The first capital island in the Republic of Maldives
Rasgetheemu (Dhivehi: ރަސްގެތީމު) the first capital island in the Republic of Maldives located in the north province in the north edge of Raa Atoll.
The island is 189.06 km (117 mi; 102 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.
Etymology
The name comes from Ras + ge + theemu. The word 'Ras' means rule or monarchy, 'ge' literally means house, and 'theemu' meaning island. The word Theemu came from Tamil word Theevu also meaning island.
It probably came from the tamil speakers of chola empire which used to rule northern atolls of Maldives. Theemu appears in the names of other islands, including Agolhitheemu, Utheemu.) Historians believe that Rasgetheem means "the King’s Town" or "King’s Island".
Maldivian legend says that a Sinhalese prince got stranded with his bride - the daughter of the Sri Lankan King in Rasgetheemu, the original 'King's Island'.
-History of the Maldives-
