diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/entities/city.gd b/src/game/engine/src/entities/city.gd
index f9b64d13..d30cc29d 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/entities/city.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/entities/city.gd
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ var city_name: String = ""
 ## Whether this is the player's capital city.
 var is_capital: bool = false
 
+## Player index of the capital's original founder. Persists through capture
+## (unlike `is_capital`, which flips to false when the city changes hands).
+## -1 means this city was never a capital. Used by VictoryManager to detect
+## domination via "own every opponent's original capital".
+var original_capital_owner: int = -1
+
 ## Turn this city was founded.
 var turn_founded: int = 0
 
@@ -98,6 +104,8 @@ func _init(city_id: String = "", starting_buildings: Array[String] = []) -> void
 func found(name: String, col: int, row: int, capital: bool, turn: int) -> void:
 	city_name = name
 	is_capital = capital
+	if capital and original_capital_owner < 0:
+		original_capital_owner = owner
 	turn_founded = turn
 	position = Vector2i(col, row)
 	if _gd_city == null: