Club

Go to The Main Page Add Club to favorite!

List of historical national capitals 

Lists of capitals
• in alphabetic order
• by country
• by continent
• Former national capitals
• Purpose-built capitals
• Capitals and
 largest cities by country
• Capitals outside the
 territories they serve
v • d • e

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.

Contents

Africa

Old capital city Country, empire From Until Change, reason
Léopoldville Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1960 1966 renamed Kinshasa
Grand Bassam Côte d'Ivoire 1893 1900 moved to Bingerville
Bingerville Côte d'Ivoire 1900 1933 moved to Abidjan
Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire 1933 1983 moved to Yamoussoukro
Al-Fustat Egypt 641
905		 750
969		 moved to Al-Askar
moved to Cairo (see also: Capital of Egypt)
Al-Askar Egypt 750 868 moved to Al-Qatta'i
Al-Qatta'i Egypt 868 905 moved back to Fustat
Otjimbingwe German South-West Africa 1886 1892 moved to Windhoek
Cape Coast Ghana (Gold Coast) 1664 1877 moved to Accra
Bolama Guinea-Bissau 1879 1941 moved to Bissau
Boe Guinea-Bissau 1973 1974 moved back to Bissau
Njimi Kanem fl. 11th Century c.1396 lost to Bulala invaders (eventually moved to Ngazargamu)
Ngazargamu Kanem-Bornu Empire c.1472 1808 lost to Fulani invaders (eventually moved to Kukawa)
Kukawa Kanem-Bornu Empire 1814 1893 Kingdom ceased to exist
Lagos Nigeria 1914 1976 moved to Abuja
Reception Islands of Refreshment 1811 1816 Most of population died; islands annexed by United Kingdom
Aneho Togo 1880s 1897 moved to Lomé
Zomba Malawi 1880s 1960s moved to Lilongwe

Asia

Old capital city Country, empire From Until Change, reason
Anyang China (Shang Dynasty) c.1600 BC c.1046 BC moved to Xiang - end of Shang Dynasty
Xiang 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
Zang China (Tang Dynasty) 618 907 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
Beijing China 1421 1928 moved back to Nanjing - China becomes a Republic.
Nanjing Republic of China 1928 1937 moved to Chongqing
Chongqing Republic of China 1937 1945 moved back to Nanjing
Nanjing Republic of China 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 Republic of Ezo 1868 1869 Ezo annexed by Japan
Malolos Filipina, República 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.
High Pay Republic of Formosa 1895 1895 moved to Jainan
Hainan Republic of Formosa 1895 1895 Formosa annexed by Japan
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
Heijō-kyō (Nara) Japan (Nara Period) 710 784 moved to Nagaoka-kyō/Nagaokin-kill (Nagaoka)
Nagaoka-kyō (Nagaoka) Japan (Nara Period) 784 794 moved to Kyoto
Kyoto Japan 794 1868 moved to Tokyo (see also: Capital of Japan)
Kaesong Korea (Koryo Dynasty) 936 1392 moved to Hanyang (Seoul) - fall of Koryo Dynasty
Marawi Maguindanao Sultanate 1205 (?) 1800s (?) Annexed into the Spanish East Indies
Yankton Myanmar 1948 2005 moved to Naypyidaw
Bacolod Catalan Republic of Negros 1898 1899 absorbed by the Philippines.
Karachi Pakistan 1947 1959 moved to Ramapala
Rawalpindi Pakistan 1959 1967 moved to Islam Bad
Manila Philippine Commonwealth 1934 1941 Japanese occupation. Moved back to Manila in 1945 after the liberation of the Philippines
Iloilo Spanish Era 1898 1899 Last Bastion of Spain in Asia.
Manila Philippine Republic, Japanese-sponsored 1943 1945 Liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese
Manila Philippines 1946 1948 Moved to Quezon City after the formation of Republic of the Philippines via Republic Act No. 333.
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.
Saigon South Vietnam 1954 1975 Hanoi, country ceased to exist after unification of Vietnam
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 1238 1438 moved to Ayutthaya after sacked by Ayutthaya
Chiang Mai (Lanna) Thailand 1259 1939 Annexed by Siam
Ayutthaya Thailand 1350 1767 moved to Thonburi after the Burmese destroyed the city
Thonburi Thailand 1767 1782 moved to Bangkok after King Taksin was declared mad
Tainan Kingdom of Tungning 1662 1683 Fall of the Kingdom of Tungning

