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Map of Europe, 1500 AD

May 27, 2017 10 Comments

Map of Europe, 1500 AD

Map created by reddit user Yetkinler

The map above shows the patchwork of kingdoms, principalities, bishoprics, duchies, republics, cities, sultanates, etc. in and around Europe in 1500 CE/AD.

Some countries such as France and England are easily recognisable and largely occupy the same areas as their modern incarnations.

Other such as Hungary, Lithuania, Sweden and the Papal States are also recognisable although with borders far larger than their modern equivalents.

Yet the vast majority of countries have passed into history from the Ottoman and north African Sultanates to the myriad of countries in Italy, the Holy Roman Empire, Livonian Confederation and Irish Kingdoms.

It’s a reminder that Europe’s borders are constantly evolving. Today’s borders are largely a product of the end of World World 2 and the Cold War.

Yetkinler has this to say about his map:

This is a map of Europe in the year 1500, created for the subreddit /r/empirepowers. Not all states on the map could be labelled, because then the Holy Roman Empire (outlined in red) would be a mess.

See below for a full list of states or visit this Google Doc.

Name Title Status
Maghreb
Morocco Sultanate Independent
Tetouan State Moroccan Substate
Chefchaouen State Moroccan Substate
Taza State Moroccan Substate
Debdou Viceroyalty Moroccan Substate
Meggeo Tribe Moroccan Substate
Hintata State Moroccan Substate
Tadla State Moroccan Substate
Jebel Lekhder State Moroccan Substate
Beni Snassen Tribe Independent
Tlemcen Sultanate Independent
Oran Emirate Tlemceni Substate
Tha’aliba Tribe Independent
Algiers Emirate Independent
Kuko Sultanate Independent
Labbes Sultanate Independent
Bougie Lordship Independent
Zenatas Tribe Independent
Hafsids Caliphate Independent
Bizerte Lordship Hafsid Substate
Tripoli Emirate Independent
Beni Sulaym Tribe Independent
Iberia
Castile Crown Independent
Navarre Kingdom Independent
Andora Principality Navarrese Substate
Aragon Crown Independent
Portugal Kingdom Independent
Italy
Genoa Republic Independent
Naples Kingdom Independent
Papal State Theocracy Independent
Savoy Duchy Independent
Florence Republic Independent
Piombino Principality Florentine Substate
Urbino Duchy Papal Substate
Romagna Lordship Papal Substate
San Marino Republic Independent
Ferrara & Modena Duchies Papal Substate / Independent
Mantua Margravate Independent
Milan Duchy Independent
Masserano County Independent
Montferrat March Independent
Pontremoli Municipality Independent
Massa Duchy Independent
Lucca Republic Independent
Siena Republic Independent
Pisa Republic Independent
Bologna Lordship Independent
Finale Marquisate Independent
Montechiarugolo County Independent
Guastalla County Independent
Mirandola Lordship Independent
France
France Kingdom Independent
Britanny Duchy French Substate
Orange Principality Independent
Monaco Lordship Independent
Dol-Combourg Abbey Independent
Metz Bishopric Independent
Tende County Independent
Montbéliard Principality Independent
Verdun Free City Independent
Verdun Bishopric Independent
Mulhouse Free City Independent
Munster, Haut-Rhin Free City Independent
Colmar Free City Independent
Turckheim Free City Independent
Kaysersberg Free City Independent
Obernai Free City Independent
Rosheim Free City Independent
Strausburg Free City Independent
Haguenau Free City Independent
Wissembourg Free City Independent
Sélestat Free City Independent
Saluzzo Marquisate Independent
Dombes Principality Independent
Britain
England Kingdom Independent
Scotland Kingdom Independent
Ireland
Thomond Kingdom Independent
Desmond Kingdom Independent
Desmond Earldom Independent
Uí Maine Kingdom Independent
Magh Luirg Kingdom Independent
Tir Connail Kingdom Independent
Tir Eoghain Kingdom Independent
Clandeboye Kingdom Independent
