Rimso

Rimso Rimsø (Mescon)
National and federal capital
Free City of Rimso Fristaden Rimsø
Top to bottom, left to right: Landskongreshus, Slangeby, Hanbjerg Park, Korsvej Cathedral, Hunseby Gate at Sivborg, National Institution of Space and Astronomy (NIPA), Rimsø borgerskabhus
Flag Coat of arms
Etymology: "rim"; frost + "ø"; island
Country	Scovern
Nation	Mesconia
Region	Rimsø hovedstad
First settled	c. 10th century
Government
• Body	Borgerskab of Rimso
• Lord Mayor	Jon Ebsen Schou (SAP)
• Government	SAP / A-G89
• Rigsdagen seats	21 (of 318)
Area
• National and federal capital	612.82 km2 (236.61 sq mi)
Elevation	23 m (75 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Urban	3,115,816
• Metro	4,677,685
Demonym(s)	Rimsonian, Rimsønisk
Time zone	UTC+0 (Euclean Standard Time)
ISO 3166 code	SK-RI
GRP (nominal)	€165 billion
GRP per capita	€53,000
HDI (2019)	0.972

Rimso (/'rɪmsoʊ/, Mescon: Rimsø; [ʁe̝m'søː], Gaullican: Rims; [ʁi:m]), officially the Free City of Rimso (Mescon: Fristaden Rimsø) is the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Scovern, as well as the fifth-largest city in the Euclean Community by metropolitan population. Rimso is also the capital of the Kingdom of Mesconia, a constituent nation of Scovern and one of its three federal entities. Rimso sits on the tributary of the River Elling and its centre lies on Markesø, an island formed by the Elling's fork and confluence, where much of its medieval architecture still remains standing.

Archaeological evidence suggests Rimso was first settled in the 10th century by the marauder population of the Sixtenite Kingdom. After the kingdom's fall and the end of the Marauder Age, Rimso became one of many mercantile city-states that emerged across Scovern, but its geographic position on the Strait of Roetenburg as well as its natural harbour in Markesø allowed it to prosper with trade from the Rudolphine Confederation and North Euclea at large. It joined the confederation itself in the 13th century, but was annexed by Scovern during the Amendist Wars. The capital was moved from the traditional Istebjerg to Rimso in 1624, and underwent extensive development of its ports and markets in the 17th century under the supervision of Etrurian and Gaullican architects, also becoming renowned for its culture during the same period. Much of Rimso's famous baroque and neoclassical architecture comes from this period. Many prominent artists, musicians, philosophers and scientists worked in Rimso during the 18th century, where it emerged as one of Euclea's foremost cities.

Rimso's population grew rapidly as a result of industrialisation, with large factories built across the city. It also became a site of heavy naval manufacturing during this time. Rimso suffered minor damage from air raids during the Great War, but its location far from the frontlines allowed it to escape significant damage. After the war, Rimso was a major centre of government investment in infrastructure like the Rimso Letbane as well as cultural and urban development. The city remains the cultural, economic and political centre of Scovern, its most-populated city and richest urban economy.

The city is often ranked highly for its quality of life and is often among the world's most livable cities. Rimso is a major site of tourism in Scovern, and its ease of access by ferry from Werania facilitates travel from the mainland. Its history and culture have given rise to various nicknames for the city, including Povelien i nord ("Poveglia of the North"), referencing its extensive canal network, and Røde Rimsø ("Red Rimso"), owing to his strong history of social democracy.

Etymology

17th-century Frellandic manuscript showing Loki guiding Höðr to shoot Baldr with a mistletoe arrow.

The first written mention of the city was in the Chronicon Septentrionale, in the 10th century, as Hrímsey, thought to have derived from Old Scovernois hrím - "frost" and ey - "island". Historians believe the name comes from high amounts of hoarfrost on the island (hrím refers specifically to hoarfrost, as opposed to the Old Scovernois frost), which was highly vegetatious at the time, owing to cold temperatures and high rainfall. This explanation is generally widely agreed upon, and links to recounts from the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda, as well as of skalds.

The Prose Edda and Poetic Edda desribes the story of the blind god Höðr and the god Baldr, whose mother Frigg made every object swear to never hurt Baldr. An exception to this was mistletoe, which was deemed too insignificant to ask. The god of tricksters Loki eventually tricks Höðr into killing Baldr with an arrow made of mistletoe. Skaldic poetry then explains that, in anger and retaliation, Höðr swore to freeze Midgard for eternity, however this is only realised for a short period of time before he is slain by the god Váli, during which Rimso is said to be founded. These stories are thought to be euhemerically related to a short period of extreme cold in Scovern at the time.

Geography

See also: Greater Rimso

Economy

Transport

See also: Rimso Letbane

Culture

Music

The Rimsø Operahus is known for its distinct neo-futurist architecture, and was opened in 2010.

Rimso has long been a centre for music in Scovern. In the 19th century the city was home to many forefront Mescon composers including Paul Ekern, Mathias Høgh and Arthur Sørensen. It is also home to several notable orchestras and ensembles including the Royal Northern Symphonia, Rimso Philharmonic Orchestra and the Steffanite University Orchestra, as well as many notable musical halls such as the Rimsø Operahus and KRK. More notable modern venues include the Blomsterkrukke in Pasarel, Værdsættesgade, SEMMENfv and the Rentenbank Arena.

Twin towns – sister cities

• Yndyk, Alsland
• Aalmsted, Azmara
• Newstead, Borland
• Shanbally, Caldia
• Brigançon, Champania
• Hammarvik, Eldmark
• Alikianos, Piraea