Northern Sweden’s petty kingdoms have been described in historical documents dating as far back as the Roman iron age, as more-or-less independent and self-governing smaller principalities. Previous examination of them has determined at least thirteen probable independent petty kingdoms during the Swedish iron age and migration period, which could be an interpretation influenced by the historical accounts of Prokopios. This paper aims to re-examine their makeup and function from historical sources, geographical and archaeologically contextual factors and whether the term “petty kingdom” is the descriptor most apt for them or not. There are possible origins from and connections to middle Sweden, to Finland, Estland and Russia which puts the independence of these pettykingdoms in question, as well as archaeological analysis of the identified kingdom sites from a perspective other than as an administrative and/or political center, which could lead to an understanding of their purpose and use.