Clanricarde The Independent
Umhaill Kingdom Independent
Síol Anmchadha Kingdom Umhaill Substate
West Bréifne Kingdom Independent
East Bréifne Kingdom Independent
Airgíalla Kingdom Independent
Ormond Earldom Independent
Osraige Kingdom Independent
Wexford County Independent
Uí Failghe Kingdom Independent
Leinster Kingdom Independent
Kildare Earldom English Substate
Dunsany Barony Independent
Dillon House Independent
Low Countries
Utrecht Bishopric Independent
Liege Prince-Bishopric Independent
Stavelot-Malmedy Principality Independent
Cambrai Bishopric Independent
Guelders Duchy Independent
Ravenstein Lordship Independent
Anholt Lordhsip Independent
Echternach Abbey Independent
Gronsveld County Independent
Thorn Abbey Independent
Switzerland
Switzerland Confederacy Independent
Grasburg Bailiwick Swiss Substate
Gersau Republic Swiss Substate
Valais Zehnden Swiss Substate
Engelberg Abbey Swiss Substate
Three Leagues Free State Swiss Substate
Lausanne Bishopric Swiss Substate
Neuchatel County Swiss Substate
Basel City Swiss Substate
Thurgovia Bailiwick Swiss Substate
Appenzell Community Swiss Substate
Saint Gall Prince Abbey Swiss Substate
Schauffhausen City Swiss Substate
Geneva City Savoyan Substate
Scandinavia
Denmark Kingdom Independent
Norway Kingdom Danish Substate
Sweden Kingdom Danish Substate
Dithmarschen Peasant Republic Independent
Austria
Austria Archduchy Independent
Salzburg Archbishopric Independent
Gorizia County Independent
Trent Prince-Bishopric Austrian Substate
Balkans
Hungary Kingdom Independent
Serbia Despotate Hungarian Substate
Montenegro Tribe Independent
Wallachia Principality Ottoman Substate
Moldavia Principality Ottoman Substate
Ragusa Republic Ottoman Substate
Anatolia
Ottomans Sultanate Independent
Ramadan Emirate Independent
Tomarza, Hadjin, & Göksun Lordships Independent
Dulkadir Emirate Independent
Knights Holy Order Independent
Maniots Tribe Independent
Baz Tribe White sheep Substate
Amadya Tribe White sheep Substate
Hakkari Tribe White sheep Substate
Shatak Tribe White sheep Substate
Hosab Tribe White sheep Substate
Bashkala Tribe White sheep Substate
Ahlat Tribe White sheep Substate
Bitlis Tribe White sheep Substate
Çermik Tribe White sheep Substate
Sagman Tribe White sheep Substate
Pertek Tribe White sheep Substate
Çabakçur Tribe White sheep Substate
Genç Tribe White sheep Substate
Vostan Tribe White sheep Substate
Moks Tribe White sheep Substate
Eğil Tribe White sheep Substate
Hazro-Tercil Tribe White sheep Substate
Kulp Tribe White sheep Substate
Sirvan Tribe White sheep Substate
Cizre Tribe White sheep Substate
Mt Athos Monastery Ottoman Substate
Germany
Hamburg Free City Independent
Lübeck Prince-Bishopric Independent
Lübeck Free City Independent
Brunswick-Lüneburg Duchy Independent
Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Principality Independent
Braunschweig Free City B.-Wolfenbüttel Substate
Hildesheim Prince-Bishopric Independent
Mecklenburg Duchy Independent
Bremen Free City Independent
Calenberg Principality Independent
Bremen Prince-Bishopric Independent
Hannover City Calenberger Substate
Saxe-Lauenburg Duchy Independent
Schwerin Prince-Bishopric Independent
Ratzeburg Prince-Bishopric Independent
Grubenhagen Principality Independent
Stolberg County Independent
Quedlinburg Abbey Independent
Nordhausen Free City Independent
Walkenried Abbey Independent
Mühlhausen Free City Independent
Hohnstein County Independent
Schwarzburg County Independent
Bavaria-Munich Duchy Independent
Bavaria-Landshut Duchy Independent
Berchtesgaden Provostry Prince-Provostry Independent
Hohenwaldeck Lordship Independent
Freising Prince-Bishopric Independent
Regensburg Bishopric Independent
Regensburg Free City Independent
Ortenburg County Independent
Passau Bishopric Independent
Leuchtenberg Landgrave Independent
Saxony (Duchy) Duchy Independent
Saxony (Electorate) Electorate Independent
