While Europe today has 12 monarchies out of a total of 44 countries, the European continent has seen dozens, if not hundreds of kingdoms come and go over the centuries. And if some lasted close to 1,000 years others couldn’t even make it an entire decade. Here are 10 such European kingdoms that most people have all but forgotten.
10. The Odrysian Kingdom (c. 480 BC – 30 BC)
In the aftermath of their failed invasion of Greece in 480 BC, the mighty Persian Empire under Xerxes I was forced out of Europe. Taking advantage of the power vacuum left behind, the Thracians under King Teres I would go on to found the Odrysian Kingdom. Together with his son, Sitalces, Teres I created the largest independent political entity in the Eastern Balkans up until that point. At its greatest extent, the Odrysian Kingdom encompassed present-day Bulgaria, parts of northern Greece, most of European Turkey, and southeastern Romania.
In their early history, the Odrysians were able to stop the Scythian advance south of the Danube River. They were also allies of Athens, taking part in the Peloponnesian War on their side. Although probably exaggerated, the Odrysian Kingdom mustered an impressive force of around 150,000 men to attack and easily conquer Macedonia, which was a Spartan ally at the time. Their golden age would come to an end with the assassination of King Kotys in 359 BC. The plot was masterminded by none other than their long-time allies, the Athenians, who rightfully feared the Thracians would soon conquer the Greek colony cities dotting the southern Thracian coast.
