Former countries in Europe after 1815


This article gives a detailed listing of all the countries, including puppet states, that have existed in Europe since the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to the present day. Each country has information separated into columns: name of the distinct country, its lifespan, the country or countries that hold all or some of the territory it once did, and further information about it.

Article scope

The scope of this article begins in 1815, after a round of negotiations about European borders and spheres of influence were agreed upon at the Congress of Vienna. The Congress of Vienna was a nine-month, pan-European meeting of statesmen who met to settle the many issues arising from the destabilising impact of the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire.
The immediate background was Napoleonic France's defeat and surrender in May 1814, which brought an end to twenty-five years of nearly continuous war during which France had caused the annexation or geopolitical reorganisation of myriad European microstates as well as some larger ones. The Congress of Vienna was the first of a series of international meetings that came to be known as the Concert of Europe, which was an attempt to forge a peaceful balance of power in Europe, including restoring or reorganising many of the states which had previously been removed from Europe's political map.

Sovereign countries

This is a list of all the independent countries or puppet states that existed between 1815 and the present day that no longer exist.
Former countriesLifespan of sovereigntyToday part ofNotes
Anhalt 1813–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State.
Armenia 1918–1920Armenia, Azerbaijan and TurkeyThe Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic temporarily broke up and the Democratic Republic of Armenia was created as one of its successor states but was reunified with the other two to create the Transcaucasian SSR in 1922.
Austrian Empire1804–1867Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Italy, Slovenia, CroatiaThis entity founded on the domains of the Habsburg Monarchy can be regarded in constitutional law as a unitary monarchy on a differentiated federalistic basis, whereby the special position of Hungary within the framework of this federal entity was a separate realm ruled in a personal union that was not annexed or incorporated into the Empire.
Austro-Hungarian Empire1867–1918Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & HerzegovinaBy the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary formed a joint monarchy with a Habsburg Monarch having some common institutions though leaving the status and internal affairs of the two countries separate.
Avar Khanate13th century–1864RussiaComprised Circassia and Dagestan; it was the last country in the Caucasus to be annexed by the Russian Empire: Dagestan in 1859 and Circassia in 1864.
Azerbaijan 1918–1920AzerbaijanThe Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic temporarily broke up and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was created as one of its successor states but was reunified with the other two to create the Transcaucasian SSR in 1922.
Baden 1806–1871GermanyJoined the German Empire and became one of its members.
Bavaria 1806–1871GermanyJoined the German Empire and became one of its members.
Belarus 1918–1919BelarusGained independence from the Russian SFSR and quickly was swallowed by the Russian Soviets. Currently, its Rada is the oldest government in exile still functioning.
Bremen 1813–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Brunswick 1815–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Carpatho-Ukraine1938–1939UkraineIt was an autonomous region within Czechoslovakia from late 1938 to March 15, 1939. It declared itself an independent republic on March 15, 1939, but was annexed by Hungary between March 15 and March 16, 1939, remaining under Hungarian control until the end of World War II, when it was ceded to the Soviet Union.
Cospaia1440–1826ItalyBy error, a small strip of land went unmentioned in a sale treaty, and its inhabitants promptly declared independence; nearly 400 years later it was absorbed into the Papal States and Tuscany equally.
Couto Misto10th century–1864Spain and PortugalNeutral territory between Portugal and Spain which was divided between Portugal and Spain in 1864.
Cretan State1898–1913GreeceGained independence after several rebellions against the Ottoman Empire and after only 15 years of independence joined the Kingdom of Greece.
Crimea 2014Ukraine Unrecognized state which gained independence after a referendum and then joined Russia a day later.
Croatia 1941–1945Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SerbiaA puppet state of Nazi Germany during World War II.
Czechoslovakia 1918–1938
1938–1939
1945–1948
Czech Republic, Slovakia, UkraineDemocratic unified government of the Czechs and Slovaks after World War I.
Czechoslovakia 1948–1992Czech Republic, SlovakiaCommunist government of the Czechs and Slovaks after World War II behind the Iron Curtain.
Danzig 1920–1939PolandProtectorate of the League of Nations; annexed by Nazi Germany during the invasion of Poland in World War II.
Gurian Republic1905-06GeorgiaPart of the Russian Empire.
German Democratic Republic1949–1990GermanyAlso known as East Germany; was the Soviet-controlled government of Germany after World War II.
Finnish Democratic Republic1939–1940RussiaA puppet state of the Soviet Union during World War II created from southern Finland which was quickly annexed into the Soviet Union
