Vanished Nations: A Journey Through Asia’s Forgotten States (1860-2018)

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Ever wondered what the map of Asia looked like before the borders we know today? Prepare to be amazed by the rich tapestry of nations that once called this vast continent home. Thanks to the meticulous work of Nicholas Danforth, we can now visualize the ebb and flow of Asian geopolitics over 158 years.

Have you ever wondered what Asia looked like before the borders we know today? Thanks to the detailed work of Nicholas Danforth, we can now visualize how Asian geopolitics shifted over 158 years. Let’s take a journey through some of the most interesting former states:

• Republic of Ararat (1927-1930). This short-lived Kurdish state met a swift end when Turkey adjusted its borders and launched a devastating aerial assault on rebel bases.
• Sultanate of Aceh (1496-1903). For over four centuries, Aceh dominated the strategic Strait of Malacca. Its fall marked the end of an era for Southeast Asian sultanates and Dutch colonial expansion.
• Emirate of Asir (1917-1934). Once an Ottoman vassal, Asir’s bid for independence ended with Saudi annexation. Interestingly, separatist sentiments resurfaced in 2010.
• Azerbaijan People’s Government (1945-1946). This Soviet puppet state’s creation led to Iran filing the first-ever complaint to the newly-formed United Nations.
• Bangsamoro Republic (1974, 2012, 2013). This Muslim separatist state has declared independence multiple times, most notably in 2013 with a dramatic 17-day siege in Zamboanga City.
• State of Bhopal (15-25 August 1947). In a display of defiance, the Prince of Bhopal refused to join the newly independent India… for ten days. Sometimes, you just need to make a point.
• Emirate of Bukhara (1785-1920) Built on ancient Silk Road trading posts, Bukhara’s fall to the Soviets marked the end of an era. Its territory was divided between four Soviet republics.
• Islamic State of Dagestan (Aug-Sept 1999). When Islamists occupied 15 villages and declared independence, Russia responded with overwhelming force, inadvertently ending Chechnya’s de facto independence too.
• Turkic Islamic Republic of East Turkestan (1933-1934). Caught between Chinese fears of separatism and Soviet worries about Islamic revolts, this fledgling state was crushed by a Soviet-backed Chinese warlord.
• Republic of East Turkestan (1944-1949). In an ironic twist, this Soviet-instigated rebellion ended up aligning with Mao’s Beijing government.
• Republic of Ezo (Jan-Jun 1869). When Japan’s warrior class faced obsolescence, some fled north to Hokkaido and established a democracy inspired by the USA. It didn’t last long.
• Republic of Formosa (May-Oct 1895). When China ceded Taiwan to Japan, the islanders decided to go it alone. They even printed currency before Japanese troops arrived five months later.
• Soviet Republic of Gilan (1920-1921). This short-lived state proves that sometimes the enemy of your enemy is not your friend. Soviet methods alienated the locals, and when Moscow withdrew support, the republic collapsed.
• Republic of Hatay (1938-1939). Hatay’s independence was a brief stepping stone to joining Turkey, as France hoped to gain an ally against Nazi Germany.
• Kingdom of Hejaz (1916-1925). Set up by the British to fight the Ottomans, Hejaz’s king later refused to cooperate. The British returned the favor by not intervening when Saudi Arabia annexed it.
• State of Hyderabad (Aug 1947-Sept 1948). Hyderabad’s dreams of independence lasted just over a year before India decided it was time for a forceful integration.
• Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (1991-2000). Ichkeria’s bid for independence ended when its religious leader switched sides, becoming president of Russian-aligned Chechnya.
• Inner Mongolian People’s Republic (Sept-Nov 1945). From Japanese puppet to Soviet plaything, Inner Mongolia’s taste of independence lasted only two months.
• The Islamic State (2014-2017). This terrorist organization’s brief but brutal reign left an indelible mark on the region and world consciousness.
• Jabal Shammar (1836-1921). For generations, Jabal Shammar and the House of Saud vied for control of Arabia. Backing the Ottomans in WWI proved to be Jabal Shammar’s final misstep.
• Khanate of Kalat (Aug 1947-March 1948). Kalat’s brief flirtation with independence ended with a reluctant accession to Pakistan. The Khan’s brother kept the dream alive in Afghan exile.
• Khanate of Khiva (1511-1920). Ruled for over three centuries by Genghis Khan’s descendants, Khiva fell to the Soviets and was split between three Central Asian republics.
• Khanate of Kokand (1709-1876). After centuries of independence, Kokand fell to the Russian Empire’s expansion. Its legacy lives on, split between four modern Central Asian nations.
• Kingdom of Kurdistan (1919, 1922-1923). Mahmud Barzanji’s rebellions against British Iraq led to harsh responses, including chemical weapon bombardments by the RAF.
• Lanfang Republic (1777-1884). One of history’s early experiments with republicanism, Lanfang flourished for over a century before succumbing to Dutch colonial ambitions.
• Free Lebanon State (1979-1984). Born in the chaos of the Lebanese Civil War, this Israel-aligned Christian enclave disappeared as quickly as it emerged.
• Republic of Mahabad (Jan-Dec 1946). Existing alongside the Azerbaijan People’s Government, Mahabad collapsed when the Soviets withdrew their support.
• Manchukuo (1932-1945). Japan’s creation in occupied Manchuria gained recognition from several countries, including, surprisingly, the USSR. Its fall marked the end of Japan’s continental ambitions.
• Kingdom of Manipur (1947-1949). Manipur’s attempt to join India while claiming independence ended with a firm Indian response two years later.
• Republic of Negros (1898-1899). In a tale stranger than fiction, Spanish forces surrendered to rebels wielding fake wooden weapons. The republic’s independence was short-lived, falling to American forces the following year.
• Kingdom of Sarawak (1841-1888). English explorer James Brooke turned a reward for quelling a rebellion into his own expanding kingdom.
• Kingdom of Sedang (1888-1890). French adventurer Marie-Charles David de Mayrena’s jungle kingdom lasted just long enough for him to try selling trading rights to various European powers. His reign ended with a snake bite.
• United Suvadive Republic (1959-1963). When southern atolls of the Maldives declared independence, they probably didn’t expect the prime minister to show up with a gunboat.

From month-long republics to centuries-old khanates, these lost states of Asia tell a story of ambition, resistance, and the ever-changing nature of geopolitics. They remind us that the borders we know today are just a snapshot of the long and turbulent history of this diverse continent.

As you look at today’s map of Asia, remember the ghosts of nations past that once called this vast land home. Their stories, though often forgotten, continue to influence the region’s politics, culture, and people to this day.