The title pretty much says it all. I’m curious to know which area of land – and, for the sake of definition, let’s define “area” as “larger than Rhode Island,” although that’s obviously arbitrary and I just made it up – has been claimed by the most kingdoms, empires, sultanates, republics, etc. throughout history. My gut-feeling is that it’s going to be somewhere in the Middle East, simply because recorded history is eldest there, but I’d not be surprised if someone posited, say, somewhere on the Balkan peninsula, or perhaps some crossroad land like Transoxiana, or maybe something I’ve never heard of. Plus, even if it is somewhere in the Middle East, if someone could narrow it down, that’d be neat.
I don’t know which patch actually changed possession the most times, but the city of Edirne, Turkey, holds the distinction of being the most fought-over city in history- something like fifteen major battles have been fought in the near vicinity. The city was called Adrianople at the time of most of those battles.
It’s probably not the record-holder, but France and Germany have kicked Alsace-Lorraine back and forth between them so many times it’d make your head spin.
I believe Shlegsvig Holstein has switched back and forth between Denmark and Germany a few times and a city in England called Berwick on Tweed was alternately Scottish/English quite a few times as a result of the frequent wars between the two countries before the Act of Union.
I remember reading once that Belgium had seen the most warfare on its it land among all the European nations. That may not mean it changed hands all the time, but different armies keep tramping through it.
Not an answer to your question but I find it interesting that Egypt was under foreign occupation by many successive forces for about 2,400 years before it regained self-control.
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor]
I mean that bloodsoaked plot of utterly, utterlyuseless land, between Egypt & Syria, that two bands of morons squabble over endlessly.
[/QUOTE]
Northern Ireland is not between Egypt and Syria. Look at a map why doncha?
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor]
I mean that bloodsoaked plot of utterly, utterlyuseless land, between Egypt & Syria, that two bands of morons squabble over endlessly.
[/QUOTE]
Moderator Warning
Bosda, you know better than to make political posts in GQ. Or, rather, you’ve been warned often enough about it that you should.
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper]
You mean Eretz-Yisra’el?
[/QUOTE]
[Moderating]
Operation Ripper, I am not issuing a formal warning at this point. However, given that you are just back from suspension I would strongly suggest that you refrain from deliberately provocative posts.
Operation Ripper, I am not issuing a formal warning at this point. However, given that you are just back from suspension I would strongly suggest that you refrain from deliberately provocative posts.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
[/QUOTE]
What are you talking about? Per Wiki it’s another name for Palestine. Btw, I’d appreciate it if you did not needlessly tar me by bringing up my suspension for denouncing wife burning, thank you very much.
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper]
What are you talking about? Per Wiki it’s another name for Palestine.
[/quote]
Do not play naive with me, Ripper. Both you know and I know that the only reason you brought that up was to get a rise out of Bosda or some other poster.
Since your suspension was in part for unnecessary political posts in GQ, my bringing it up was entirely relevant. Unfortunately, you don’t seem to have learned anything from your vacation. You are on extremely thin ice. Drop the subject now.
[QUOTE=Alessan]
Remebered another one: In 132 AD Simon Bar Kochva drove the Romans out and established an independant Jewish state, which lasted until basically the entire Roman army came down on their heads three years later.
So my revised list is as follows:
Canaan
Phoenicia
Philistine holdings
Egyptian Empire
Israel
Judea
Assyrian Empire
Chaldean (Neo-Babylonean) Empire
Persian Empire
Macedoniam Empire
Ptolmeian Empire
Seleucid Empire
Hasmonean Kingdom of Israel
Roman Empire
Israel (Bar Kochva Rebellion)
Byzantine Empire
Umayyad Caliphate
Abbasid Caliphate
Selejuk Empire
The Frankish Kingdom of Jerusalem
Egyptians (Mameluks)
Various Mongols
The Ottoman Empire
The French Empire
The British Empire (Mandatory Palestine)
Israel
[/QUOTE]
