Ancient and Medieval European Kingdoms

  

Author: Robert W. Penry @ 2021

If we are fortunate enough to start taking our family history back into the middle and dark ages in Europe, we soon find that place names are unfamiliar.  For instance, where and what is West Francia, Austrasia, Gwenydd, etc.?
Let’s take a quick overview of the development of Europe.  If we roll back the clock for nearly 3,000 years, we find that the Mediterannean region was populated with established countries such as Rome, Greece, Palestine, etc.  However, the rest of Europe was inhabited by hundreds of tribes of various ethnic groups.  Large areas of Europe were inhabited by the Celts.  Other areas by various Germanic or Scandinavian tribes.   These tribes always had leaders or chiefs and existed as separate bands that traveled for commerce or war.
Eventually, these tribes began to establish territorial boundaries and  kingdoms emerged and the tribal chief became a prince or king.
The small kingdoms developed governments, led by the friends and relatives of the leader. Thus a privileged group arose with titles and we begin to have nobility in these small kingdoms.  As time went on, each kingdom wanted more territory, and warfare ensued.  As kingdoms were conquered, boundaries changed and kingdoms were absorbed either by warfare or perhaps by inter-kingdom marriages.  Eventually, these territories came under the leadership of more powerful centralized kings, and we started having counties and districts, and even nations.  With these new larger kingdoms, came new titles of nobility. For instance,  the kings sub-ruler over a district was an earl or  baron.  A sub-ruler over a county was a count.  Warriors were knights.
There are many websites that have information about these petty kingdoms, showing their leaders and years of existence.  The Geni project has a website that lists most of them.  Its link is   http://www.geni.com/projects/Medieval-Kingdoms-of-Western-Europe/3198
If you examine its website, you will notice that many of the listed kingdoms have a link.  However, these links are to other geni websites which may or may not provide further information.  However, most of the following kingdoms have other sites, mostly Wikipedia articles to provide more information.  Please use Google or another search engine to look them up.  Many of these sites show maps and names of rulers.  Please note that dates are often approximations.  I have used the Geni Project as a reference to prepare the following list, rearranging categories and adding additional information.  Do not assume that the years or tribes/nationalities are completely accurate.  Much is guesswork based on ancient documents.
In Celtic Ireland, very little archeological findings and no written records other than observations of Greeks and Romans.  Ptolemy mentioned and mapped tribes of which we have no evidence of their existence outside of the mention, i.e., Venicnii, Robogdii, Darini, Magmatae., Voluntii, Eblani, Cauci, Autini, Gangani, Manapii, Omanapi, Velabori, Usdiae, and Iverni.  If they existed, we do not know their location.

BRITISH ISLES

KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND

 

NamePresent LocationTribe or NationalityExisted
Kingdom of Bernicia or BryneichEngland & ScotlandAngles547-653
Kingdom of CornwallEnglandBritons710-926
Kingdom of DeiraEnglandAngles559-653
Kingdom of DumnoniaEnglandBritons290-710
Kingdom of East AngliaEnglandAngles6th Century-917
Kingdom of East Anglia (Saxon)EnglandSaxons7th-917
Kingdom of EbraucEngland-YorkshireBritons80 BC-5th AD
Kingdom of ElmetEnglandBritons5th-7th AD
Kingdom of EnglandEnglandSaxons927-1707
Kingdom of KentEnglandJutes450-871
Kingdom of MeonwaraEngland-HampshireJutes7th Century
Kingdom of MerciaEnglandSaxons527-918
Kingdom of Middle Anglia (Midland)EnglandAngles9th Century
Kingdom of North Anglia See East AngliaEnglandAngles9th Century
Kingdom of NorthumbriaEnglandAngles & Saxons653-954
Kingdom of RhegedEnglandBritons450-634
Kingdom of the West SaxonsEnglandSaxons519-927
Kingdom of WightEnglandJutes534-685

Viking Kingdom (Danelaw)

   The Vikings invaded England and established a Viking Kingdom which included the following shires in England:  Leicester, York, Nottingham, Derby, Lincon, Essex, Cambridge, Suffolk, Northampton, Huntingdon, Bedford, Hertford, Middlesex, and Buckingham from about 910 to 1085.

 

KINGDOMS OF SCOTLAND

KINGDOMS OF WALES

 

 
 

Kingdom of Brycheiniog

Wales – Breconshire

Britons

5th-7th Centuries

Kingdom of Ceredigion

Wales – Cardiganshire

Britons

5-10th Centuries

Kingdom of Deheubarth

Wales

Britons

909-1063

Kingdom of Dyfed

Wales – Pembrokeshire & Carmarthenshire

Britons

410-920

Kingdom of Ergyng

Wales – Breconshire, Radnorshire & England – Herefordshire

Britons

5th-650

Kingdom of Gwent

Wales – Monmouthshire

Britons

500-942

Kingdom of Gwynedd

Wales – Gwynedd including Anglesey

Britons

5th-1282

Kingdom of Morgannwg (Glamorgan) originally Kingdom of Glwysing

Wales – Glamorganshire

Britons

1080-1536

Kingdom of Powys

Wales – Denbighshire, Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire

Britons

410-1160

Kingdom of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren(Fferllys)

Wales – Area between the Wye and Severn Rivers

Britons

10th-11th Centuries

Kingdom of Seisyllwg

Wales

Britons

680-920

 

 

KINGDOMS OF IRELAND

 

Note:  Even though there are lists of Irish Kingdoms, not all were kingdoms as we think of a kingdom..  Some were no more than a city with a local ruler who had the title of king.  In some cases, some kingdoms of Ireland were simply family dynasties in a very limited area.  Rather than kingdom in some cases, a better designation might have been clan if the Irish and Scots used the same designations.

