The European lion (Panthera leo europaea or Panthera leo tartarica) could be an extinct subspecies of lion that inhabited southern Europe until historic times. This population is generally considered part of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), but others consider it a separate subspecies, the European lion (Panthera leo europaea). They also could possibly have been the last remnants of the Cave Lion (Panthera leo spelea).

Two prehistoric lions lived in Europe, namely the Early Middle Pleistocene European cave lion Panthera leo fossilis and the Upper Pleistocene European cave lion Panthera leo spelaea.