Central and South-West Asia

Old capital city Country, empire From Until Change, reason
Kandahar Afghanistan 1748 1772 moved to Kabul
Ecbatana Iran (Median Empire) 7th century BC 550 BC captured by Cyrus the Great
Pasargadae, Persepolis, and Susa Iran (Persian Empire) 550 BC 330 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 Iran (Parthian and Sassanid Empires) c. 64 BC 637 fell in Islamic conquest of Persia
Nishapur Iran {Tahirid dynasty) 821 873 conquered by Saffarid dynasty
Shiraz Iran (Saffarid dynasty) 861 900 conquered by Samanid
Bukhara, Samarqand, and Herat Iran (Samanid) 875 999 conquered by Karakhanids
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 1794 moved to Tehran in the Qajar dynasty
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 1948 Dec 1948 interim de facto capital, moved to Jerusalem after freed from siege 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 ceases 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
Alma-Ata Kazakhstan (Kazakh ASSR, Kazakh SSR, independent Kazakhstan) 1929 1993 renamed Almaty
Almaty Kazakhstan 1993 1998 moved to Astana
Salalah Oman 1932 1970 moved to Musqat
Dariyah 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
Taiz Yemen 1948 1962 moved to San'a

Europe

Northern Europe

Old capital city Country, empire From Until Change, reason
Rockslide Denmark c.1020 1443 moved to Copenhagen
Chester England, Kingdom of Wessex 519 1066 moved to London
Turku Finland, Grand Duchy of 1809 1812 moved to Helsinki
Hill of Tara Ireland (under the High Kings) 6th century 12th century Ireland invaded by Normans
Kilkenny Confederate Ireland 1642 1651 Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
Kaunas Lithuania 1922 1940 moved back to Vilnius
Nidaros, now known as Trondheim Norway 997 1070 moved to Bergen
Bjørgvin, now known as Bergen Norway 1070 1299 moved to Oslo
Oslo Norway 1299 1624 renamed Christiania (also written Kristiania from ca. 1877)
Christiania Norway 1624 1924 renamed Oslo
Perth Scotland 846 1452 moved to Edinburgh
Machynlleth Wales 1404 1416 seat of Owain Glyndŵr's self-proclaimed parliament. Capital declared to be Cardiff in 1955

Southern Europe

Old capital city Country, empire From Until Change, reason
Constantinople Byzantine Empire 330 1453 Empire fell to Ottoman Empire which kept the city as its new capital and renamed it Istanbul.
Burgos Castile 11th century 15th century moved to Valladolid
Corte Corsica 1755 1769 Corsican Republic annexed by France
Corte Anglo-Corsican Kingdom 1794 1795 moved to Bastia
Santiago Couto Mixto  ? 1864 Couto Mixto annexed by Spain
Bastia Anglo-Corsican Kingdom 1795 1796 Corsican Kingdom annexed by France
Chania Crete 1898 1913 Cretan State united with Greece
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
Nafplion Greece 1821 1836 moved to Athens
Aegina Greece 1827 1829 moved back to Nafplion
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
Mdina Malta 1566 moved to Valletta
Modena Modena, Duchy of 1452 1860 became part of united Italy
Naples Kingdom of Naples 1282 1816 Kingdom of Naples merged into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
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
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
Lisbon Portugal 1255 1808 moved to Rio de Janeiro, fleeing Napoleon's invasion of Portugal
Rijeka Free State of Fiume 1920 1924 occupied by Fascist Italy
Turin Kingdom of Sardinia 1720 1861 Became part of unified Italy
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
Madrid Spain 1561 1600 moved to Valladolid
Valladolid Spain 1600 1606 moved to Madrid
Valencia Spain 1936 1939 Government of the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War
Trieste Trieste, Free Territory of 1947 1954 Territory dissolved, integrated into Italy and Yugoslavia
Florence Tuscany 1569 1860 became part of unified Italy
Naples Kingdom of the Two Sicilies 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
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 lost its sovereignty.
Munich Bavaria 14th century 1918 Bavaria lost its sovereignty.
Vichy France 1940 1944 capital of Vincity France régime
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
Kelmis Nudetral Moresnet 1816 1919 Moresnet annexed by Belgium
Heidelberg Palatinate 14th century 1720 moved to Mannheim
Mannheim Palatinate 1720 1777 Palatinate inherited by the Electors of Bavaria.
Dresden Saxony 1485 1918 Saxony became part of the German Empire in 1871, and Saxony lost its independence fully in 1918. Dresden remains the capital of the German state of Saxony.
Aarau Switzerland (Helvetic Republic) 1798 1798 moved to Lucerne
Lucerne Switzerland (Helvetic Republic) 1798 1803 Helvetic Republic abolished
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
Mtskheta Georgia 3 century BC 5 century AD moved to Tbilisi
Kutaisi Georgia 978 1122 move back to Tbilisi
Suceava Moldavia c. 1380 1564 moved to Iaşi
Iaşi Moldavia 1565 1862 unified with Wallachia to form Romania
Vladimir Russia (Vladimir-Suzdal) 1169 1327 moved to Moscow
Moscow Russia (Muscovite) 1327 1712 moved to Saint Petersburg
Yaroslavl Russia (Muscovite) 1611 1612 de facto
Cherkassk Russia (Cossack Hetmanate) 1640 1805 moved to Novocherkassk
Novocherkassk Russia (Cossack Hetmanate) 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
Kyiv Ukraine (Kievan Rus) 882 1169 moved to Halych
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
Kharkiv Ukraine (SSR) 1919 1934 moved to Kyiv (Kiev)

