List of Buddhist kingdoms and empires

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This list includes Buddhist kingdoms, empires, and khanates in South Asia, South East Asia, East Asia, Central Asia, West Asia and Eastern Europe.

## South Asia

[edit]

### Sri Lanka

[edit]

* Kingdom
* or Empire

| Established  | Disestablished  | Capital(s)  | Language(s)  | Today parts of

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Anuradhapura Kingdom | 437 BCE  | 1017 CE  | Anuradhapura | Sinhala |  Sri Lanka
Kingdom of Polonnaruwa | 1055 CE  | 1232 CE  | Polonnaruwa | Sinhala, Sanskrit |

* Sri Lanka
* India

Kingdom of Dambadeniya | 1220 CE  | 1345 CE  | Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Polonnaruwa, Kurunagala | Sinhala |  Sri Lanka
Kingdom of Gampola | 1341 CE  | 1408 CE  | Gampola | Sinhala
Kingdom of Kotte | 1412 CE  | 1597 CE  | Kotte | Sinhala
Kingdom of Sitawaka | 1521 CE  | 1594 CE  | Sitawaka | Sinhala
Kingdom of Kandy | 1469 CE  | 1815 CE  | Kandy | Sinhala, Tamil

### Rest of South Asia

[edit]

Buddhist Kingdoms and Empires in India[1]

* Kingdom
* or Empire

| Established  | Disestablished  | Capital(s)  | Language(s)  | Today parts of

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Magadha | 1100 BCE  | 345 BCE  | Rajagriha, Pataliputra | Sanskrit, Magadhi Prakrit, Ardhamagadhi |  India
Kosala | 1100 BCE  | 5th century BCE  | Ayodhya, Shravasti | Sanskrit |

* India
* Nepal

Malla | 7th century BCE  | 4th century BCE  | Kusinara, Pava | Prakrit |  India
Vajjika League | 6th century BCE  | 468 BCE  | Vesali | Prakrit, Sanskrit |

* India
* Nepal

Mauryan Empire | 322 BCE  | 184 BCE  | Pataliputra | Magadhi Prakrit |

* India
* Pakistan
* Bangladesh
* Afghanistan
* Nepal
* Tajikistan
* Iran

Apracharajas | 52 BCE  | 78 CE  | Gandhari Prakrit | Bajaur District |

* Afghanistan
* Pakistan

Western Satraps | 35 CE  | 415 CE  | Ujjain, Barygaza, Minnagara | Pali, Prakrit, Sanskrit |

* India
* Pakistan

Northern Satraps | 60 BCE  | 2nd century CE  | Sagala, Mathura |
Khadga dynasty | 625 CE  | 716 CE  | Karmanta Vasaka  |  |

* India
* Bangladesh

Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya | 1120 CE  | 1290 CE  | Bodhgaya | Sanskrit |  India
Kingdom of Sikkim | 1642 CE  | 1975 CE  | Yuksom, Rabdentse, Tumlong, Gangtok | Chöke, Sikkimese |  India
Pala Empire | 750 CE  | 1161 CE  | Bikrampur, Pataliputra, Somapura | Sanskrit |

* India
* Bangladesh

## South East Asia

[edit]

### Indonesia

[edit]

* Srivijaya (671–1025): Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand

### Malaysia

[edit]

* Langkasuka (1st century–15th century): Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar

### Philippines

[edit]

* Tondo (before 900–1589): Philippines

### Myanmar

[edit]

* Kingdom
* or Empire

| Established  | Disestablished  | Capital(s)  | Language(s)  | Today parts of

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Pyu-city State | 2nd century BCE  | 1050 CE  | Sri Ksetra, Halin, Beikthano, Pinle, Binnaka | Pyu |  Myanmar
Thaton Kingdom | 4th century BCE  | 1057 May 18  | Thaton | Mon
Pagan Kingdom | 849 CE  | 1297 CE  | Pagan | Old Burmese, Mon, Pyu
Myinsaing Kingdom | 1297 CE  | 1313 CE  | Myinsaing, Mekkhaya, Pinle | Burmese, Shan, Mon
Hanthawaddy Kingdom | 1287 CE  | 1552 CE  | Marthaban, Donwun, Pegu | Mon, Old Burmese |

