A vassal state is a state dependent upon or tributary to another state, often after a war.

In ancient history large empires often created buffer states to protect themselves against an unexpected invasion.

The ancient kingdom of Macedon in present-day northern Greece was a vassal state of the Persian Empire.

List of vassal states

This is a list of vassal states throughout history. The vassal state itself is named first with their overlord between brackets.

• Nubia (Egypt)
• Macedon (Persian Empire)
• Herodian Judea (Roman Empire)
• Armenia (Roman Empire)
• Wallachia (Ottoman Empire)
• the Batavian Republic (France)
• Manchukuo (Japan)

• see Puppet state