The Longest Lasting Empires In History

Years And Years And Years And...

When it comes to empires, one of the most famous is probably the British Empire—which lasted from 1583 to 1997. And while 414 years might seem like a long time, in the history of empires, it's merely a drop in the bucket. The British Empire didn't last long enough to make our top 40. But these did...

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40: Danish Colonial Empire (417 Years)

Also known as the Dano-Norwegian colonies—this empire lasted from 1536 to 1953 and, at its peak, spanned multiple continents. The colonies were controlled by Denmark–Norway until 1814—after which it was just Denmark.

Christiansted Seen From Peters Farm, Danish Empire Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons

39: Roman Empire (422 Years)

While we're talking the unified empire here (27 BC to 395 AD), we will note that the eastern empire lasted until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. So, make of that as you want.

View of the Colosseum from a bird's eye view Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Wikimedia Commons

38: Hittite Empire (422 Years)

The empire lasted from 1600 BC to 1178 BC—but the Hittites were at the height of their powers Between the 15th and 13th centuries BC, when they were one of the dominant powers of the Near East.

Sphinx Gate, Alaca Höyük, Turkey Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

37: Sasanian Empire (427)

Lasting from 224 to 651, they were the last pre-Islamic Iranian empire and the second longest Persian imperial dynasty.

Rock relief of Ardashir I receiving the ring of kingship by the Zoroastrian supreme god Ahura Mazda. Wojciech Kocot, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

36: Chola Empire (431 Years)

From 848–1279 they were a medieval maritime empire based in southern India.

Chola Empire princess Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

35: Mali Empire (435)

Lasting from 1235–1670, at the height of their powers, the Mali empire was the largest empire in West Africa.

Mansa Musa, most famous Mali empire's ruler Bibliothèque nationale de France, Wikimedia Commons

34: Pagan Kingdom (438)

The empire ruled from 849–1297 and was the first Burmese kingdom to unify the region that we know today as Myanmar.

Ananda Temple, Bagan, Myanmar Hybernator, Wikimedia Commons

33: French Colonial Empire (446)

It lasted from 1534 to 1980, comprising the run of both the "first" and "second" French colonial empires. At the start of WWI, the French colonial empire was the second largest in the world (behind the British Empire)

French colonial empire in Africa Edouard-Auguste Nousveaux, Wikimedia Commons

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32: Odrysian Kingdom (450 Years)

Founded by King Teres I, the empire ran from 480 BC to 30 BC in what is now present-day Bulgaria, southeastern Romania (Northern Dobruja), northern Greece, and European Turkey.

Sofia - King Kotys I's Borovo Treasure Ann Wuyts, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

31: Parthian Empire (471 Years)

Centered in ancient Iran from 247 BC to 224 AD.

Parthian Empire borders Keeby101, Wikimedia Commons

30: New Kingdom Of Egypt (473 Years)

The time frame might not be exact, but carbon dating has put the New Kingdom of Egypt in the 1550 BC to 1077 BC range.

Abu Simbel Temple of Ramesses II, New Kingdom of Egypt Than217, Wikimedia Commons

29: Goryeo (474 Years)

Goryeo was a Korean state founded in 918—it unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until the Great Joseon State in 1392.

Royal Palace Mandala, Goryeo empire Goryeo-Dynasty artist, Wikimedia Commons

28: Georgian Empire (482 Years)

From 1008 to 1490 this was a medieval Eurasian monarchy that saw the height of its political and economic strength during the 11th to 13th centuries.

Iviron Monastery, Georgian empire CosmoSolomon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

27: Spanish Empire (496 Years)

It began with Christopher Columbus sailing the ocean blue in 1492 and lasted almost 500 years, until 1976.

The return of Columbus in Spain, 1493 Ricardo Balaca, Wikimedia Commons

26: Wari Empire (500 Years)

It began in Peru's Ayacucho Basin and eventually expanded to consume much of the country—from 600 to 1100.

Pikillacta- Large Wari architectural site 20 miles east of Cusco AgainErick, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

25: Funan (500 Years)

It lasted from 50 to 550, covering what today we know as Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Wat Asram Moha Russei, Funan empire Tonbi ko, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

24: Bruneian Sultanate (520 Years)

Ran from 1368 to 1888, it became a British protectorate in the 19th century.

Magellan And His Crew Meeting The Bruni (Bruneian) Sultan George M. Towle, Wikimedia Commons

23: Grand Duchy Of Lithuania (559 Years)

In power from 1236–1795. In 1440 this Grand Duchy was the largest European state.

Trakai Island Castle, Trakai, Lithuania BigHead, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

22: Chimor (570 Years)

This empire ruled from 900 to 1470—when it was conquered by the Inca emperor Topa Inca Yupanqui.

