Antonija

Antonija (: Antonija; : Антония) is the capital and largest city of Galvia. Situated on both sides of the Kronis river at the foot of Mount Rietu, Antonija proper is home to 2.9 million people, and 3.7 million when considering its metropolitan population. The city has a, with relatively warm summers and cold winters, and it's the second city tallest city in elevation.

Antonija was founded in 1299, nine years after the annexation of the Union of Krona by the Legion of Galvia, commanded by Antonija Ivuškāns. The city, originally named Sirds, was purposefully located in what was considered the halfway point from all southern and northern kingdoms of Galvia to represent the "heart" of the country (sirds is the Galvian word for 'heart'), and to act as the gathering point between all Galvic monarchs under the Legion. It was eventually declared capital of the United Kingdoms of Galvia in 1320, and renamed to Antonija in 1345, five years after the death of her namesake, who ruled as queen of the United Kingdoms of Galvia between 1320 and 1340. Since its establishment in the 14th century, the city has been the continuous capital of Galvia, and the main residency of the Royal Family. It has also been the only executive, legislative and judicial capital since the inception of the constitutional government in the 18th century.

In contemporary history, the city managed to remain entirely unaffected during Galvia's involvement in World War II, and is one of few capital cities to have never been under direct attack by outside or inside forces. Because of its undisturbed history, the city's original and cultural landmarks and sites have remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and its citizens enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the country. Regarded as a cosmopolitan city, as of 2020, Antonija is the most visited city in Galvia, and one of the most frequented capital cities in eastern Alutra, receiving nearly 10 million visitors annually.

Etymology and names
Founded in 1299, the city was originally named Sirds, derived from the word meaning 'heart'. This name was chosen directly by its founder, Queen Antonija I, and its reasoning has been mistakenly attributed to the city's geographical location at the center of the country, utilizing the analogy of a heart as 'the center of the body'. This is known not be historically accurate, as the United Kingdoms of Galvia, of which Sirds was the capital, did not include the present-day territories of Greater Zemakija, making Sirds one of the easternmost cities in the country at the time. The historical accurate meaning is attributed to the concept of 'capital' or 'gathering city' and its comparison to the human heart. The city's name was changed to its current name, Antonija, on 3 October 1345, five years after the death of Queen Antonija I as a way to honor her memory.