 

High Kingdom of Ireland

Ireland

Gaelic Irish

BC – 1318

Kingdom of Ailech

Ireland – Donegal

Gaelic Irish

700-1185

Kingdom of Airgíalla

Ulster – Louth & Monaghan

Gaelic Irish

7th-8th Centuries

Kingdom of Brega

Ireland – Meath, Louth & Dublin

Gaelic Irish

6th-8th Centuries

Kingdom of Breifne

Ireland – Leitrim, Cavan & Sligo

Gaelic Irish

6th-13th Centuries

Kingdom of Connacht

Ireland – Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon & Sligo

Gaelic Irish

1st-12 Centuries

Kingdom of Cork (see Kingdom of Desmond

Ireland – Cork

Gaelic Irish & Viking

1st-12 Centuries

    

Kingdom of Dál nAraidi

Ulster – Antrim

Gaelic Irish

588-8th Century

Kingdom of Deissi Mumhain (See Munster)

Ireland – Waterford

Gaelic Irish

697-1244

Kingdom of Desmond (South Muinster)

Ireland – Kerry, Cork

Gaelic Irish

1118-1596

Kingdom of Dublin

Ireland – Dublin

Gaelic Irish & Viking

839-1171

Kingdom of East Breifne

Ireland – County Cavan

Gaelic Irish

10th Century -1579

Kingdom of Fer Manach (Fermanagh)

Uster – Fermanagh

Gaelic Irish

1st-12 Centuries

Kingdom of Leinster

Ireland – Leinster

Gaelic Irish

7th Century BC – Present

Kingdom of Limerick (See Thomond)

Ireland – Limerick

Gaelic Irish & Viking

1st-12 Centuries

Kingdom of Luighne Connacht

Ireland – Mayo & Sligo

Gaelic Irish

8th – 17th Centuries

Kingdom of Magh Luirg

Ireland

Gaelic Irish

734-1604

Kingdom of Mide (Meath)

Ireland – Meath, Westmeath, Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth and Offaly

Gaelic Irish

743-1604

Kingdom of Munster

Ireland – Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary & Waterford

Gaelic Irish

1st -16th Centuries

Kingdom of Oriel (see Airgíalla)

Ireland

Gaelic Irish

7th-8th Centuries

Kingdom of Osraige (Ossary)

Ireland – Kilkenny  Laois

Gaelic Irish

1st -16th Centuries

Kingdom of Síol Anmchadha

Ireland – Galway

Gaelic Irish

357-1316

Kingdom of Sliabh Lugha – Mayo

Ireland

Gaelic Irish

 

Kingdom of Tara (in name only)

Ireland the whole island

Gaelic Irish

Mythical significance

Kingdom of Thomond (Tuadhmhuman or north Munster

Ireland – Clare

Gaelic Irish

1118-1543

Kingdom of Tír Chonaill Tyrconnell

Ireland – Donegal

Gaelic Irish

5th Century to 1607

Kingdom of Tír Eógain (Tyrone)

Ulster – Tyrone

Gaelic Irish

1185-1616

Kingdom of Tuisceairt see Airgíalla

Ulster

Gaelic Irish

6-16th Centuries

Kingdom of Uisnech (Mythological)

Ireland – Westmeath

Gaelic Irish

7th – 8th Centuries

Kingdom of Ulidh (Ulster)

Ireland/Ulster – Donegal, Derry, Antrim, Tyrone, Down, Armagh, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Cavan

Gaelic Irish

6-16th Centuries

Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig (Kinsella)

Ireland – Carlow & Wexford

Gaelic Irish

9th Century

Kingdom of Uí Díarmata

Ireland – Galway

Gaelic Irish

9th Century

Kingdom of Uí Failghe

Ireland – Offaly & Kildare

Gaelic Irish

9th Century

Kingdom of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne

Ireland – Galway

Gaelic Irish

9th Century

Kingdom of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe

Ireland – Mayo & Sligo

Gaelic Irish

9th Century

Kingdom of Uí Maine

Ireland – Connacht, Galway, & Roscommon

Gaelic Irish

367 – 9th Century

Kingdom of Umaill

Ireland – Mayo

Gaelic Irish

9th Century

Kingdom of Waterford

Ireland – Waterford

Gaelic Irish & Viking

 