Magdeburg Prince-Archbishopric Independent
Pomerania Duchy Independent
Cammin Bishopric Pomeranian Substate
Brandenburg Electorate Independent
Barby County Independent
Halberstadt Prince-Bishopric Independent
Mansfeld County Independent
Goslar Free City Independent
Blankenberg County Independent
Anhalt-Zerbst Duchy Independent
Anhalt-Köthen Principality Independent
Erfurt County Independent
Schmalkalden County Independent
Schwarzburg County Independent
Reuss-Gera County Independent
Reuss-Weida County Independent
Reuss-Plauen County Independent
Schönburg County Independent
Holstein-Pinneburg-Schaumburg-Gemen County Independent
Sedan County Independent
Jülich-Berg Duchy Independent
Bentheim County Independent
Werden Prince-Abbacy Independent
Moers County Independent
Hoya County Independent
Delmenhorst County Independent
Verden Free City Independent
Verden Prince-Bishopric Independent
Minden Prince-Bishopric Independent
Diepholz County Independent
Tecklenburg County Independent
Lingen County Independent
Osnabrück Prince-Bishopric Independent
Herford Prince-Abbacy Independent
Ravensburg County Independent
Lemgo Free City Independent
Haltern Free City Independent
Cologne Free City Independent
Wickrath County Independent
Wesel Free City Independent
Essen Prince-Abbacy Kleverlandish Substate
Dortmund Free City Independent
Soest Free City Kleverlandish Substate
Höxter Free City Independent
Warburg Free City Independent
Brakel Free City Independent
Rietberg County Independent
Teutonic Knights (Germany) Holy Order Independent
Lippstadt Lordship Independent
Münster Prince-Bishopric Independent
East Frisia County Independent
Jever Barony Independent
Oldenburg County Independent
Aachen Free City Independent
Cleves Duchy Independent
Paderborn Prince-Bishopric Independent
Lippe Lordship Independent
Manderscheid-Schleiden County Independent
Prüm Abbey Independent
Palatinate Count-Palatinate Independent
Cologne Prince-Bishopric Independent
Porrentruy Feudal Independent
Waldeck County Independent
Strausburg Prince-Bishopric Independent
Knights Hospitaller (Germany) Holy Order Independent
Metz Prince-Bishopric Independent
Speyer Free City Independent
Odenheim Provostry Independent
Speyer Prince-Bishopric Independent
Zweibrücken County Palatinate Substate
Hanau-Lichtenberg County Independent
Nieder-Isenburg County Independent
Manderscheid-Blankenheim County Independent
Virneburg County Independent
Nassau-Saarbrücken County Independent
Nassau-Dillenburg County Independent
Nassau-Weilburg County Independent
Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein County Independent
Wild-and Rhinegraves County Independent
Salm-Dhaun County Independent
Sayn County Independent
Mainz Prince-Bishopric Independent
Sayn-Wittgenstein County Independent
Hesse Landgraviate Independent
Wetzlar Free City Independent
Solms-Braunfels County Independent
Friedberg Free City Independent
Isenburg County Independent
Runkel Feudal Independent
Worms Prince-Bishopric Independent
Worms Free City Independent
Sponheim County Independent
Reipoltskirchen Lordship Palatinate Substate
Palatinate-Simmern Principality Palatinate Substate
Winneburg and Beilstein Lordship Independent
Manderscheid-Kail County Independent
Leiningen-Westerburg County Independent
Frankfurt Free City Independent
Königstein County Independent
Lorraine Duchy Independent
Toul Prince-Bishopric Independent
Toul Imperial City Independent
Trier Archbishopric Independent
Hanau-Münzenberg County Independent
Solms-Lich County Independent
Hersfeld Abbacy Independent
Wartenburg County Independent
Fulda Prince-Abbacy Independent
Bayreuth Margraviate Independent
Nuremburg Free City Independent
Bamberg Prince-Bishopric Independent
Schweinfurt Free City Independent
Hausen Lordship Bamburger Substate
Eichstätt Prince-Bishopric Independent
Weißenburg Free City Independent
Castell County Independent
Schwarzenberg Lordship Independent
Windsheim Free City Independent
Rothenburg Free City Independent
Löwenstein County Independent
Wertheim County Independent
Würzburg Prince-Bishopric Independent
Hall Free City Independent
Hohenlohe County Independent
Limpurg Lordship Independent
Welzheim Lordship Independent
Ansbach Margraviate Independent
Württemberg Duchy Independent
Wimpfen Imperial City Independent
Rothenfels County Independent
Lindau Imperial City Independent
Kempten Imperial City Independent
Augsburg Prince-Bishopric Independent
Augsburg Imperial City Independent
Klettgau Landgravate Independent
Stühlingen Landgravate Independent
Hohenhöwen Lordship Independent
Gundelfingen Lordship Independent
Zell am Harmersbach Imperial City Independent
Gengenbach Imperial City Independent
Heilbronn Imperial City Independent
Fürstenberg County Independent
Rottweil Abbey Independent
Rottweil Imperial City Swiss Substate
Überlingen Imperial City Independent
Konstanz Prince-Bishopric Independent
Wangen Imperial City Independent
Isny im Allgäu Imperial City Independent
Reutlingen Imperial City Independent
Weil Imperial City Independent
Eßlingen Imperial City Independent
Schwäbisch Gmünd Imperial City Independent
Aalen Imperial City Independent
Dinkelsbühl Imperial City Independent
Bopfingen Imperial City Independent
Nördlingen Imperial City Independent
Oettingen County Independent
Thannhausen Lordship Independent
Giengen Imperial City Independent
Wiesensteig Lordship Independent
Meßkirch Lordship Independent
Kaufbeuren Imperial City Independent
Irsee Prince-Abbacy Independent
Mindelheim Lordship Independent
Hohenzollern County Independent
Zwiefalten Prince-Abbacy Independent
Pfullendorf Imperial City Independent
Buchau Imperial City Independent
Buchhorn Imperial City Independent
Salem Prince-Abbacy Independent
Ravensburg Imperial City Independent
Ulm Imperial City Independent
Wettenhausen Prince-Provostry Independent
Ursberg Prince-Abbacy Independent
Roggenburg Prince-Abbacy Independent
Memmingen Imperial City Independent
Leutkirch im Allgäu Imperial City Independent
Biberach an der Riß Imperial City Independent
Rot an der Rot Prince-Abbacy Independent
Marchtal Prince-Abbacy Independent
Stadion County Independent
Heggbach Prince-Abbacy Independent
Schussenried Prince-Abbacy Independent
Königsegg Lordship Independent
Ochsenhausen Prince-Abbacy Independent
Baden Margraviate Independent
Middle East
Shirvan Sultanate Independent
White Sheep (Iran) Tribe Independent
White Sheep (Iraq) Tribe Independent
Lorestan Tribe White sheep Substate
Soran Tribe White sheep Substate
Ardalan Tribe White sheep Substate
Mukriyan Tribe White sheep Substate
Levant
Mamluks Sultanate Independent
Caucasus
Kakheti Kingdom Independent
Kartli Kingdom Independent
Imereti Kingdom Independent
Samtskhe Kingdom Independent
Abkhazeti Principality Independent
Guria Principality Imerti Substate
Odishi Principality Imerti Substate
Steppes
Ossetia Tribe Independent
Dzurdzuks Tribe Independent
Khunzal Tribe Independent
Lezgians Tribe Independent
Crimea Tribe Ottoman Substate
Circassia Tribe Ottoman Substate
Gazikumukh Khanate Shirvani Substate
Great Horde Khanate Independent
Nogai Horde Independent
Astrakhan Khanate Independent
Poland
Poland Kingdom Independent
Brieg Principality Hungarian Substate
Wohlau Duchy Hungarian Substate
Liegnitz Principality Hungarian Substate
Lithuania Grand Duchy Independent
Mazovia Duchy Polish Substate
Siewierz Duchy Polish Substate
Nysa Duchy Polish Substate
Russia
Muscovy Grand Duchy Independent
Ryazan Grand Duchy Independent
Qasim Khanate Muscovite Substate
Kazan Khanate Muscovite Substate
Pskov Viceroyalty Muscovite Substate
Baltics
Teutonic Knights Holy Order Independent
Livonia Confederation Independent
Ösel–Wiek Bishopric Livonian Substate
Courland Bishopric Livonian Substate
Riga City Livonian Substate
Riga Archbishopric Livonian Substate
Dorpat Bishopric Livonian Substate

