London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and is also the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom and also the second largest metropolitan area in terms of area in the European Union (EU ). London was founded 2000 years ago by the Romans with the first name Londinium. London's ancient main center is the City of London, which still retains its square-mile boundary from the Middle Ages on a large scale. As early as the 19th century, the name "London" was known as a major metropolis developed around the main center. The merger of the metropolitan areas constitutes London and the Greater London administrative region, run by the mayor of London and the London Council through election.