Fiume 1920–1924CroatiaFormed from Austro-Hungarian territory at the end of World War I, it was later divided between the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the Kingdom of Italy.
Frankfurt 1816–1866GermanyAnnexed by Prussia in 1866
Georgia 1918–1921GeorgiaThe Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic temporarily broke up and the Democratic Republic of Georgia was created as one of its successor states but was reunified with the other two to create the Transcaucasian SSR in 1922
Greece 1832–1924
1935–1941
1944–1974
Greece, TurkeyWavering between monarchy and dictatorship the Kingdom of Greece existed three times in history always on rocky foundations
Hamburg 1813–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Hanover 1814–1866GermanyIn personal union with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until the ascension of Queen Victoria in 1837; annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1866.
Hesse 1806–1867/1871GermanyNorthern part became a member of the North German Confederation Federal State and then the German Empire, with the southern part joining the German Empire as well.
Hesse-Homburg1622–1866GermanyAnnexed by Prussia in 1866
Hesse-Kassel1813–1866GermanyAnnexed by Prussia in 1866
Hohenzollern-Hechingen1576–1850GermanyAnnexed by Prussia in 1850
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen1576–1850GermanyAnnexed by Prussia in 1850
Italian Social Republic1943–1945ItalyA puppet state of Nazi Germany during World War II
Irish Republic1919–1922United Kingdom, IrelandPartly recognized, revolutionary state. Declared its independence after the 1918 election during the Irish War of Independence. Partitioned into the Irish Free State and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland after the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.
Kraków 1815–1846PolandProtectorate of the Kingdom of Prussia, the Russian Empire and the Empire of Austria, later annexed into the Austrian Empire
Kuban People's Republic1917–1920RussiaFrom the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917 until it was annexed by the Russian SFSR it existed as a small short-lived country in the Northern Caucasus and has never regained its independence
Kingdom of Hungary1000–1918
1920–1946
Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Austria, PolandThe historical kingdom's territorial continuity has been altered more times during its lifespan, however was permanently restored after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. After WWI, in 1920 by the Treaty of Trianon the classic Kingdom of Hungary with its borders ended and 2/3 of her territory was repartitioned and assigned to other countries. Afterwards, a kingdom without a king, a Regency was established and since 1938 until its lifespan part of her former territories were restored.
Lichtenberg 1815–1834GermanyOwned by a branch of the Saxe-Coburgs; sold to the Kingdom of Prussia in 1834
Lippe 1123–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Lübeck 1815–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Lucca 1815–1847ItalyAnnexed by Tuscany in 1847
Massa and Carrara 1473–1829ItalyAnnexed by Modena and Reggio in 1829
Mecklenburg-Schwerin1352–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Free Cities of Menton and Roquebrune1848-1849FranceThe Free Cities of Menton and Roquebrune seceded from Monaco in 1848. In November 1849 they were annexed by Sardinia, and in 1861 were annexed by France.
Modena and Reggio 1814–1859ItalyJoined the United Provinces of Central Italy,
Moldavian Democratic Republic1918MoldovaFrom the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917 until 1918 and the Versailles Treaty which added this territory to the Kingdom of Romania the Moldavian Democratic Republic existed as one of the Imperial Russian successor countries in Europe
Montenegro 1910–1918MontenegroA kingdom which was annexed by Serbia during the Serbian Expansion after World War I to create Yugoslavia
Montenegro 1878–1910MontenegroPredecessor of the Kingdom of Montenegro
Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus1917–1920RussiaFrom the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917 until 1920 this country existed for a short time before annexation by the Russian SFSR and never has regained independence
Nassau 1806–1866GermanyAnnexed by Prussia in 1866
North German Confederation Federal State1867–1871Germany, Poland, Denmark, RussiaFirst federal German state and predecessor of the German Empire
Oldenburg 1180–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Ottoman Empire1299–1923Turkey, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Tunisia, AlgeriaOne of the longest lasting empires of all time this empire rose out of the Near East and fluctuated drastically in territory and economic status throughout its history; it was dissolved after its defeat in World War 1.
Papal States752–1870ItalyThe entire eastern region joined the United Provinces of Central Italy, ; however, the remaining strip of land along the west coast did not join Italy until it was annexed in 1870
Parma 1814–1859Italyjoined the United Provinces of Central Italy,
Prussia 1701–1867Germany, Poland, Denmark, RussiaBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Reuss Junior Line1806–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Reuss Elder Line1778–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Russian SFSR1917–1922RussiaFrom the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917 until 1922 the Russian SFSR was an independent communist state comprising almost all of the territory the Russian Empire had possessed in its final years; in 1922 it became the leading and dominating state in the Soviet Union until the union’s end in 1991
