List of former national capitals
(Redirected from List of historical national capitals)
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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.
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Africa
[edit]Northern Africa
[edit]Sub-Saharan Africa
[edit]Central Africa
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boma | Congo Free State | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 1886 | 1908 | |
| Boma | Belgian Congo | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 1908 | 1926 | moved to Léopoldville (Kinshasa) |
| Stanleyville (Kisangani) | People's Republic of the Congo | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 1964 | 1965 | |
| Kasongo | Sultanate of Utetera | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 1860 | 1887 | |
| Bakwanga (Mbuji-Mayi) | South Kasai | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 1960 | 1962 | |
| Élisabethville (Lubumbashi) | State of Katanga | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 1960 | 1963 | |
| Njimi | Kanem | Chad | fl. 11th century | c. 1396 | lost to Bulala invaders (eventually moved to Ngazargamu) |
| Lumbala N'guimbo | Mbunda Kingdom | Angola | c. 1500 | 1917 | |
| São Salvador (M'banza-Kongo) | Kingdom of Kongo | Angola | 1483 | 1915 | |
| Cabaça | Dongo | Angola | ? | 1657 | |
| Jamba | Democratic People's Republic of Angola | Angola | 1975 | 1976 | |
| Jamba | Democratic People's Republic of Angola | Angola | 1979 | 2002 | |
| Cabinda | Republic of Cabinda | Angola | 1975 | 1976 |
Eastern Africa
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | 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 | Kingdom of Aksum | Ethiopia | 50 | ? | city abandoned |
| Debre Berhan | Ethiopian Empire | Ethiopia | 1456 | mid-1470s | Emperor returned to custom of a moving capital |
| Gondar | Ethiopian Empire | Ethiopia | 1635 | 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
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | 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
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribeira Grande (Cidade Velha) | Portuguese Cape Verde | Cape Verde | 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 | 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 | Nigeria |
| Aného | Togoland | Togo | 1880s | 1897 | moved to Lomé |
Asia
[edit]Central Asia
[edit]Eastern Asia
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anyang | Shang dynasty | China | c. 1600 BC | c. 1046 BC | moved to Chang'an - end of Shang dynasty |
| Chang'an | Zhou dynasty | China | c. 1046 BC | 722 BC | moved to Luoyang |
| Luoyang | Zhou dynasty | China | 772 BC | 221 BC | moved to Xianyang - fall of Zhou dynasty |
| Xianyang | Qin dynasty | China | 221 BC | 206 BC | moved back to Chang'an - fall of Qin dynasty |
| Chang'an | Han dynasty | China | 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 | 194 BC | 108 BC | fall of Gojoseon |
| Holbon (Mt. Wunü) | Goguryeo | China | 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 | 57 BC | 935 | fall of Silla |
| Wirye (Southern Seoul) | Baekje | South Korea | 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[1] |
Northern Asia
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qashliq | Khanate of Sibir | Russia | 15th century | 1598 | sovereignty lost |
Southeast Asia
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 2024 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | c. 1578 | First Spanish settlement in the country. Moved to Manila (Formerly Maynilad) after capture. |
| Manila | Spanish East Indies | Philippines | 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 | 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 | 2879 BC | 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 | 257 BC | 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 | 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 (Ninh Bình) | Đại Cồ Việt (Đinh dynasty) | Vietnam | 968 | 980 | |
| Hoa Lư (Ninh Bình) | 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 (Lý & 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
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | 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.[2] |
| Mujibnagar | Provisional Government of Bangladesh | 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[3] |
| 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 | fl. 1850 | 1947 | Summer capital |
| Mysore | Kingdom of Mysore | 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 | Kingdom of Travancore | India | 1601 | 1795 | Moved to Thiruvanathapuram by Maharajah Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma I. |
| Trivandrum | Kingdom of Travancore | 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 | c. 382 BC | 1018 | Capital moved to possibly Polonnaruwa |
| Polonnaruwa | Kingdom of Polonnaruwa | Sri Lanka | c. 1055 | 1284 | Capital moved to Dambadeniya |
| Kotte | Kotte, Kingdom of | Sri Lanka | c. 1415 | 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
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assur | Assyria | Iraq | fl. 2600 BC | 9th century BC | moved to Calah |
| Calah (Nimrud) | Assyria | Iraq | 13th century BC | 710 BC | Moved to Nineveh |
| Nineveh | Assyria | Iraq | 1800 BC | 600 BC | Destroyed by Babylonians |
| Babylon | Babylonia | Iraq | 24th century BC | 141 BC | Conquered by Assyrians, Persians, Parthians, Alexander the Great, later abandoned completely |
| Kufa | Rashidun Caliphate | Iraq | 656 | 661 | Capital moved to Damascus by Umayyad Caliphate |
| Kufa | Abbasid Caliphate | Iraq | 750 | 762 | Capital moved to Baghdad |
| Anbar | Abbasid Caliphate | Iraq | 750s | 762 | Alongside with Kufa, it briefly became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate before the founding of Baghdad. |
| Samarra | Abbasid Caliphate | Iraq | 836 | 892 | Capital moved back to Baghdad |
| Mtskheta | Iberia, Kingdom of | Georgia | 3rd century BC | 5th century | Capital moved to Tbilisi by Dachi of Iberia |
| Susa, Anshan (Persia) | Proto-Elamite, Elam | Iran | 3200 BC | 850 BC | Conquered by Mannaeans |
| Zirta (Izirtu) | Mannaeans | Iran | 850 BC | 728 BC | Conquered by Median Empire |
| Ecbatana | Median Empire | Iran | 728 BC | 550 BC | captured by Cyrus the Great |
