annexed by Prussia
Wiesbaden Nassau 1816
1866
Nassau annexed by Prussia
Kelmis Neutral Moresnet 1816
1919
Moresnet annexed by Belgium
Oldenburg Oldenburg 1180
1946
Oldenburg merged into Niedersachsen
Heidelberg Palatinate 14th century
1720
moved to Mannheim
Mannheim Palatinate 1720
1777
Palatinate inherited by the Electors of Bavaria.
Dresden Saxony 1485
1952
Saxony became part of the German Empire in 1871, and Saxony lost its statehood in 1952. Dresden became again the capital of the German state of Saxony in 1990.
Bückeburg Schaumburg-Lippe 1643
1946
Schaumburg-Lippe merged into Niedersachsen
Aarau Switzerland (Helvetic Republic )
1798
1798
moved to Lucerne
Lucerne Switzerland (Helvetic Republic )
1798
1803
Helvetic Republic abolished
Kassel Westphalia 1807
1813
dissolved in 1813
Stuttgart Württemberg ca. 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 1947, and then became capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg
Eastern Europe
Old capital city
Country , empire From
Until
Change, reason
Ganja Azerbaijan 28 May, 1918
15 September, 1918
After the victory at the Battle of Baku , the government switched the capital to Baku
Mtskheta Iberia, Kingdom of 3 century BC
5 century AD
moved to Tbilisi
Kutaisi Georgia, Kingdom of 978
1122
move back to Tbilisi
Vladimir Russia (Vladimir-Suzdal) 1169
1327
moved to Moscow
Bolgar Volga Bulgaria 8 century
1240s
Volga Bulgaria lost sovereignty
Kazan Kazan Khanate 1438 1552 Kazan Khanate lost sovereignty
Moscow Grand Duchy of Moscow , Tsardom of Russia , Russian Empire 1327
1712
moved to Saint Petersburg
Yaroslavl Tsardom of Russia 1611
1612
de facto
Cherkassk Russia (Don Cossack Host )1640
1805
moved to Novocherkassk
Novocherkassk Russia (Don Cossack Host )1805
January 7, 1920
Don Cossacks lost sovereignty
Saint Petersburg (Petrograd) Russian Empire 1712
1918
moved to Moscow
Moscow Soviet Union 1922
1991
State union dissolved, Became capital of Russia
Kiev Kievan Rus 882
1169
state broke up, moved to Vladimir , Halych and Novgorod
Volodymyr Ukraine (Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia )1199
1238
moved to Halych
Halych Ukraine (Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia )1238
1272
moved to Lviv
Lviv Ukraine (Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia )1272
1349
Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia lost its sovereignty
Chyhyryn Ukraine (Cossack Hetmanate )1648
1669
moved to Baturyn
Baturyn Ukraine (Cossack Hetmanate )1669
1708
moved to Hlukhiv after demolition of the city by Russian forces
Hlukhiv Ukraine (Cossack Hetmanate )1708
1722
Cossack Hetmanate lost its sovereignty
Hlukhiv Ukraine (Cossack Hetmanate )1727
1734
Cossack Hetmanate lost its sovereignty
Baturyn Ukraine (Cossack Hetmanate )1750
1764
Cossack Hetmanate lost its sovereignty
Kiev Ukraine (UNR )1917
1920
Ukrainian People's Republic lost its sovereignty
Kharkiv Ukraine (SSR )1919
1934
moved to Kiev
Southeastern Europe
Old capital city
Country , empire From
Until
Change, reason
Vlorë Albania 1912
1920
moved briefly to Durres and finally Tirana .
Pliska Bulgaria (First Bulgarian Empire )681
893
moved to Preslav
Preslav Bulgaria (First Bulgarian Empire )893
972
moved to Skopie
Skopie Bulgaria (First Bulgarian Empire )972
992
moved to Ohrid
Ohrid Bulgaria (First Bulgarian Empire )992
1018
Empire ceased to exist after Byzantine conquest
Veliko Tarnovo Bulgaria (Second Bulgarian Empire )1185
1396
Empire ceased to exist after the Ottoman conquest
Constantinople Byzantine Empire 330
661
Emperor Constans II relocated his capital to Syracuse in Sicily.
Syracuse Byzantine Empire 661
668
Constans II was assassinated and the seat of Byzantine government was returned to Constantinople .
Constantinople Byzantine Empire 668
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 Byzantine Empire 1204
1261
When the Empire of Nicaea recaptured Constantinople , they relocated the capital there as well
Constantinople Byzantine Empire 1261
1453
Byzantine Empire conquered by the Ottoman Empire .
Chania Crete 1898
1913
Cretan State united with Greece
Varaždin Croatia 1756
1776
Moved back to Zagreb ,when a fire destroyed most of the city.
