^Thailand had various countries, often in conflict with each other or vassals becoming master. Eg the Khmer were replaced by Siam. Their architectural styles also are hugely different (Khmer mostly built monumental stone edifices like the Anghor Wat, Siamese architecture is more about unusually large iteration of delicate wooden patterns).
Which country was never a colony or under foreign rule in its entire history?
- Thread starter God of Kings
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God of Kings
Ruler of all heads of state
Japan occupied Siam during the Second World War, thereby excluding Thailand.
Lohrenswald
世界的 bottom ranked physicist
They were allied with Japan, no?
Lexicus
Deity
Had to look it up. They got invaded by Japan and signed an agreement before being defeated to the effect that Japan could move troops through their land and they would join the war against the Western colonizers.
Sort of a grey area.
God of Kings
Ruler of all heads of state
Switzerland was founded by descendants of Germanic invaders and before that, it was part of the Roman Empire.
Thailand was under Japanese occupation and before that, under Khmer control.
None of Andorra's heads of state are from Andorra (oh, and Andorra was part of the Roman Empire).
San Marino and Monaco were part of the Roman Empire as well.
Thailand was under Japanese occupation and before that, under Khmer control.
None of Andorra's heads of state are from Andorra (oh, and Andorra was part of the Roman Empire).
San Marino and Monaco were part of the Roman Empire as well.
muhtesem insan
Amateur Revolutionary
Depending on your definition of Successful Invasion Turkey could be an example. It's true that Allied forces managed to invade Istanbul but there were resistance from day one and this resistance grow and "liberated" the Istanbul, and current capital were never invaded.
Lohrenswald
世界的 bottom ranked physicist
The country Switzerland isn't that old as to make that a legitimate point.
Like everything might as well be said to have been part of Dinosaurland long ago
As mentioned, this makes it weird what to think of countries like America
Also, Switzerland I'd say was under foreign rule after Napoleon's invasion.
It's already been mentioned that the occupation is sort of dubious, and from my understanding, Siam was founded by "immigrants" from after the Khmer period
Foreign head of state doesn't neseccarily mean foreign rule, which is why I contend Sweden should be considered unconquered, because the ruling council was more powerful than the monarch shared with Denmark and Norway
San Marino kept independence during the revolutionary, Napoleonic and both world wars, so I'd consider them as unconquered
Monaco was occupied during the second world war, so they're out
I kind of forgot Turkey, but I agree they might count
JohannaK
Heroically Clueless
Turkey was Greece and Persia and the Alexander, Roman, Byzantium, Ottoman, Turkey. I feel like the standars of the OP are such that if a nation has not stayed static since the beginning of times is invalid.
Lohrenswald
世界的 bottom ranked physicist
Wikipedia says San Marino was independent and neutral in those time periods. Sure, Wikipedia isn't the most reputable source, but neither are you.
Nepal was under British control.
Nepal was under British control.
Lohrenswald
世界的 bottom ranked physicist
But San Marino wasn't conquered, and Nepal was under British control, though not annexed
Lohrenswald
世界的 bottom ranked physicist
Oops
Gonna check more on Nepal though
Gonna check more on Nepal though
Phrossack
Armored Fish and Armored Men
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Thailand was definitely occupied during WWII; it's just that Thailand reached an "accommodation" with the Japanese within hours of their invasion. Clearly the Thais came to see it as an occupation, else they wouldn't have planned a national uprising, though at first they were willing enough "allies."
As for Turkey, FWIW, Timur's decisive victory at Ankara resulted in the capture and death of the Sultan and an eleven-year Ottoman civil war. Timur didn't conquer the whole empire, and though he annexed eastern Anatolia, I'' not sure if it was part of the Ottoman Empire at the time or not. But he certainly conquered Sivas and sliced his way through Anatolia all the way to Smyrna.
Lexicus
Deity
The Thais figured they might as well get on the winning side, just like a lot of the German satellite states in Europe. That changed pretty quick when it became apparent neither Japan nor Germany was going to win.
thecrazyscot
Spiffy
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No one seems to agree on the criteria of what constitutes "country". Is it the modern iteration of each country? The historical geographical area now occupied by the current country? This thread won't go anywhere until there's some agreement.
Maybe the only practical one would be historical country entities, given if something hasn't survived by now, it obviously was taken out at some time... 
Re Turkey, well, if you mean the post 1922 country, yes; but then again most post 1922 countries also exist now
If you mean the ottoman empire, it officially died in 1920-1922. It lasted for 6 centuries, give or take.
Re Turkey, well, if you mean the post 1922 country, yes; but then again most post 1922 countries also exist now
If you mean the ottoman empire, it officially died in 1920-1922. It lasted for 6 centuries, give or take.
Lohrenswald
世界的 bottom ranked physicist
I suppose you could look at all the current states and then what previous states these claim to be succesor to
So for China we'd go back to like Shang or what have you, but Switzerland probably no older than the 1300's
So for China we'd go back to like Shang or what have you, but Switzerland probably no older than the 1300's
muhtesem insan
Amateur Revolutionary
Timur had a major victory and conquered much of Anatolia but Edirne was Ottoman Capital at the time and were under ottoman rule all the time.
I refer turkey as Ottoman Empire + Republic of Turkey. I think we all can agree both are same country in essence.Re Turkey, well, if you mean the post 1922 country, yes; but then again most post 1922 countries also exist now
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