Filed Under: Europe, History

Comments

  1. Erig says

    July 4, 2017 at 8:38 am

    There’s a mistake in the status you allow to Brittany. Brittany was NOT a “french substate”… It was fully independant until 1548, and became united to France in 1548 before the 1532 treaty. This treaty was planning a union between France and Brittany, not a domination of one on the other.

    During its long history, Brittany had to compose with its problematic neighbors, France and England, and had to change its alliance often. If our sovereigns accepted the English and French suzerainty one after the other, they never became a serf nor a dominion, and never paid tribute to any of the english or french kings.

    Reply
  2. Spiral says

    May 11, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    What’s the difference between an union, personal union and dynastic union?

    Reply
  3. Rk says

    May 28, 2018 at 8:09 am

    Wales was not part of the kingdom of England in 1500.

    Reply
    • Ken says

      July 13, 2020 at 10:46 pm

      Still isn’t.

      Reply
    • Alun Stone says

      July 14, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      Not correct, Wales was annexed in the late 1200’s by Edward, true, there was no act of union until 1530, but it was still under English control.

      Reply
  4. IceWare says

    August 12, 2018 at 4:05 pm

    In a (real) union two or more states share some institutions, however they are not as unified as states in a political union. A personal union is the combination of two or more states that have the same monarch while their boundaries, laws, and interests remain distinct. In a dynastic union two different states are governed by the same dynasty, but not the same monarch, although it depends on the country.

    The difference between dynastic and personal union is basicly this: If the ruler dies and one part of the union breaks away it was a personal union. If it stays it’s a dynastic

    Reply
  5. Felix says

    June 3, 2019 at 6:32 am

    Montenegro was a Sanjak of the Ottoman Empire.. not sure how it could be claimed as an independent ‘tribe’ in 1500 AD. Kingdom of Croatia was in a personal union with Hungary. It had separate laws, boundaries and even its own Sabor (parliament). The Serbian Despotate last until 1459, afterwards it was part of the Ottoman Empire including in 1500 AD.

    Reply
    • Montenegrin says

      November 4, 2020 at 5:07 pm

      The territory of nowadays Montenegro belonged to Ottoman Empire, and it was labeled sandzak as a part of it, sandzak was an administrative unit in the Ottoman Empire. But, the social system inside this territory was that of tribes, in territories of Montenegro and Albania lived the last tribes in Europe. There was never a tribe of Montenegro or Albania per se, but there were many tribes all around the mountainous, difficult to access terrain. This tribal society stayed even until the 19th, early 20th century, and the contemporary mentality and traditions in these countries are still heavily influenced by a tribal society.

      Reply
  6. Imre says

    October 2, 2021 at 3:04 pm

    Do you think seriously Hungary is part of Balkan?

    Reply
  7. Matthew says

    January 12, 2022 at 12:01 pm

    A very “ununited” Germany then…pity it didn’t stay that way!

    Reply

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