| Empire | Origin | Capital | From | To | Duration | Note |
|---|
| Abbasid Caliphate | Iraq | Baghdad, Raqqa, Kufa, Samarra, Anbar | 750}} | 1258}} | 750|1|1|1258|1|1}} | Successor of the Ummayad Caliphate. |
| Achaemenid Empire | Persia | Various, including Pasargadae, Ecbatana, Persepolis, Susa, Babylon | -550}} | -330}} | -550|1|1|-330|1|1}} | The first Persian Empire, and the largest one in Classical Antiquity, founded by Cyrus the Great. |
| Afsharid Dynasty | Persia | Mashhad | 1736}} | 1796}} | 1736|01|22|1796|03|1}} |
| Ahom Dynasty | North East India | Charaideo, Garhgaon, Rangpur (Ahom capital), Jorhat | 1228}} | 1838}} | 600 | It is well known for maintaining its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisting Mughal expansion in Northeast India. |
| Akkadian Empire | Sumer | Akkad | -2300}} | -2200}} | 100 |
| Aksumite Empire | Ethiopia | Axum | 150}} | 940}} | 790 | Succeeded by the Ethiopian Empire. |
| Akwamu | West Africa | Akwamufie, Nyanoase | 1505}} | 1867}} | 362 |
| Almohad Dynasty | Morocco | Marrakech, Seville | 1121}} | 1269}} | 148 |
| Almoravid Dynasty | Morocco | Aghmat (1040–1062), Marrakech (1062–1147) | 1040}} | 1147}} | 107 |
| Angevin Empire | England, France | No official capital. Court was generally held at Angers and Chinon | 1154}} | 1242}} | 88 |
| Armenian Empire | Armenia | Tigranakert | -190}} | 428}} | 618 | Tigranes the Great took the title king of kings. |
| Assyria | Mesopotamia | Assur, later Nineveh | -2025}} | -609}} | 1119 |
| Ashanti Empire | West Africa | Kumasi | 1670}} | 1902}} | 232 |
| Austrian Empire | Austria | Vienna | 1804}} | 1867}} | 63 | Preceded by the Holy Roman Empire. |
| Austria-Hungary | Austria, Hungary | Vienna, Budapest | 1867}} | 1918}} | 51 | Often referred to as the "Austro-Hungarian Empire". Formed out of the Austrian Empire as a result of the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. Officially a real union of the rump Austrian Empire (Cisleithania) and the Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen/Transleithania. Ruler was therefore referred to as {{lang>de|Kaiser und König}} ("Emperor-King", literally "Emperor and King") |
| Ayyubid Dynasty | Middle East | Cairo, Damascus, Hama | 1171}} | 1341}} | 170 | Founded by Saladin, See also List of Muslim empires and dynasties. |
| Aztec Empire | Mesoamerica | Tenochtitlan | 1428}} | 1521}} | 93 | The capital of Mexico, Mexico City, is built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan. |
| Babylonian Empire | Mesopotamia | Babylon | -1900}} | -1600}} | 300 | See also Neo-Babylonian Empire. |
| Balhae | North Korea, Manchuria | Sanggyeong | 698}} | 926}} | 228 | Successor of Goguryeo. |
| Bamana Empire | West Africa | Ségou | 1712}} | 1861}} | 149 | Also known as the Bambara Empire or Ségou Empire |
| Belgian Colonial Empire | Belgium | Brussels | 1901}} | 1962}} | 61 | Overseas possessions were referred to as "the colonies" rather than an empire. |
| Benin Empire | Nigeria | Benin City | 1440}} | 1897}} | 457 |
| Bornu Empire | Nigeria | Ngazargamu | 1387}} | 1893}} | 506 | The continuation of the Kanem Empire. |
| Empire of Brazil | Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | 1822}} | 1889}} | 67 | Established after Pedro I of Brazil declared the independence of Brazil from Portugal. |
| Britannic Empire | Britain | Londinium | 286}} | 296}} | 10 | Was a break-away state of the Roman Empire. See also Carausian Revolt. |
| British Colonial Empire | United Kingdom | London | 1603}} | Present | 1603|1|1}} as of {{CURRENTYEAR}} | The largest Empire in world history. Precursor to the modern Commonwealth of Nations. Empire still continues in the form of British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II remains as sovereign. |