Saar 1920–1935GermanyLeague of Nations mandate within Weimar Germany
Saar 1947–1956GermanyFrench-administered region which was later given to West Germany
San Marco Republic1848–1849ItalyRevolutionary state, existing for 17 months in 1848–49. Based on the Venetian Lagoon, it extended into most of Venetia, or the Terraferma territory of the Venetian Republic.
Sardinia 1720–1861Italy, FranceComprised the Italian regions of Sardinia and Piedmont; the leading state that unified the Italian Peninsula.
Saxe-Altenburg1826–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha1826–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld1699–1826GermanyMerged to form Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1826
Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1680–1826GermanyMerged to form Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1826
Saxe-Meiningen1675–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1809–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Saxony 1806–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Schaumburg-Lippe1643–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Schleswig 1864–1866Germany, DenmarkIndependence from Denmark in 1864; annexed by Prussia in 1866
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt1599–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen1599–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Serbia 1882–1918Serbia, North MacedoniaPredecessor of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which was formed from the annexations of other states
Serbia 1815–1882SerbiaPredecessor of the Kingdom of Serbia
Septinsular Republic1800–1815GreeceAn archipelagic republic that existed from 1800 to 1807 under nominal Ottoman sovereignty in the Ionian Islands and then under the French Empire.
Slovak State1939–1945SlovakiaA puppet state of Nazi Germany during World War II
State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs1918Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, SerbiaA short-lived, independent country which was annexed by Serbia during the Serbian Expansion after World War I to create Yugoslavia
Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic1918Georgia, Armenia, AzerbaijanFrom the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917 until 1918 and the temporary breakup of the Transcaucasian DFR, it was an independent state comprising Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan all three of which gained independence and then rejoined together in 1922 to form the Transcaucasian SSR.
Trieste 1947–1975Italy, Slovenia, CroatiaDe facto split in 1954 between neighbouring countries Italy and Yugoslavia, it was formally removed in 1975 with an agreement between these two countries
Tuscany 1815–1859ItalyJoined the United Provinces of Central Italy,
Two Sicilies 1816–1860ItalyComprised the Italian regions of Naples and Sicily; was annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia in March 1860
Ukraine 1917–1921UkraineGained independence from the Russian SFSR and quickly was swallowed by the Russian Soviets
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics1922–1991Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, KyrgyzstanOne of the greatest superpowers in modern times comprising most of the territory that once was under the Russian Empire including some new territory after World War II in Europe annexed from Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia
United Kingdom of the Netherlands1815–1839Netherlands, Belgium, LuxembourgUnified sovereign state of the Dutch lands after the crush of Napoleon; only the area of Luxembourg was part of the German Confederation
United Provinces of Central Italy1859–1860ItalyFirst step of Italian unification comprising Tuscany, Parma, Modena and Reggio, and the eastern region of the Papal States; was annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia in March 1860
United States of the Ionian Islands1815–1864GreeceWas a state and amical protectorate of the United Kingdom. It was the successor state of the Septinsular Republic
Waldeck-Pyrmont1180–1867GermanyBecame a member of the North German Confederation Federal State
Weimar Germany1919–1933Germany, Poland, RussiaFirst German democracy
West Ukrainian People's Republic1918–1919UkraineUnrecognized successor state of Ukrainians after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Württemberg 1806–1871GermanyJoined the German Empire and became one of its members
Yugoslavia 1992–2006Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia & HerzegovinaDemocratic Yugoslavia after the fall of communism; Bosnia & Herzegovina gained independence between 1991 and 1993; Renamed to Serbia and Montenegro in 2003.
Yugoslavia 1918–1941Serbia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, North MacedoniaUnified Slavic country after World War I
Yugoslavia 1944–1992Serbia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, North MacedoniaCommunist government of the south Slavic ethnicities after World War II outside of the Iron Curtain
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia1938–1945Czech RepublicA puppet state of Nazi Germany during World War II.
First Austrian Republic1918–1934Austria-
Federal State of Austria1934–1938Austria-