* Myanmar
* Thailand

Shan States | 1215 CE  | 1885 CE  | Mogaung | Shan, Burmese |
Pinya Kingdom | 1313 CE  | 1365 CE  | Pinya | Burmese |  Myanmar
Sagaing Kingdom | 1315 CE  | 1365 CE  | Sagaing | Burmese
Kingdom of Ava | 1365 CE  | 1555 CE  | Sagaing, Pinya, Ava | Old Burmese, Shan
Prome Kingdom | 1482 CE  | 1542 CE  | Prome | Burmese
Toungoo dynasty | 1510 CE  | 1752 CE  | Toungoo, Pegu, Ava | Burmese |

* Myanmar
* Thailand
* Laos
* India
* China

Konbaung dynasty | 1752 CE  | 1885 CE  | Shwebo, Sagaing, Ava, Amarapura, Mandalay | Burmese |

* Myanmar
* Thailand
* India
* China

### Thailand

[edit]

* Kingdom
* or Empire

| Established  | Disestablished  | Capital(s)  | Language(s)  | Today parts of

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Dvaravati | 7th century CE  | 11th century CE  |  | Mon |  Thailand
Lavo Kingdom | 648 CE  | 1388 CE  | Lavo, Ayutthaya | Mon, Old Khmer, Thai
Haripunchai | 629 CE  | 1292 CE  | Haripunchai | Northern Thai, Pali, Mon, Lawa
Ngoenyang | 638 CE  | 1292 CE  | Hiran, Ngoenyang | Northern Thai
Phayao Kingdom | 1094 CE  | 1338 CE  | Phayao | Tai
Sukhothai Kingdom | 1238 CE  | 1584 CE  | Sukhothai, Song Khwae | Sukhothai |

* Thailand
* Myanmar
* Malaysia
* Laos

Nakhon SI Thammarat Kingdom | 13th century CE  | 1782 CE  | Nakhon Si Tammarat | Southern Thai, Pali, Sanskrit, Malay language, Tamil |
Lan Na | 1292 CE  | 1775 January 15  | Chiang Rai, Fang, Wiang Kum Kam, Chiang Mai | Northern Thai, Burmese language |

* Thailand
* Myanmar

Ayutthaya Kingdom | 1351 CE  | 1767 CE  | Ayutthaya, Phitsanulok, Lopburi | Siamese |

* Thailand
* Myanmar
* Cambodia
* Malaysia

Thonburi Kingdom | 1767 CE  | 1782 CE  | Thonburi | Thai |

* Thailand
* Laos

Rattanakosin Kingdom | 1782 CE  | 1932 CE  | Bangkok | Central Thai |

* Thailand
* Myanmar

### Cambodia

[edit]

* Kingdom
* or Empire

| Established  | Disestablished  | Capital(s)  | Language(s)  | Today parts of

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Chenla | 550 CE  | 802 CE  | Isanapura | Old Khmer, Sanskrit |

* Cambodia
* Thailand
* Laos
* Vietnam

Khmer Empire | 802 CE  | 1431 CE  | Mahendraparvata, Hariharalaya, Koh Ker, Yashodharapura | Old Khmer, Sanskrit, Dravidian languages |

* Cambodia
* Laos
* Vietnam
* Thailand

Post-Angkor Period | 1431 CE  | 1863 CE  | Chaktomuk, Longvek, Lvea Aem, Oudong | Middle Khmer, Khmer language |

* Cambodia
* Thailand
* Vietnam

### Laos

[edit]

* Kingdom
* or Empire

| Established  | Disestablished  | Capital(s)  | Language(s)  | Today parts of

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Lan Xang | 1353 CE  | 1707 CE  | Luang Prabang, Vientiane | Lao |

* Laos
* Thailand

Kingdom of Luang Prabang | 1707 CE  | 1893 CE  | Luang Prabang | Lao |

* Laos
* Thailand
* Vietnam
* China

Kingdom of Vientiane | 1707 CE  | 1828 CE  | Vientiane | Lao |

* Laos
* Thailand

Kingdom of Champasak | 1713 CE  | 1904 CE  | Champasak | Lao |

* Laos
* Thailand
* Cambodia
* Vietnam

Muang Phuan | 1707 CE  | 1899 CE  | Muang Phuan | Lao |

* Laos
* Vietnam

## East Asia

[edit]

### Northern China and Mongolian Plateau

[edit]