| British Raj | Indian Subcontinent | Calcutta (1858–1912), New Delhi (1912–1947) | 1858}} | 1947}} | 89 | Governed by the Crown and part of the British Empire. Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1876. |
| Bruneian Empire | Borneo | Not specified, possibly Kota Batu | 1368}} | 1888}} | 520 | Lasted until it became a British protectorate in 1888. |
| First Bulgarian Empire | Balkans | Pliska (680–893), Preslav (893–972), Skopie (972–992), Ohrid (992–1018) | 680}} | 1018}} | 338 | Founded by Khan Asparukh. Under Tsar Simeon I became the first powerful Slavic Empire. Falls to the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Basil II. |
| Second Bulgarian Empire | Balkans | Tarnovo | 1185}} | 1422}} | 237 | Successor of the First Bulgarian Empire. Under the Tsars Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II became the most powerful state in the Balkans. |
| Buyid Dynasty | Persia | Shiraz | 934}} | 1055}} | 121 |
| Byzantine Empire | Eastern Roman Empire (Greece, Anatolia, Africa, Palestine, Syria, Italy) | Constantinople | 395}} | 1453}} | 1058 | The eastern half of the Roman Empire. Term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages. |
| Caliphate of Córdoba | Iberian Peninsula | Córdoba | 756}} | 1031}} | 275 | See also Islamic Empire. |
| Carthaginian Empire | North Africa | Carthage | -814}} | -146}} | 504 |
| Chagatai Khanate | Transoxania | Almaliq, Qarshi | 1225}} | 1687}} | 462 | Division of the Mongol Empire. |
| Chalukya Dynasty | India | Badami | 543}} | 753}} | 210 |
| Chenla | Cambodia | Isanapura | 550}} | 802}} | 252 | Succeeded by the Khmer Empire. |
| Chera Dynasty | Ancient India | Vanchi Muthur | -300}} | 300}} | 600 | A Tamil Empire. |
| Chola Dynasty (Medieval Cholas) | India | Various, including Pazhaiyaarai, Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram | 850}} | 1279}} | 429 | A Tamil Empire. |
| Dacian Kingdom | Romania | Sarmizegetusa Regia | -168}} | 106}} | -168|1|1|106|1|1}} | Reached its territorial expansion under King Burebista (82BC-44BC). |
| Danish Colonial Empire | Denmark (as Denmark-Norway 1536 - 1814) | Copenhagen | 1350}} | 1953}} | 1350|1|1|1953|06|05}} | See also List of former Danish colonies. |
| Delhi Sultanate | India | Delhi | 1206}} | 1527}} | 321 |
| Durrani Empire | Afghanistan | Kandahar, Kabul | 1747}} | 1823}} | 1747|10|1|1823|1|1}} |
| Dutch Empire | Netherlands | Amsterdam | 1568}} | 1975}} | 407 | See also Dutch East India Company and Dutch West India Company. |
| Egyptian Empire | Egypt | Various, including Thebes, Akhetaten, Pi-Ramesses, Memphis | -1550}} | -1077}} | 473 | See also 18th Dynasty, 19th Dynasty & 20th Dynasty. |
| Ethiopian Empire | Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 1137}} | 1974}} | 837 |
| Fatimid Caliphate | Egypt | Mahdia (909–969), Cairo (969–1171) | 909}} | 1171}} | 262 | See also Islamic Empire. |
| First French Empire | France | Paris | 1804}} | 1814}}/{{dts|1815}} | 10 |
| Second French Empire | France | Paris | 1852}} | 1870}} | 18 |
| French colonial empires | France | Paris | 1534}} | Present | 1534|1|1}} as of {{CURRENTYEAR}} | Some consider the Empire ending with the end of French presence in Vanuatu (see New Hebrides) Empire continues in the form of Overseas France. |
| Frankish Empire | Western Europe | Various, including Soissons, Paris, Reims, Orléans, Metz & Aachen | 250}} | 950}} | 700 |
| Funan | Cambodia | Vyadhapura | 50}} | 550}} | 500 | Succeeded by the Chenla. |
| Gallic Empire | Rhineland-Palatinate | Colonia Agrippina | 260}} | 274}} | 14 | Broke off from the Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century. |
