eli5 Why is it so important to „capture“ the capital city in a war?

Question

Does it really change the outcome of the war? Does a country fall when the capital city is captured?

In: 462

Answer 1

If your goal is to take over a country, the best way to do so is to remove the current seat of power. Said seat of power is typically in the country’s capital city. So capturing the capital is the best way of supplanting the current governing body with your own.