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February 5, 2025 | 03:21 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - With the emergence of advanced civilizations, sizable kingdoms have failed to retain their empire. Ranging factors like natural disasters, foreign invasions, and resource depletion resulted in the disappearance of these sovereignties.
However, did you know there are currently still prevailing smallest kingdoms in existence? Helmed by hereditary rulers and other chosen leaders, these monarchies are prized for retaining their dominance on certain territories.
6 Smallest Kingdoms in the World
Britannica highlighted the smallest surviving kingdoms in the world with a mention of Bhutan, Brunei, and Tonga. Other empires are as follows:
Eswatini
The world’s smallest kingdom, Eswatini, has a rich natural abundance, with a variety of flora and fauna spanning across its landscape. Citing the Kingdom of Eswatini, this empire currently houses around 132 mammals, including white rhinos, elephants, hippos, and giraffes in Hlane National Park.
Currently reigned by King Mswati III, Eswatini used to have a ruling leader, King Sobhuza II, who married 70 women. According to Britannica, this lavish lifestyle of the royal family has resulted in a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS as well as poverty.
Lesotho
Spanning across an area of 30,355 square kilometers, Lesotho is a kingdom that owes its autonomy to the mountainous landscapes protecting its borders. Long before it became an independent nation, Lesotho endured decades of tumultuous political circumstances, periodic economic crises, and grinding poverty. Beginning in the 1990s, Lesotho embraced modernization programs, which eventually brought new wealth to the country.
In modern times, the nation’s tourism and diamond industry have also helped in realizing material improvements, with Maseru, the country’s capital, transforming into one of Southern Africa’s most attractive cities.
Brunei Darussalam
Renowned for its oil-rich revenues, Brunei Darussalam is among the smallest kingdoms in the world that is led by a sultan who acts as both head of state and head of government. Despite only retrieving its independence back in 1984, Brunei has grown into one of the richest countries in Asia. It is noted that the rising demand for exports significantly influences Brunei’s GDP, with crude oil, petrochemical products, methanol, and urea fertilizer being key commodities.
Tonga
Amidst the 170 islands, the kingdom of Tonga is divided into three major communities: Vava’u in the north, Ha’apai in the center, and Tongatapu in the south. Additionally, the country also has isolated islands within its range of areas that include Tafahi, Niuatoputapu, and Niuafo’ou. Britannica mentioned that Tonga has been a constitutional monarchy since 1875, renowned for its notable monarch Queen Salote Tupou III, who ruled from 1918 to 1965.
Bhutan
As one of the smallest kingdoms existing, Bhutan once had no law codes or courts, allowing the king to rule autocratically. By the late 1990s, King Jigme Singye Wangchuk started to foster democratic reforms, which ended the previous dictatorships. Eventually, in 1999, the government of Bhutan welcomed television broadcasting and the Internet for the first time.
Wallis and Futuna
With an entire land area of just 140 square kilometers, Wallis and Futuna closes the list of the small kingdoms in the world. While both volcanic specks have a tight relation with French, Walis traces its ancestral connections to Tonga and Futuna with Samoa, as per Lonely Planet. As of the current moment, Wallis retains its place as the more populous island of around 10,750 residents among the two.
Despite the dominance of modern nation-states, the world’s smallest kingdoms continue to uphold their unique heritage and governance. These monarchies, though small in size, stand as testaments to resilience, tradition, and historical significance. If you are into historical coverage, check out also the coverage of the biggest empires in the world here.
Editor’s Choice: The History of the Kutai Kingdom: Its Origin and First King
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