| Gaza Empire | Southern Africa | Not specified | 1824}} | 1895}} | 71 |
| Georgian Empire | Georgia | Kutaisi, Tbilisi | 1008}} | 1490}} | 482 | Established in 1008 as an unified kingdom. Georgian kings took title "King of Kings" and ruled over large territory consisting of Georgian, Armenian and Muslim areas, as well as numerous client states. Officially dissolved at 1490. |
| German Empire | Germany | Berlin | 1871}} | 1918}} | 47 | See also German Colonial Empire. |
| Ghana Empire | Mauritania, and Western Mali | Koumbi Saleh | 790}} | 1240}} | 450 | The Empire became known in Europe and Arabia as the "Ghana Empire" by the title of its ruler (meaning "Warrior King"). |
| Ghaznavid Dynasty | Afghanistan | Ghazni later Lahore | 963}} | 1187}} | 224 |
| Ghurid Dynasty | Afghanistan | Firuzkuh | 1148}} | 1215}} | 67 |
| Goguryeo | Korea[1] | Jolbon, Gungnae City, Pyongyang | -37}} | 668}} | 705 | Predecessor of Balhae and Goryeo. |
| Goryeo | Korea | Gaegyeong, Ganghwa | 918}} | 1392}} | 474 | Successor of Goguryeo. Unification of the Korean Peninsula. State maintained as an empire between 918 and 1274. |
| Gorkha Empire | Greater Nepal | 1600}} | 1850}} | 250 | Unification of Greater Nepal. State maintained as an empire between 1600 and 1840. |
| Göktürk Khaganate | Inner Asia | Ötüken | 552}} | 747}} | 195 | 552–603 First empire, 603–658 Double empire, 658–681 Dark age, 681–747 Second empire. |
| Golden Horde | Central Asia | Sarai Batu | 1240}} | 1502}} | 260 | Break-away state of the Mongol Empire. |
| Empire of Great Fulo | Senegal | Tekrur | 1514}} | 1776}} | 262 |
| Great Moravian Empire | Central Europe | Mikulčice-Valy | 833}} | 900}} | 67 | The word "Moravia" did not refer only to present-day Moravia. |
| Great Seljuq Empire | Aral Sea, Asia Minor, Persia | Nishapur and later on Rey | 1037}} | 1194}} | 157 | Turkish empire, Predecessor of the Sultanate of Rum. |
| Gurjara-Pratihara | India | Kannauj | 600}} | 1136}} | 660 | Founded by great king of Gujjars |
| Gupta Empire | India | Pataliputra | 320}} | 550}} | 230 | Founded by Sri Gupta |
| Han Dynasty | China | Chang'an, Luoyang, Xuchang | -206}} | 220}} | 426 | Founded by Liu Bang the High Ancestor |
| Empire of Harsha | Northern India | Kannauj | 606}} | 647}} | 41 | Founded by Harshavardhana; collapsed after his death. |
| Hephthalite Empire | Afghanistan | Kabul | 420}} | 567}} | 147 |
| Hittite Empire | Anatolia | Hattusa | -1460}} | -1180}} | 280 | See also Neo-Hittite. |
| Holy Roman Empire | Central Europe | no capital city | 962}} | 1806}} | 844 | Referred to simply as the Roman Empire (not to be confused with the actual Roman Empire) before 1157, when it became the Holy Empire. Holy Roman Empire is attested from 1254. Was officially known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, although this designation had fallen out of use again by the 18th century. See Holy Roman Empire § Name |
| Hotaki Dynasty | Persia | Isfahan | 1709}} | 1738}} | 29 |
| Hoysala Empire | India | Belur, Halebidu | 1026}} | 1343}} | 317 |
| Hunnic Empire | Eurasia | Not specified | 370}} | 469}} | 99 |
| Idrisid dynasty | Morocco | Fes | 788}} | 974}} | 186 | Founders of the first Moroccan state. |
| Ilkhanate | Persia | Maragheh, Tabriz, Soltaniyeh | 1256}} | 1335}} | 79 | Division of the Mongol Empire. |
| Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy) | Israel | Jerusalem | -1050}} | -586}} | 486 | Considers the Start of Saul's reign, through the dual kingdoms of the Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and Kingdom of Judah, until the Babylonian conquest of Judah. |
| Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyo) | Andes (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, parts of Chile, Argentina and Colombia) | Cusco | 1438}} | 1533}} | 95 | The largest empire in pre-Columbian America. |
| Italian Colonial Empire | Italy | Rome | 1885}} | 1943}} | 58 | See also Imperial Italy (fascist). |
| Empire of Japan | Japan | Tokyo | 1868}} | 1947}} | 79 | Emperor's government took control of the country in 1868. Regional hegemony in East Asia ended in 1945. The new constitution of 1947 formally abolished the empire.[2] |
| Jin dynasty (265–420) | China | Luoyang (265–311), Chang'an (312–316), Jiankang (317–420) | 265}} | 420}} | 155 | Subdivided into two dynasties. Western Jìn Dynasty, (265–316) Eastern Jìn Dynasty (317–420). |
| Jin dynasty (1115–1234) | Northern China, Manchuria | Huining, Zhongdu, Kaifeng | 1115}} | 1234}} | 119 | Also known as the Jurchens, were the ancestors of the Manchus who established the Qing Dynasty. |
| Jolof Empire | West Africa | Linguère | 1350}} | 1549}} | 199 | Also known as the Wollof Empire. Succeeded by the Kingdom of Jolof (1549–1875). |
| >Kaabu Empire | West Africa | Kansala | 1537}} | 1867}} | 330 | Also written Gabu, Ngabou, and N’Gabu'. |
| Kanem Empire | Chad | Njimi | 700}} | 1387}} | 687 |
| Kanva Dynasty | India | Pataliputra, Vidisha | -75}} | -30}} | 45 | Replaced the Shunga Empire. |
| Kara-Khanid Khanate | Turkistan | Kashgar | 840}} | 1212}} | 372 | First Turkic dynasty to embrace Islam. |
| Khazar Khaganate | Pontic steppe, North Caucasus | Balanjar, later Atil | 700}} | 1000}} | 300 | Founded by Western Turks, the members of the royal family embraced Judaism. |
| Khmer Empire | Cambodia | Hariharalaya (802–889), Angkor (889–1431) | 802}} | 1431}} | 629 | Succeeded from the kingdom of Chenla. |
| Khilji Dynasty | Afghanistan | Kabul, Delhi | 1290}} | 1320}} | 30 |
| Khwarazmian dynasty | Persia | Urgench | 1077}} | 1221}} | 144 |
| Konbaung Dynasty | Myanmar | Mandalay | 1752}} | 1885}} | 133 |
| Kong Empire | West Africa | Kong | 1710}} | 1898}} | 298 | Also known as the Wattara Empire or Ouattara Empire. |
| Korean Empire | Korean Peninsula | Hanseong | 1897}} | 1910}} | 13 | Was the last ruling Korean dynasties. |
| Kushan Empire | Afghanistan | Various, including Mathura, Peshawar, Begram, Taxila | 30}} | 345}} | 315 |
| Kushite Empire | Egypt, Nubia | Not specified | -760}} | -656}} | 104 |
| Latin Empire | Thrace, Asia Minor | Constantinople | 1204}} | 1261}} | 57 | See also Latinokratia. |
|
| Later Lê dynasty | Vietnam | Đông Kinh | 1428}} | 1789}} | 361 |
| Liao Dynasty | China | Shangjing | 915}} | 1125}} | 210 |
| Lodi Sultanate | Afghanistan | Delhi | 1451}} | 1526}} | 75 |
| Macedonian Empire | Macedonian Kingdom | Pella | -334}} | -323}} | 11 | Founded by Alexander the Great. |
| Majapahit Empire | Indonesian Archipelago | Majapahit, Wilwatikta | 1293}} | 1527}} | 234 |
| Mali Empire | West Africa | Niani, later Ka-ba | 1235}} | 1610}} | 375 | A Mandinka empire founded by Sundiata Keita. |
| Mamluk Sultanate | Egypt, Syria | Cairo | 1250}} | 1517}} | 267 | See also Islamic Empire. |
| Manchukuo | Manchuria | Hsinking | 1932}} | 1945}} | 1932|02|18|1945|08|15}} | Created as a Puppet state of the Japanese Empire, with Emperor Puyi (the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty) installed as nominal regent and emperor. |
| Maratha Empire | India | Raigad, later Satara | 1674}} | 1818}} | 144 | Founded by Shivaji Maharaj, also known as the Maratha Confederacy. |
| Marinid dynasty | Morocco | Fes | 1244}} | 1465}} | 221 |
| Massina Empire | West Africa | Hamdullahi | 1820}} | 1862}} | 42 |
