Uppsala, city and capital of the län (county) of Uppsala, east-central Sweden. It lies 40 miles (64 km) north-northwest of Stockholm. Originally known as Östra Aros, it was founded as a trading post at the head of navigation on the Fyris River at a point a few miles from Gamla (Old) Uppsala, which was the political and religious centre of the ancient kingdom of Svea. By the 13th century the new Uppsala had become a royal residence and an important commercial centre.