Kingdom of Wexford

Ireland – Wexford

Gaelic Irish

 

 

CENTRAL EUROPE

 

Kingdom of Armorica

Brittany

Gauls

500-700

Kingdom of Armorica-Leon

Brittany

Gauls

500-700

Kingdom of Armorica-Domnonia

Brittany

Gauls

500-700

Kingdom of Armorica-Poher

Brittany

Gauls

500-700

Kingdom of Armorica-Cornouaille

Brittany

Gauls

500-700

Kingdom of Armorica-Bro Erech

Brittany

Gauls

500-700

Kingdom of Armorica-Nantes

Brittany

Gauls

500-700

Kingdom of Magna Firisia

Netherlands

Dutch

600-734

Duchy of Normandy

France

Normans (Danes)

9th-Present

Duchy of Aquitaine

France

Franks

629-632

Kingdom of Arles

France

Franks

933-1378

Kingdom of Austrasia and Burgundy

France

Franks

613-613

Kingdom of Burgundy

France

Franks

561-613

Kingdom of France

France

Gauls Normans French

987-1791

Kingdom of Neustria

France

Franks

561-613

Kingdom of Orleans

France

Franks

511-524

Kingdom of Paris (Francia)

France

Franks

511-567

Kingdom of Reims

France

Franks

511-555

Kingdom of Soissons (Noviodunum)

France

Franks

511-558

Kingdom of the Burgundians

France

Germanic Franks

4th-534

Kingdom of West Francia

France

Franks

843-987

Kingdom of Alamannia

Germany France Switzerland

Germanic Alemannii

213-9th Century

Kingdom of Austrasia

France Germany Belgium Luxembourg Netherlands

Franks

561-718

Kingdom of the Franks (Francia)

France Germany Belgium Luxembourg Netherlands

Franks

486-840

Kingdom of Middle Francia

Switzerland, France, Italy

Franks

817-855

Kingdom of Lotharingia

Switzerland

Franks

855-869

Kingdom of East Francia

Germany

Franks

843-1477

Kingdom of Germany

Germany

Germanic Groups

919-1792

Holy Roman Empire

Germany

Saxons

800-1806

Kingdom of Thuringia

Germany

Thuringii

250-532

Kingdom of the Saxons

Various

Saxons

400-1066

 

SOUTHERN EUROPE

 

 

Kingdom of the Vandals

Sicily Corsica Sardinia Malta Balearics

Germanic Vandals

429-533

Kingdom of Candia

Crete

Italians

1205-1669

Kingdom of Sicily

Italy/Sicily

Italians

1130-1816

Kingdom of Italy

Italy

Italians

476-493

Kingdom of the Lombards

Italy

Germanic Lombards

568-774

Kingdom of Naples

Italy

Italians

1282-1816

Kigdom of the Osrogoths

Italy

Vandals

493-553

Kingdom of the Visigoths

Spain

Visigoths

418-721

Kingdom of Aragon

Spain

Spanish

1035-1516

Kingdom of Valencia

Spain

Spanish

1238-1707

Kingdom of Majorca

Spain

Spanish

1231-1344

Kingdom of Asturias

Spain

Spanish

718-910

Kingdom of Castile

Spain

Spanish

1035-1516

Kingdom of León

Spain

Spanish

910-1230

Kingdom of Toledo

Spain

Spanish

1085-1469

Suebic Kingdom of Galicia

Spain

Spanish

410-585

Kingdom of Galicia

Spain

Spanish

910-1157

Kingdom of Portugal

Portugal

Portugese

1139-1815

 

SCANDINAVIA

Kingdom of Denmark

Denmark

Danish

756 – Present

Kingdom of Reitgotaland

Denmark or Sweden

Danish?

5th Century

Kingdom of Norway

Norway

Norwegian

872-Present

Kingdom of Agder

Norway

Norwegian

7th-987

Kingdom of Fjordane

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Grenland

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Gudbrandsdal

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Hadeland

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Hardanger

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Hedmark

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Hordaland

Norway

Norwegian

7th-9th

Kingdom of Hålogaland

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Land

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Namdalen

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Nordmøre

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Oppland

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Orkdalen

Norway

Norwegian

7th

Kingdom of Ranrike

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Raumarike

Norway

Norwegian

8th-9th

Kingdom of Ringerike

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Rogaland

Norway

Norwegian

6th-9th

Kingdom of Romsdal

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Sogn

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Solør

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Sunnmøre

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Telemark

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Toten

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Trøndelag

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Vestfold

Norway

Norwegian

10th-13th

Kingdom of Vestmar

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Vingulmark

Norway

Norwegian

10th-11th

Kingdom of Viken

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Voss

Norway

Norwegian

7th?

Kingdom of Sweden

Sweden

Swedish

973-Present

kingdom of Angeln

Sweden

Swedish

5th Century

Eastern Europe

The major eastern kingdoms of Europe are described in the following article: 

the History of Medieval Russia, which includes other kingdoms such as Georgia and Lithuania.  The article has many internal links for additional information about Eastern Europe

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