| Mauryan Empire | Ancient India | Pataliputra | -321}} | -185}} | 136 | Founded by Chandragupta Maurya. The Mauryan Empire became the largest ever Indian empire under Ashoka and influenced empires from Europe to East Asia. |
| Median Empire | Persia | Ecbatana | -625}} | -549}} | 76 | First Iranian Empire, Founded by Deioces. |
| First Mexican Empire | Mexico | Mexico City | 1821}} | 1823}} | 2 | Preceded the Second Mexican Empire which was short lived (1864–1867). See also Mexican Imperial Orders. |
| Second Mexican Empire | Mexico | Mexico City | 1864}} | 1867}} | 3 | Succeeded the First Mexican Empire which was short lived (1821–1823). See also Mexican Imperial Orders. |
| Ming Dynasty | China | Nanjing (1368–1421), Beijing (1421–1644) | {{dts|1368}} | 1644}} | 276 | Founded by Zhu Yuanzhang the Great Marshal. |
| Mitanni Empire | Syria | Washukanni | -1500}} | -1300}} | 200 |
| Mongol Empire | Mongolia | Karakorum | 1206}} | 1368}} | 162 | Split into four empires (Yuan Dynasty, Ilkhanate, Chagatai Khanate and Golden Horde). Largest contiguous land empire. |
| Mughal Empire | India | Agra, Delhi | 1526}} | 1758}} | 232 | Founded by Babur. "Mughal" is a Persian word for the Mongols. |
| Nanda Empire | India | Pataliputra | -450}} | -350}} | 100 |
| Neo-Babylonian Empire | Mesopotamia | Babylon | -626}} | -539}} | 87 | See also Babylonian Empire. |
| Nguyễn Dynasty | Vietnam | Phú Xuân | 1802}} | 1945}} | 143 | Was the last ruling Vietnamese Dynasty. |
| North Sea Empire | Denmark | Ribe | 1016}} | 1035}} | 19 | As one historian put it: "When the 11th century began its fourth decade, Canute was, with the single exception of the Emperor, the most imposing ruler in Latin Christendom. ... [H]e was lord of four important realms and the overlord of other kingdoms. Though technically Canute was counted among the kings, his position among his fellow-monarchs was truly imperial. Apparently he held in his hands the destinies of two great regions: the British Isles and the Scandinavian peninsulas. His fleet all but controlled two important seas, the North and the Baltic. He had built an Empire."[3] |
| Empire of Nicaea | Bithynia | Nicaea | 1204}} | 1261}} | 57 | Successor state of the Byzantine Empire. |
| Northern Yuan Dynasty | Mongolia | Shangdu, Yingchang, Karakorum | 1368}} | 1635}} | 267 | Created after the expulsion of the Yuan Dynasty from China in 1368. |
| Omani Empire | Oman | Muscat | 1698}} | 1856}} | 260 | See Oman. |
| Ottoman Empire | Anatolia | Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, İstanbul | {{dts|1299}} | 1922}} | 623 | Predecessor of the Republic of Turkey. |
| Oyo Empire | Southwestern Nigeria | Oyo-Ile | 1400}} | 1905}} | 505 |
| Pagan Empire | Myanmar | Bagan | 849}} | 1297}} | 448 |
| Pahlavi Dynasty | Persia | Tehran | 1925}} | 1979}} | 1925|12|15|1979|03|31}} | The last Imperial dynasty of the Persian Empire. |
| Pala Empire | India | Pataliputra | 750}} | 1174}} | 424 |
| Palmyrene Empire | Syria | Palmyra | 260}} | 273}} | 13 | Broke off from the Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century. |
| Pandyan Empire | Ancient India | Madurai . Also Tirunelveli, Korkai for few years | -500}} | 1350}} | 1850 | A Tamil Empire.' |
| Parthian Empire | Persia | Various, including Asaak, Hecatompylos, Ecbatana, Ctesiphon, Nisa | -247}} | 224}} | 471 | Third Iranian Empire, Founded by Arsaces I. |
| Pontic Empire | Pontus | Amaseia, Sinope | -120}} | -47}} | 73 | Mithridates VI had the title: King of Kings. |
| Portuguese Empire | Portugal | Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro (1815–1821) | 1415}} | 1999}} | 1415|08|21|1999|12|20}} | Was the first global empire and the earliest and longest lived of the colonial Western European empires. See also United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. |