Chimor empire Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

21: Portuguese Empire (584 Years)

Ranging from 1415 and the conquest of Ceuta in North Africa to 1999's transfer of sovereignty of Macau to China.

Portuguese Empire, ships Royal Museums Greenwich, Wikimedia Commons

20: Oyo Empire (596 Years)

This was an empire of the Yoruba people in West Africa, from 1300 to 1896 (although some sources claim a much shorter timeframe (1600-1836)).

Oyo ruler The National Archives UK, Wikimedia Commons

19: Kingdom Of Armenia (Antiquity) (618 Years)

From 331 BC to 428 AD, it covers the reigns of three royal dynasties: Orontid (331 BC–200 BC), Artaxiad (189 BC–12 AD), and Arsacid (52–428).

Tigranes the Great ruler of Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity) Fusso, Wikimedia Commons

18: Ottoman Empire (623 Years)

In power from 1299 to 1922, the Turkish War of Independence led to the formation of the Republic of Turkey and the end of the Ottoman monarchy in 1922—thus formally ending the Ottoman Empire.

Ottoman Sultan Selim III Konstantin Kapıdağlı, Wikimedia Commons

17: Toltec Empire (626 Years)

From 496 to 1122—although the years are debated for this pre-Hispanic Mexican empire.

Toltec Empire soldiers statues AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

16: Khmer Empire (629 Years)

Centered in what is today northern Cambodia from 802–1431.

Khmer Empire temple Dharma, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

15: Habsburg monarchy (636 Years)

It lasted from 1282 to its end in 1918, with their defeat in WWI.

Maria Theresa, Habsburg monarchy ruler Johann Daniel Herz, Wikimedia Commons

14: Macedonia (660 Years)

From 808 BC to 148 BC—and ruled for a short period (336–323 BC) by none other than Alexander the Great.

Alexander The Great Mosaic Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

13: Carthaginian Empire (668 Years)

From 814 BC to146 BC.

Carthage National Museum Representation Of City, capital city of the civilisation of Ancient Carthage and later Roman Carthage. damian entwistle, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

12: Ethiopian Empire (704 Years)

Lasting from 1270 to 1974, it began with Yekuno Amlak establishing the Solomonic dynasty and lasted until the 1974 coup d'état by the Derg (ending the reign of the final Emperor, Haile Selassie).

Ethiopian Empire Walter Mittelholzer, Wikimedia Commons

11: Goguryeo (705 Years)

A Korean Kingdom that lasted from 37 BC to 668.

Goguryeo Kingdom tomb kevsunblush, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

10: Kingdom Of Benin (717 Years)

No relation to the modern republic of Benin. From 1180–1897 the Kingdom of Benin was within what is now southern Nigeria.

Drawing Of Benin City H. Ling Roth, Wikimedia Commons

9: Genoese Republic (792 Years)

A medieval and early modern maritime republic from the years 1005 to 1797 (although the year of establishment is debated).

Genova 1481 Cristofaro Grasso, Wikimedia Commons

8: Holy Roman Empire (844 Years)

In power from 962 to 1806—although one could argue it lasted even longer as it was first established in 800 when Pope Leo III crowned Frankish king Charlemagne as Roman emperor. However, the title lapsed in 924. It was revived in 926 and because of that two-year period, we decided not to count those first years in the total.

Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor Hans Burgkmair the Elder, Wikimedia Commons

7: Tuʻi Tonga Empire (915 Years)

This Oceania empire ran from 950 to 1865.

Langi Tauʻatonga; ancient royal burial mound in Lapaha, Tonga Tauʻolunga, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

6: Kingdom Of Hungary (918 Years)

Beginning in 1000, the monarchy ended with the deposition of the last king, Charles IV, in 1918.

Coronation of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth of Austria as King and Queen of Hungary Edmund Tull, Wikimedia Commons

5: Byzantine Empire (1058 Years)

AKA the Eastern Roman Empire, it existed until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire in 1453

Justinian I Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

4: Magadhan Empire (1093 Years)

Established in 544 BC, it was an ancient Indian empire that succeeded the Magadha Mahajanapada.

Magadha Empire walls Chandan Singh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

3: Kanem–Bornu Empire (1193 Years)

An empire established in 700 on the African continent in what are now parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Libya, and Chad.

The fort was under Kanem-Bornu during the reign of Mai Idris in the late 16th-century Holger Reineccius, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, Wikimedia Commons

2: Assyrian Empire (1416 Years)

An ancient Mesopotamian civilization spanning 2025 BC to 609 BC.

Old Assyrian trading colony Klaus-Peter Simon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1: Kingdom Of Kush (1427 Years)

An ancient kingdom centered along the Nile Valley whose empirical reign ended in 350.

Nuri pyramids from northeast Bertramz, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons