AH challenge: Eoforwic/Jorvik/York as england's capital

Deleted member 5719

I'd say London would still be a major power centre in a Danish England, given its proximity to the continent, its fertile surroundings and its position at the mouth of the Thames.

A divided England and a move back south are possibilities in this TL.
 
I'd say London would still be a major power centre in a Danish England, given its proximity to the continent, its fertile surroundings and its position at the mouth of the Thames.

A divided England and a move back south are possibilities in this TL.
A major power centre, certainly. That doesn't mean it has to be the capital, though. Look at the United States: New York (and later Los Angeles) are major trade ports and bigger cities than DC; or Canada - Ottawa's only importance is as capital, Toronto (in particular), but also Montreal and Vancouver are more important as cities. Germany: capital is in Berlin (Bonn before that), stock exchange in Frankfurt.

Yes, I know that all these are modern examples, but I still think the King's seat (and possible parliament eventually) could easily stay in York.
 
A major power centre, certainly. That doesn't mean it has to be the capital, though. Look at the United States: New York (and later Los Angeles) are major trade ports and bigger cities than DC; or Canada - Ottawa's only importance is as capital, Toronto (in particular), but also Montreal and Vancouver are more important as cities. Germany: capital is in Berlin (Bonn before that), stock exchange in Frankfurt.

Yes, I know that all these are modern examples, but I still think the King's seat (and possible parliament eventually) could easily stay in York.

Indeed, I've often wondered why the Wessex dynasty moved the capital from Winchester to London? As you say, there is no particular reason why the largest city has to also be the capital. Might it have had something to do with London's strategic location, and the fact that it was the center of a nexus of old Roman Roads? Was York served by a similar nexus?
 
Indeed, I've often wondered why the Wessex dynasty moved the capital from Winchester to London? As you say, there is no particular reason why the largest city has to also be the capital. Might it have had something to do with London's strategic location, and the fact that it was the center of a nexus of old Roman Roads? Was York served by a similar nexus?

I believe that at the time York was a in a roughly similar position for much of the north. Certainly for centuries it had been one of the greater cities of the north.

I think more of the problem has to do with general location. Southern england at the time was far richer and more densly populated, and so it makes relative sense to put the capital there. You may need to divide modern england in order to make York the capital (or have the land be conquered from Jorvik).
 
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