| Ptolemaic Empire | Egypt | Alexandria | -305}} | -30}} | 275 | See also Diadochi. |
| Qajar Dynasty{{citation needed>date=February 2010}} | Persia | Tehran | 1794}} | 1925}} | 131 |
| Qin Dynasty | China | Xianyang | -221}} | -206}} | 15 | First dynasty of the Imperial Period. |
| Qing Dynasty | China | Shenyang, Beijing | 1644}} | 1912}} | 268 | Last dynasty of the Imperial Period. |
| Rashidun Caliphate | Saudi Arabia | Medina, Kufa | 632}} | 661}} | 29 | Predecessor of the Umayyad Caliphate, See also Islamic Empire. |
| Rashtrakuta Dynasty | India | Manyakheta | 753}} | 982}} | 229 |
| Roman Empire | Italy | Rome, Constantinople | -27}} | 1453}} | 1480 | Together with The Roman Kingdom, The Roman Republic and the Byzantine Empire, direct Roman states lasted from 753 BC until 1453 AD, 2206 years. |
| Rouran Khaganate | Inner China | Not specified | 330}} | 555}} | 225 |
| Rozwi Empire | Southern Africa | Danangombe | 1660}} | 1866}} | 206 |
| Russian Empire (Romanov) | Russia | Saint Petersburg | 1721}} | 1917}} | 196 | Successor state of the Tsardom of Russia. |
| Saadi dynasty | Morocco | Marrakech | 1554}} | 1659}} | 105 | Destroyed and colonized the Songhai Empire. |
| Safavid Dynasty | Persia | Tabriz, Qazvin, Esfahan | 1501}} | 1736}} | 235 |
| Saffarid Dynasty | Persia | Zaranj | 867}} | 1002}} | 135 |
| Sassanid Dynasty | Persia | Ctesiphon | 224}} | 651}} | 427 | Fourth Iranian Empire. |
| Satavahana Dynasty | India | Amaravathi village, Guntur district Dharanikota | -230}} | 220}} | 450 | An Andhra Dynasty which preceded the Vengi Dynasty of Andhra. |
| Samanid Dynasty | Persia | Balkh, Bukhara | 819}} | 999}} | 180 |
| Seleucid Empire | Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria | Seleucia, Antioch | -312}} | -63}} | 249 | See also Diadochi. |
| Serbian Empire | Serbia | Skopje, Prizren | 1346}} | 1371}} | 25 | Founded by Stephen Uroš IV (Dušan the Mighty), fell into feudal disarray after his death. |
| Shu Han | China | Chengdu | 221}} | 263}} | 42 | See also Three Kingdoms. |
| Siam Empire | Thailand | Bangkok | 1782}} | 1932}} | 150 |
| Sikh Empire | Punjab region, India | Amritsar | 1733}} | 1849}} | 116 | Preceded the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent. |
| Sokoto Caliphate | West Africa | Sokoto (1804-1850), (1851-1902), Gudu (1804), Birnin Konni (1850, 1903) | 1804}} | 1903}} | 99 |
| Song Dynasty | China | Bianjing (960–1127), Lin'an (1127–1279) | {{dts|960}} | 1279}} | 319 | Founded by Zhao Kuangyi the Great Ancestor. |
| Songhai Empire | West Africa | Gao | 1340}} | 1591}} | 251 | Former vassal of the Mali Empire which became one of the largest African empires in history. |
| Spanish Empire | Iberian Peninsula | Madrid | 1402}} | 1975}} | 573 | Was founded with the conquest of the Canary Islands. It was one of the first global empires. |
| Srivijaya Empire | Indonesian Archipelago | Palembang, Mataram | 683}} | 1293}} | 610 | was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra,Indonesia, then based on Mataram (Medang Kingdom) under Sailendra's Dynasty |
| Sui Dynasty | China | Chang'an | 581}} | 618}} | 37 |
| Shunga Empire | India | Pataliputra, Vidisa | -185}} | -73}} | 112 | Magadha dynasty that controlled North-central and Eastern India. |
| Swedish Empire | Sweden | Stockholm | 1611}} | 1718}} | 107 | See also Swedish overseas colonies. |
| Tahirid Dynasty | Persia | Nishapur | 821}} | 873}} | 52 |
| Tang Dynasty | China | Chang'an (618–904), Luoyang (904–907) | {{dts|618}} | 907}} | 289 | Founded By Li Yuan (aka. Emperor Gaozu of Tang). |
| Tay Son Dynasty | Vietnam | Phú Xuân | 1778}} | 1802}} | 24 |