* Kingdom
* or Empire

| Established  | Disestablished  | Capital(s)  | Language(s)  | Today parts of

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Rouran Khaganate | 330 CE  | 555 CE  | Gansu, Mumocheng | Rouran, Mongolian, Chinese |

* China
* Mongolia
* Kazakhstan
* Russia

Uyghur Khaganate | 744 CE  | 847 CE  | Otuken, Ordu-Baliq | Old Uyghur, Middle Chinese
Liao dynasty | 916 CE  | 1125 CE  | Shangjing | Khitan, Middle Chinese, Jurchen |

* China
* Mongolia
* North Korea
* Russia

Yuan dynasty | 1271 CE  | 1368 CE  | Khanbaliq | Middle Mongol, Chinese, Old Uyghur |

* China
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* North Korea
* Russia
* South Korea

Northern Yuan dynasty | 1368 CE  | 1635 CE  | Shangdu, Yingchang, Karakorum | Mongolian, Chinese, Jurchen |

* China
* Mongolia
* Russia

Four Oirat | 1399 CE  | 1634 CE  |  | Mongolic (Oirat language)
Bogd Khanate | 1911 CE  | 1924 CE  | Niislel Khuree | Mongolian |

* Mongolia
* Russia

### Korea

[edit]

* Kingdom
* or Empire

| Established  | Disestablished  | Capital(s)  | Language(s)  | Today parts of

|
|
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|
|

Silla | 57 BCE  | 935 CE  | Seorabeo | Old Korean, Middle Chinese |

* North Korea
* South Korea

Goguryeo | 37 BCE  | 668 CE  | Jolbon, Gungnae, Pyongyang | Goguryeo, Classic Chinese |

* North Korea
* South Korea
* China

Baekje | 18 BCE  | 660 CE  | Wirye, Ungjin | Baekje, Classic Chinese |

* North Korea
* South Korea

Gaya confederacy | 42 CE  | 562 CE  | Gaya |  |  South Korea
Balhae | 698 CE  | 926 CE  | Dunhua | GoguryeoTungusic, Middle Chinese |

* North Korea
* China
* Russia

Later Baekje | 892 CE  | 936 CE  | Wansanju | Old Korean, Classic Chinese |  South Korea
Unified Silla | 668 CE  | 935 CE  | Seorabeol | Old Korean, Middle Chinese |

* North Korea
* South Korea
* China

Taebong | 901 CE  | 918 CE  | Songak, Cheolwon | Old Korean, Classic Chinese |

* North Korea
* South Korea

Goryeo | 918 CE  | 1392 CE  | Gaegyeong | Middle Korean, Classic Chinese

### Tibetan plateau

[edit]

* Kingdom
* or Empire

| Established  | Disestablished  | Capital(s)  | Language(s)  | Today parts of

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Tibetan empire | 618 CE  | 842 CE  | Lhasa | Tibetic languages |

* China
* Tajikistan
* Kyrgyzstan
* Afghanistan
* Pakistan
* Bhutan
* India

Phagmodrupa dynasty | 1354 CE  | 1618 CE  | Nêdong | Tibetan language |  China
Rinpungpa | 1435 CE  | 1565 CE  | Shigatse | Tibetan language
Tsangpa dynasty | 1565 CE  | 1642 CE  | Shigatse | Tibetan language
Khoshut Khanate | 1642 CE  | 1717 CE  |  | Tibetan language, Oirat language
Ganden Phodrang | 1642 CE  | 1959 CE  | Lhasa | Classical Tibetan and Standard Tibetan languages

## West Asia, East Europe

[edit]

### West Asia

[edit]

* Ilkhanate (1256–1295):

* Iraq
* Iran
* Syria
* Turkey
* Azerbaijan
* Armenia
* Georgia
* Russia
* Turkmenistan
* Afghanistan
* Tajikistan

### East Europe

[edit]

* Kalmyk Khanate (1630–1771):  Russia Kazakhstan

## Central Asia

[edit]

* Kushan Empire (30–375):

* Uzbekistan
* Afghanistan
* Pakistan
* India

* Hephthalites (440s–710):

* Uzbekistan
* Afghanistan
* China

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2023)

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## See also

[edit]

* History of Buddhism
* Buddhism

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Omvedt, Gail (18 August 2003). Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanism and Caste. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-0-7619-9664-4.