This is the 17306th most frequent Russian word.
считался
"Считался" means "was considered" or "was regarded."
Here, "считался" (was considered) is used to describe perception or opinion about someone's skills or status.
Он считался лучшим игроком в команде.
He was considered the best player in the team.
In this sentence, "считался" refers to the general understanding or official recognition of the city's status historically.
Этот город долго считался столицей.
This city was considered the capital for a long time.
"Считался" conveys the idea of someone's reputation or acknowledgment by others for their knowledge or expertise.