| Pasargadae | Persian Empire | Iran | 559 BC | 538 BC | Capital moved to Susa by Cambyses II |
| Susa | Persian Empire | Iran | 538 BC | 515 BC | Capital moved to Persepolis by Darius |
| Persepolis | Persian Empire | Iran | 515 BC | 331 BC | captured by Alexander the Great and incorporated into Macedonian Empire |
| Seleucia | Seleucid Empire | Iran | 305 BC | 240 BC | moved to Antioch |
| Antioch | Seleucid Empire | Iran | 240 BC | 64 BC | conquered by Roman Republic |
| Ctesiphon, Hecatompylos, Mithridatkird-Nisa, Asaak | Parthian Empire | Iran | 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 | c. 1030 BC | c. 1010 BC | moved to Mahanaim |
| Mahanaim | Israel, Kingdom of | Jordan | c. 1010 BC | c. 1007 BC | moved to Hebron |
| Hebron | Israel, Kingdom of | West Bank | c. 1007 BC | 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 | c. 1000 BC | c. 930 BC | country split in two |
| Jerusalem | Judah, Kingdom of (southern part) | Israel | c. 930 BC | 586 BC | Kingdom ceased to exist (Jerusalem destroyed; Babylonian exile 586 BC - 538 BC) |
| Shechem | Israel, Kingdom of (northern part) | West Bank | c. 930 BC | c. 930 BC | moved to Penuel |
| Penuel | Israel, Kingdom of (northern part) | Jordan | c. 930 BC | c. 909 BC | moved to Tirzah |
| Tirzah | Israel, Kingdom of (northern part) | West Bank | c. 909 BC | c. 880 BC | moved to Samaria |
| Samaria | Israel, Kingdom of (northern part) | West Bank | c. 880 BC | 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 | May 6, 1948 | December 30, 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 | [4] |
| Ganja | Azerbaijan Democratic Republic | Azerbaijan | May 1918 | September 1918 | Moved to Baku. |
Europe
[edit]Central Europe
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prague | Czechoslovakia | Czech Republic | 1918 | 1993 | became capital in Czech Republic |
| Székesfehérvár and Esztergom | Hungary, Kingdom of | Hungary | 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 | 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 | 10th century | 1038 | moved to Kraków |
| Poznań | Poland, Kingdom of | Poland | 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[5] |
| 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
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | 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 | 8th century | 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.[6] 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
[edit]Southern Europe
[edit]South-central Europe
[edit]South-eastern Europe
[edit]South-western Europe
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guimarães | Portugal, Kingdom of | Portugal | 1128 | 1179 | moved to Coimbra |
| Coimbra | Portugal, Kingdom of | Portugal | 1179 | 1255 | moved to Lisbon |
| Barcelona | Visigothic Kingdom | Spain | 507 | 546 | moved to Toledo |
| Barcelona | County of Barcelona, Crown of Aragon, Principality of Catalonia and Catalan Republic | Spain | 801 | 1715 | annexed by Spain and France |
| Barcelona | Second Spanish Republic | Spain | 1937 | 1939 | Government of the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War |
| 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 |
| Burgos | Castile, Crown of | Spain | 11th century | 15th century | moved to Valladolid |
| Santiago | Couto Mixto | Spain | 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 |
| Toledo | Castile, Crown of | Spain | 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. |
| Valencia | Second Spanish Republic | Spain | 1936 | 1937 | Government of the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War |
Western Europe
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.[7] |
| Aarau | Helvetic Republic | Switzerland | 1798 | 1798 | moved to Lucerne |
| Lucerne | Helvetic Republic | Switzerland | 1798 | 1803 | Helvetic Republic abolished |
North America
[edit]| 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 because of the devastating effects of Hurricane Hattie in 1961 and Belize City earthquake in 1968 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | Australia | Australia | 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.[8][9][a] |
| 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.[10] |
| 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.[11] |
| Koror | Palau | Palau | 1994 | 2006 | moved to Ngerulmud |
| Tulagi | British Solomon Islands | Solomon Islands | 1896 | 1942 | moved to Honiara |
- Notes
- ^ 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 (160 kilometres) 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.
South America
[edit]| Old capital city | Country | Today a part of | From | Until | Change, reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuzco | Inca Empire | Peru | 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 December 16, 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 |
| 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 |
|
See also
[edit]- List of former sovereign states
- List of sovereign states by date of formation
- Historical capitals of China
- List of historical capitals of Egypt
- Institutional seats of the European Union
- List of capitals of France
- Capital of Germany
- List of capitals of India
- List of capitals of Myanmar
- List of historical capitals of Norway
- List of capitals in the United States
References
[edit]- ^ Nick Eberstadt (1999). The End of North Korea. Washington: American Enterprise Institute. pp. 26, 32. ISBN 978-0-8447-4087-4.
- ^ Pakistan Affairs. Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan. 1968. p. 19.
- ^ "Genesis of Bangladesh's Constitution". The Daily Star. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "Լեռնահայաստանի 85-ամյակը նշեցին միայն Սյունիքի մարզկերտում" (in Armenian). Armtown.com. 27 April 2006. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Toruń stolicą Polski? Przez trzy tygodnie". Interia Nowa Historia (in Polish). Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Границы разделения-3" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ Vorort in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
- ^ "Canberra, the Seat of Government". nca.gov.au. National Capital Authority. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ Article Chapter VII, Section 125 of the Constitution of Australia (19 July 1900; 1 January 1901)
- ^ "Capital city".
- ^ "Capital city".