| Empire of Thessalonica | Epirus, Kingdom of Thessalonica | Thessaloniki | 1224}} | 1246}} | 42 | Evolved from the Despotate of Epirus. |
| Third Reich | Germany | Berlin, Hamburg (1933–1945), Flensburg (1945) | 1933}} | 1945}} | 1933|01|30|1945|05|23}} | Nazi Germany signed a treaty (Tripartite Pact) with the Japanese and Italian Empires. |
| Tibetan Empire | Tibet | Lhasa | 755}} | 870}} | 115 |
| Tondo Dynasty | Philippines | Tondo | 900}} | 1587}} | 687 |
| Timurid Empire | Persia and Central Asia | Samarkand, Herat | 1370}} | 1526}} | 156 | Persianized form of the Mongolian word kürügän, Turko-Mongol Empire. |
| Tlemcen | Algeria | Tlemcen | 1235}} | 1556}} | 321 | Zayyanid dynasty |
| Empire of Trebizond | Pontus | Trebizond | 1204}} | 1461}} | 257 | Successor state of the Byzantine Empire and client state of Kingdom of Georgia |
| Toltec Empire | Mesoamerica | Tollan-Xicocotitlan | 496}} | 1122}} | 626 |
| Toungoo Dynasty | Toungoo | Myanmar | 1510}} | 1752}} | 242 |
| Toucouleur Empire | West Africa | Ségou | 1848}} | 1893}} | 45 |
| Tu'i Tonga Empire | Tonga, Pacific Ocean | Mu'a | 950}} | 1865}} | 915 | See History of Tonga. |
| Turgesh Khaganate | Turkistan | Balasagun | 699}} | 766}} | 67 | Founded as a successor of West Turkish empire. |
| Umayyad Caliphate | Syria | Damascus, Córdoba (Capital-in-exile) | 661}} | 750}} | 89 | Successor of the Rashidun Caliphate, See also Islamic Empire. |
| Uyunid dynasty | Arabian | Al-Hasa, Qatif | 1076}} | 1253}} | 163 | The Uyunids, were a Sunni Arab dynasty that ruled Bahrain for 163 years, from the 11th to the 13th centuries. |
| Uyghur Khaganate | Central Asia | Ordubaliq | 742}} | 848}} | 106 | 742–848 Founded as a successor of Göktürk Khaganate, 848–1036 Gansu state, 856–1209 Turfan state. |
| Vijayanagara Empire | South India | Vijayanagara | 1336}} | 1646}} | 310 | The founding of the original kingdom was based on the principality of Anegondi. |
| Wari Empire | Peru, Bolivia | Huari/Tiwanaku | 500}} | 1100}} | 600 | It is a matter of conflict as to whether it was a real organized state that could be called an empire. If so, it would be considered the first empire in the Americas. |
| Wassoulou Empire | West Africa | Bissandugu | 1878}} | 1895}} | 45 | Also known as the Mandinka Empire. |
| Wei Empire | China | Luoyang | 220}} | 265}} | 45 | See also Three Kingdoms. |
| Western Chalukya Empire | South India | Manyakheta, Basavakalyan | 973}} | 1189}} | 216 |
| Western Roman Empire | Italy | Mediolanum, Ravenna | 395}} | 476}} | 81 | The western half of the Roman Empire. |
| Eastern Wu | China | Wuchang, Jianye | 229}} | 280}} | 51 | See also Three Kingdoms. |
| Western Xia Dynasty | China | Xingqing | 1038}} | 1227}} | 189 | Also called the Tangut Dynasty. |
| Xin Dynasty | China | Chang'an | 9}} | 23}} | 14 | The Xin Dynasty had only one ruling Emperor. |
| Yuan Dynasty | China, Mongolia | Dadu | 1271}} | 1368}} | 97 | Division of the Mongol Empire. The Yuan emperors had nominal supremacy over western khanates. |
| Zand Dynasty | Persia | Shiraz | 1750}} | 1794}} | 44 |
| Zhou Dynasty | China | Fenghao, Wangcheng, Chengzhou | -1046}} | -256}} | 794 | Zenith of bronze age in China |
| Zulu Empire | South Africa | KwaBulawayo, Ulundi | 1818}} | 1897}} | 79 |
These governments, confederations and other entities have sometimes been informally referred to as "empires". Some did not fit the modern definition of empire (e.g. the Delian League), some were self-proclaimed by their first and often last ruler, others were short-lived attempts to turn an existing government into an empire, and there are also instances of the word "empire" being used to refer to unofficial spheres of influence which do not consider themselves empires.
