Summer capital
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A summer capital is a city used as an administrative capital during extended periods of particularly hot summer weather. The term is mostly of relevance in historical contexts of political systems with ruling classes that would migrate to a summer capital, making it less prevalent in modern times.[citation needed] The ubiquity of air conditioning systems also reduces the imperative to periodically relocate to summer capitals.
Summer capitals around the world
China
Shangdu (Xanadu) was an "Upper Capital" during Kublai Khan's reign in the 13th century.[1]
In the Qing dynasty, Chengde Mountain Resort in Chengde was often being used by emperor to perform their official function during the summer months.
In the era of the
In the era of the
India
During the reign of Mughal emperor Babur, the city of Kabul in the north-west of the Mughal Empire was used as a summer capital due to its cooler temperatures compared to Agra and Delhi. This practise ended during emperor Aurangzeb.[2]
In India, the government of the British Raj was annually transferred to Shimla during the summer months.[3] This practice was stopped due to the difficulty of transporting officialdom, and the negative perceptions of the public about politicians and public servants making such a move. Srinagar is the summer capital of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with Jammu being its winter capital. Nagpur is the winter capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Philippines
The
Russia
Following Russia's loss of the traditionally popular resorts of the
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi royal family has historically relocated to the mountainous city of Taif, near Mecca, which is far cooler in the summer months than the official capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh.
Spain
The location of San Sebastián in the cooler, northern seaside of Spain close to the French border ideally placed it as a summer capital alternative to Madrid. Maria Christina of Austria, the queen consort of Spain, vacationed there from 1887 and was followed by the court.[6] The dictator Francisco Franco spent the summers between 1941 and 1975 at the Ayete Palace.[7]
See also
Notes
- ^ "Shangdu (Upper Capital) the capital of the Yuan Dynasty". Chinatravelz.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
- JSTOR 44145943.
- ^ "Heritage of Shimla" (PDF). Town & Country Planning Department, Shimla. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
- ^ "Mansion House - Presidential Museum and Library", Retrieved on 9 February 2017
- ^ "Sochi Olympics a 'monstrous scam' - Russian opposition". BBC News. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ "Donostia / San Sebastián. Historia". Auñamendi Encyclopedia (in Spanish). Eusko Ikaskuntza. 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "Palacio de Aiete". Turismo en Euskadi, País Vasco (in Spanish). Basque ministry of tourism. April 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2020.