Name↕ | Peak Area (million km²)↕ | Peak Year↕ | Founder↕ | Capital↕ | Primary Continent↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
British Empire | 35.5 | 1920 | Elizabeth I (colonial era) | London | Global |
Mongol Empire | 24 | 1270 | Genghis Khan | Karakorum | Asia |
Russian Empire | 22.8 | 1895 | Ivan III (consolidation) / Peter I (empire) | Saint Petersburg | Europe / Asia |
Spanish Empire | 13.7 | 1810 | Ferdinand & Isabella | Madrid | Global |
Qing Dynasty | 14.7 | 1790 | Nurhaci / Huang Taiji | Beijing | Asia |
French Colonial Empire | 11.5 | 1920 | Various (colonial expansion) | Paris | Global |
Abbasid Caliphate | 11.1 | 750 | Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah | Baghdad | Asia / Africa |
Umayyad Caliphate | 11.1 | 720 | Muawiya I | Damascus | Asia / Africa / Europe |
Yuan Dynasty | 11 | 1310 | Kublai Khan | Khanbaliq (Beijing) | Asia |
Portuguese Empire | 10.4 | 1815 | Henry the Navigator (exploration era) | Lisbon | Global |
Ottoman Empire | 5.2 | 1683 | Osman I | Constantinople (Istanbul) | Europe / Asia / Africa |
Roman Empire | 5 | 117 | Augustus (as empire) | Rome | Europe / Africa / Asia |
Achaemenid Persian Empire | 5.5 | 480 BCE | Cyrus the Great | Persepolis | Asia / Africa |
Han Dynasty | 6.5 | 100 BCE | Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu) | Chang'an | Asia |
Mughal Empire | 4 | 1690 | Babur | Agra / Delhi | Asia |
Byzantine Empire | 3.5 | 555 | Constantine I (founding) / Justinian I (peak) | Constantinople | Europe / Asia |
Maurya Empire | 5 | 250 BCE | Chandragupta Maurya | Pataliputra | Asia |
Tang Dynasty | 5.4 | 715 | Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu) | Chang'an | Asia |
Macedonian Empire | 5.2 | 323 BCE | Alexander the Great | Babylon (at peak) / Pella | Europe / Asia / Africa |
Japanese Empire | 7.4 | 1942 | Emperor Meiji (modern expansion) | Tokyo | Asia / Pacific |
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Frequently asked questions
How is the Largest Empires By Area list ranked?
The Largest Empires by Area list is ranked by community votes. Every visitor can pick one option over another in head-to-head matchups, and the running totals determine the order you see. No editors or algorithms — just real people voting.
How many entries are in this Largest Empires By Area dataset?
This dataset contains 20 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.
Can I download the Largest Empires By Area data?
Yes. The download buttons at the top of the page give you the full 20-row dataset as CSV, JSON, or Excel. Use of the data is permitted under a Creative Commons Attribution license — credit dtbse.com when you republish.
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