Autonomous countries or incorporated protectorates

This is a list of all the dependencies of countries that existed between 1815 and the present day that no longer exist.
Former dependenciesLifespan of dependencyWithin present-day countriesFurther information
Abkhazia 1810–1864Georgiathe principality was actually in existence since the 12th century and even managed to keep its autonomous home rule after being conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries; the autonomous principality was transferred to the Russian Empire in 1810 and was completely dissolved and assimilated into Russia by 1864
Bulgaria 1878–1908Bulgaria, Serbiaduring the Russian-Turkish Wars of 1878, and the independence of Montenegro, Serbia and Romania, Bulgaria gained autonomous status within the Ottoman Empire; the principality gained complete independence in 1908
Erivan 1604–1828Armeniait was an autonomous region of the Persian Empire since 1604 and was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1828
Finland 1809–1918Finland, Russiawas an autonomous monarchy of the Russian Empire with the Russian Tsar as its grand duke
Guria 1810–1829Georgiathe principality was actually in existence since the 15th century and even managed to keep its autonomous home rule after being conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century; the autonomous principality was transferred to the Russian Empire in 1810 and was completely dissolved and assimilated into Russia by 1829
Lombardy–Venetia 1815–1866Italycomprised the Italian regions of Lombardy and Venetia; an autonomous kingdom within the Austrian Empire
Montenegro 1815–1878Montenegroafter being a puppet state of Napoleon’s Europe it regained autonomous status within the Ottoman Empire until its independence in 1878 with Russian support
Moresnet1816–1919BelgiumIn 1816 Neutral Moresnet became a territory under common administration of the Netherlands and Prussia. The Netherlands were replaced by Belgium in 1830. After World War I in 1919 the territory was ceded to Belgium by Germany under Treaty of Versailles and formally annexed in 1920.
Nakhchevan 1747–1828Azerbaijan, Armeniait was an autonomous region of the Persian Empire since 1747 and was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1828
Poland 1815–1830Poland, Lithuaniawas an autonomous monarchy of the Russian Empire with the Russian Tsar as its king; at home it was called the ‘Kingdom of Poland’ but internationally known as Congress Poland and functioned more like a protectorate
Romania 1859–1878Romaniain 1859 Moldovia and Wallachia unified into the United Principalities and gained autonomous status within the Ottoman Empire until its independence in 1878 with Russian support
Samegrelo 1803–1857Georgiathe principality was actually in existence since the 4th century BC and even managed to keep its autonomous home rule after being conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century; the autonomous principality was transferred to the Russian Empire in 1803 and was completely dissolved and assimilated into Russia by 1857
Serbia 1817–1878Serbiaa rebellion broke out in 1804 and 1817 Serbia gained autonomous status within the Ottoman Empire until its independence in 1878 with Russian support

Proposed states

This is a list of all the independent countries that could or would have existed between 1815 and the present day that for some reason or another never did.
Proposed statesProposed formationCurrent statesNotes
United Baltic Duchy1918Estonia and Latviaidea first brought forth by the Germans but was rejected after the Versailles Treaty and the Baltic Region became the three present day countries
United States of Greater Austria1905Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Italy, Slovenia, Croatiaconcept brought forth by the Habsburgs in reaction to tensions within the empire of autonomy; the autocratic empire would be changed into a united autonomous country where each nation governed itself with some support from a much weaker Habsburg monarchy
Intermarium1918Poland, Lithuania Latvia, Estonia, Finland Belarus Ukraine Hungary Romania Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia.was a geopolitical project conceived by politicians in successor states of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in several iterations, some of which anticipated the inclusion as well of other, neighboring states. The proposed multinational polity would have extended across territories lying between the Baltic and Black Seas, hence the Latinate name Intermarium, meaning "Between-Seas".