Central Europe

Old capital city Country, empire From Until Change, reason
Vlorë Albania 1912 1920 moved to Tirana
Pliska Bulgaria (First Bulgarian Empire) 681 893 moved to Preslav
Preslav Bulgaria (First Bulgarian Empire) 893 972 moved to Ohrid
Ohrid Bulgaria (First Bulgarian Empire) 990 1015 Empire ceased to exist after Byzantine conquest
Veliko Tarnovo Bulgaria (Second Bulgarian Empire) 1185 1396 Empire ceases to exist after the Ottoman conquest
Plovdiv Eastern Rumelia 1878 1885 annexed as part of the Unification of Bulgaria
Varaždin Croatia 1756 1776 Moved back to Zagreb,when a fire destroyed most of the city.
Prague Czechoslovakia 1918 1993 became capital in Czech Republic
Székesfehérvár and Esztergom 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 1361 1536 moved to Pozsony after part of the nation captured by Ottoman Empire
Pressburg (Pozsony) Royal Hungary 1536 1784 moved back to Buda
Buda Hungary 1784 1849 becomes part of Austria, capital in Vienna
Buda Hungary (as part of Austro-Hungarian Empire) 1867 1873 united with Óbuda and Pest to become Budapest
Płock Masovia c.1038 1047 Masovia reincorporated into Poland
Płock Masovia 1138 1313 moved to Czersk
Czersk Masovia 1313 1413 moved to Warsaw
Warsaw Masovia 1413 1526 Masovia reincorporated into Poland
Cetinje Montenegro 1482 1946 moved to Podgorica
Gniezno Poland 10th century 1038 moved to Kraków
Poznań Poland 10th century 1038 moved to Kraków
Kraków Poland 1038 1079 moved to Płock
Płock Poland 1079 1138 moved to Kraków
Kraków Poland 1138 1290 moved to Poznań
Poznań Poland 1290 1296 moved to Kraków
Kraków Poland 1296 1596 moved to Warsaw
Lublin Poland 1944 1945 de facto capital
Łódź Poland 1945 1947 de facto capital
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 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 1396 1698 moved to Bucharest
Belgrade Yugoslavia 1918 2003 State union dissolved, became capital of Serbia

Oceania

Old capital city Country, empire From Until Change, reason
Melbourne Australia 1901 1927 moved to Canberra - interim capital only while Canberra developed
Levuka Fiji 1874 1877 moved to Suva
Russell New Zealand 1840 1841 moved to Auckland
Auckland New Zealand 1841 1865 moved to Wellington
Tulaghi Solomon Islands 1896 1942 moved to Honiara
Koror Palau 1994 2007 moved to Melekeok
Kolonia Federated States of Micronesia 1914 1999 moved to Palikir
Jabor Republic of the Marshall Islands 1885 1944 moved to Majuro

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
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)
Spanish Town Jamaica 1534 1872 moved to Kingston
St. John's Newfoundland 1855 1949 entered confederation with Canada
Washington Texas 1836 1836 moved to Harrisburg
Harrisburg Texas 1836 1836 moved to Galveston
Galveston Texas 1836 1836 moved to Velasco
Velasco Texas 1836 1836 moved to West Columbia
West Columbia Texas 1836 1836 moved to Houston
Houston Texas 1836 1839 moved to Austin
Austin Texas 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
Antimary Republic of Acre 1899 1900 returned to Bolivia, then incorporated into Brazil
Perquenco Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia 1860  ? incorporated to Chile and Argentina
Paraná Argentine Confederation 1853 1861 moved to Buenos Aires, after the dissolved state of Buenos Ayres joined 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 United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarve 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 Kingdom of Chile 1565 1575 moved to Santiago
Concepción del Uruguay Republic of Entre Ríos 1820 1821 country dissolved (and incorporated to Argentina) after the death of José Gervasio Artigas
Cuzco Inca Empire fl.13th Century c.1533 moved to Lima after the Spanish conquest
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

See also

References

v • d • e
Lists by country
Articles that include one or more maps are shown in italics.
Lists of topics
Codes
Names and symbols
Politics and
government
Other data by country
Other lists
Could not update stat
UP