Victoria (Gassasinia)
Victoria
(ليديا) Lidya | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Municipality of Victoria | |
| Country |  Gassasinia |
| Province | South Western Province |
| County | Victoria County |
| City State Concessions | 1612 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary Municipality under a Mayor-Council government |
| • Body | Victoria Municipal Council |
| • Mayor of Victoria | Ahmad Hussein (LIB) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 312 km2 (120 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,040,592 |
| • Density | 3,335.23/km2 (8,638.2/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Victorian Lidyan |
| Website | https://victoria.gov.ga |
Victoria (Gassasinian ليديا Lidya) is a Unitary Municipality of the South Western Province and the third largest city in Gassasinia with a population of just over 1 million residents.
Founded in the 5th Century BC, Lidya was a Marigic fishing village along the coast of modern-day Gassasinia. In 1612, Lidya was at the heart of one of a series of land concessions which would be granted to the Riamese Empire under the City States Concessions, a series of concessions granted by local Gassasinian rulers with the hope of both warding off more substantial Riamese colonial interest while allowing local Gassasinian interests to take advantage of Riamese trade routes.
Victoria is notable because, whereas most previous of the city state concessions were already well-established port and trade cities, Victoria was founded by Riamese settlers over a relatively small settlement. As such, the city carries a substantial Riamese cultural influence and still officially retains it's colonial name (although it's native Gassasinian name of Lidya is often used interchangeably in conversation.)
The legacy of those whom originally inhabited the fishing village of Lidya remains somewhat contentious. Before 1612, Lidya was populated by more than 200 residents, most of whom were Roman Catholics who worked in the local fisheries. Whereas some native Lidyans managed to continue making a living in Lidya working for the various Riamese businesses which established themselves in the city, many of the other Lidyans were forced to flee their hometown and their descendants continue to trace their family history back to the fishing village which once inhabited modern-day Victoria.
Under Riamese rule, Victoria was once the second largest city in Gassasinia and competed for economic prominence with Jabiyah, which was only seized and put under direct colonial rule in 1891. However, Victoria was outpaced by Asur in the years following the Great War.