1. ^https://www.britannica.com/place/Koguryo
2. ^{{cite web | title=Chronological table 5 1 December 1946 – 23 June 1947 | publisher = National Diet Library | url = http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/history05.html |accessdate = September 30, 2010}}
3. ^{{cite book|first=Laurence M|last=Larson|title=Canute the Great, 995(circ)-1035, and the rise of Danish imperialism during the Viking age|year=1912|publisher=Putnam}}
4. ^{{cite book|last=Davies|first=Norman|year=1996|title=Europe: a history|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University 5555Press|isbn=9780198201717|page=554|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jrVW9W9eiYMC&pg=PA554|quote=Poland-Lithuania was another country which experienced its 'Golden Age' during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The realm of the last Jagiellons was absolutely the largest state in Europe.}}
5. ^{{cite book|last=Wandycz|first=Piotr Stefan|year=2001|title=The price of freedom: a history of East Central Europe from the Middle Ages to the present|edition=2nd|location=London [u.a.]|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-25491-5|page=66|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m5plR3x6jLAC&pg=PA66|quote=The multinational character of the Habsburg monarchy was comparable to that of the Commonwealth [...]}}
6. ^{{cite book|year=2014|editor-last=McKenna|editor-first=Amy|title=Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland|series=Britannica guide to countries of the European Union|location=Chicago|publisher=Britannica Educational Publishing|isbn=9781615309917|page=203|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ef2cAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA203|quote=Lithuania was also a powerful empire and dominated much of eastern Europe in the 14th–16th centuries in close alignment with Poland; then, from 1569, it was part of a confederation with Poland [...]}}
7. ^{{cite encyclopedia|year=2005|last=Lozny|first=Ludomir|title=Poland|editor-last=Skutsch|editor-first=Carl|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of the world's minorities|location=New York [u.a.]|publisher=Routledge|volume=3|isbn=9781135193881|page=963|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXYKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA963|quote=It was indeed an Eastern European empire, a multiethnic and multicultural state with great economic strength and strong military power, controlling most of central and eastern European politics.}}
8. ^{{cite book|last=Kupisz|first=Dariusz|year=2012|chapter=The Polish-Lithuanian army in the reign of King Stefan Bathory (1576–1586)|chapterurl=https://books.google.com/books?id=ie8xAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA63|editor-last=Davies|editor-first=Brian L.|title=Warfare in Eastern Europe, 1500-1800|series=History of warfare|volume=72|location=Boston|publisher=Brill|isbn=9789004221963|page=63|quote=In terms of territorial expanse in Europe the Polish-Lithuanian state was surpassed only by Russia and the Ottoman Empire and in respect to population was behind only France, Spain, and the German Empire.}}
9. ^{{cite book|last=Davies|first=Brian L.|year=2011|title=Empire and military revolution in Eastern Europe: Russia's Turkish wars in the eighteenth century|series=Continuum studies in military history|volume=|others=|edition=|location=London [u.a.]|publisher=Continuum|isbn=9781441170040|page=29|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H1cSBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA29|quote=Poland-Lithuania had entered the seventeenth century as one of the great powers in Eastern Europe.}}
10. ^Liesbeth van de Grift, Lexington Books, 2012, Securing the Communist State: The Reconstruction of Coercive Institutions in the Soviet Zone of Germany and Romania, 1944-1948, p. 21
11. ^Andrew Arato, Transaction Publishers, 1991, Crisis and Reform in Eastern Europe, p. 162
12. ^D. Deletant,Springer, 2006, Hitler's Forgotten Ally: Ion Antonescu and his Regime, Romania 1940-1944, pp. 85 and 267