Plovdiv Eastern Rumelia 1878
1885
annexed as part of the Unification of Bulgaria
Fiume/Rijeka
Fiume, Free State of 1920
1924
annexed by Kingdom of Italy
Nafplion Greece 1821
1836
moved to Athens
Aegina Greece 1827
1829
moved back to Nafplion
Siret Moldavia 1354
1388
moved to Suceava
Suceava Moldavia 1388
1564
moved to Iaşi
Iaşi Moldavia 1564
1859
unified with Wallachia to form United Principalities of Romania
Cetinje Montenegro 1482
1946
moved to Podgorica
Bursa Ottoman empire 1335
1365
moved to Edirne
Edirne Ottoman empire 1365
1453
moved to Istanbul (Constantinople)
Istanbul Ottoman empire 1453
1923
The Ottoman Empire became the Republic of Turkey. The capital moved to Ankara
Ragusa Ragusa, Republic of 7th century
1808
annexed by France
Iaşi Romania 1859
1862
one of the two capitals of the United Principalities , then moved to Bucharest
Bucharest Romania 1859
1916
moved to Iaşi after partial occupation of the Kingdom of Romania during World War I
Iaşi Romania 1916
1918
moved back to Bucharest
Corfu Septinsular Republic 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 .
Ras Serbia 950
1200
capital of Serbian midieval state Raska moved to Debrc
Debrc Serbia 1276
1289
moved to Belgrade
Prizren Serbia 1300
1345
moved to Skoplje
Skoplje Serbia 1345
1371
capital of Serbian Empire , now capital of Republic of Macedonia
Smederevo Serbia 1430
1453
capital of Serbian Despotate
Subotica Serbia 1526
1527
capital of Serbia, moved to Kragujevac
Kragujevac Serbia 1818
1841
moved to Belgrade
Câmpulung Wallachia fl.13th Century
fl.15th Century
moved to Târgovişte
Târgovişte Wallachia 1418
1659
moved to Bucharest
Bucharest Wallachia 1659
1859
unified with Moldavia to form United Principalities of Romania
Belgrade Yugoslavia 1918
2003
State union dissolved, became capital of Serbia
Central Europe Oceania Note: 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 100 miles 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.
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 unrecognized nations within the present United States, see Former national capitals in the United States .For the many capitals of the former Province of Canada , see that article.
Old capital city
Country , empire From
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
Chan Santa Cruz Chan Santa Cruz 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
Spanish Town Jamaica 1534
1872
moved to Kingston
Quetzaltenango Los Altos 1838
1840
country ceased to exist
Granada Nicaragua 1821
1857
moved to Managua
St. John's Newfoundland 1855
1949
entered confederation with Canada
Washington, D.C. Philippine Commonwealth May 1942
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
Washington-on-the-Brazos Texas, Republic of 1836
1836
moved to Harrisburg
Harrisburg Texas, Republic of 1836
1836
moved to Galveston
Galveston Texas, Republic of 1836
1836
moved to Velasco
Velasco Texas, Republic of 1836
1836
moved to West Columbia
West Columbia Texas, Republic of 1836
1836
moved to Houston
Houston Texas, Republic of 1836
1839
moved to Austin
Austin Texas, Republic of 1839
1845
Texas annexed by USA
San Jose de Oruña Trinidad 1592
1783
moved to Port of Spain
New York City United States 1785
1790
moved to Philadelphia
Philadelphia United States 1790
1800
moved to Washington D. C.
Port of Spain West Indies Federation 1958
1962
country ceased to exist
Mérida Yucatán 1840
1847
Yucatán annexed by Mexico
South America
Old capital city
Country , empire From
Until
Change, reason
Cuzco Inca Empire fl.13th Century
c.1533
moved to Lima after the Spanish conquest
Coro Venezuela, Captaincy General of 1527
1578
moved to Caracas to prevent an invasion due to its large coastline.
Antimary Acre, Republic of 1899
1900
returned to Bolivia , then incorporated into Brazil
Perquenco Araucanía and Patagonia, Kingdom of 1860
?
incorporated to Chile and Argentina
Paraná Argentine Confederation 1853
1861
moved to Buenos Aires , after the secessionist State of Buenos Ayres rejoined Argentina
Salvador da Bahia Brazil 1549
1763
moved to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Portugal 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 Algarve; Kingdom of 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 December 16, 1815.
Rio de Janeiro Brazil 1763
1960
moved to Brasília
Concepción Chile, Kingdom of 1565
1575
moved to Santiago
Concepción Entre Rios, 1820
1821
country dissolved (and incorporated to Argentina ) after the death of Francisco Ramírez
Laguna Juliana Republic 1836
1836
reincorpored to the Brazilian Empire after the War of the Farrapos
Purificación Liga Federal 1815
1820
country dissolved
Tacna Peru-Bolivian Confederation 1837
1839
country ceased to exist
Piratini Riograndense Republic 1836
1845
reincorpored to the Brazilian Empire after the War of the Farrapos
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