Roman York
Eboracum, the Roman name for the area now known as the City of York, was set up as a military camp in AD71, while conflict with a confederation of local Celtic tribes, the 'Brigantes' was fierce and bloody.
After the Ninth Legion had subdued these troublesome barbarians the camp soon became a permanent fortress.
Situated at the junction of the Rivers Ouse and Foss, the fortress enclosed over 50 acres and, at its height, held a force of some 6000 soldiers.
In time a thriving civilian population grew up around the area and Eboracum became one of the leading cities in the Roman empire.
Anglo Saxon York
Around AD400 fighting in Gaul (France) put a great strain on Roman resources and the legions based in York were withdrawn to join the struggle.
In the 5th century Germanic tribes of Anglo Saxons invaded Britain and overtook the city (despite a legendary recapture by King Arthur), renaming it Eoforwic, and making it the centre of the independent kingdom of Northumbria.
During the 7th century, the Anglo Saxon warlord Edwin reintroduced Christianity to Northumbria and married a Christian princess from the South, she brought with her a priest called Paulinus who baptised Edwin and many of his subjects on Easter Day 627 in a small timber church. This modest building was the first cathedral of York Minster and Paulinus later became the city's first bishop.
By the eighth century Eoforwic dominated this region of Britain but the kingdom of Northumbria was in decline. Late in the ninth century the arrival of 'Ivar the Boneless' and his hordes of Danish Vikings heralded another important chapter in the city's history.
Viking York
Ivar the Boneless captured York on 1st November 866 and the Viking King Halfden shared out the Northumbrian lands from this new capital, now renamed Jorvik (pronounced 'yorvik').
Despite their rather bloody reputation, York's Viking settlers led a generally peaceful farming existence and Jorvik became a major river port in the Viking network of trading routes throughout northern Europe.
The last Viking ruler of York, Eric Bloodaxe, was driven from the city in 954 by King Eadred of Wessex who formed a union between the old region of Northumbria and the southern kingdom. A tumultuous period followed with the city undergoing both a local rebellion and invasion by Norwegian forces. The Norwegians were finally defeated in 1066 by King Harold II at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. However, this new situation was short-lived as King Harold fell only three weeks later before the Norman forces of William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings.
Norman York
King William came to York in 1069 to subdue Northern rebellion and built two wooden castles on top of earth mounds within the city walls.
At this time half of York was owned by the King and the other half by influential Norman noblemen. The city prospered and the rebuilding of the Minster was begun.
Over the next three centuries York grew to become the second largest city in the country and was the northern capital of England.
By the 1400's however, the population was declining. Important industries, foremost among them the wool trade, had begun to move elsewhere with the War Of The Roses (1453-1487) bringing yet further turmoil.
War And Turmoil
During the War Of The Roses York was sympathetic to the Lancastrian side, and in the aftermath of the conflict this fact was not forgotten by King Edward IV. He never forgave the city for its lack of loyalty and ruled the city with an iron fist. This was a dark period in York's history with severe epidemics striking the population, the decimation of the wool trade and the shift of much commercial activity to London.
In 1533 King Henry VIII renounced the Church of Rome, formed the Church of England (instating himself as head) and began the dissolution of the monasteries. York, a major religious centre suffered greatly.
King Henry VIII did however strengthen the old Council in the Northern Parts, basing it in York, thus helping York regain its title as England's second city.
Under Siege
During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I the Council of the North was strengthened further and York began to revive, becoming a social centre for northern gentry. Even when parliament abolished the Northern Council under Charles I, the King set up court in the King's Manor, situating his Royal Mint and printing press nearby.
By the time Charles left York in 1642 the Parliamentary opposition had grown stronger, Civil war was declared and in April 1644 a 40,000 strong Parliamentary army began the siege of York. In June of the same year Charles' nephew Prince Rupert arrived with over 150,000 troops and chased the Parliamentarians to nearby Marston Moor. However, even though they were greatly outnumbered, the Parliamentarians managed to counter-attack, defeating the Royal force and renewing their siege of the city.
The city eventually surrendered on 15th June 1644 and many buildings were destroyed by the invading force. Fortunately, the Parliamentarian general, Sir Thomas Fairfax was a local man who managed to prevent his troops pillaging most of York's magnificent churches.
Regeneration
After the removal of the Royal Garrison in 1688 the city gradually came to be dominated by the local aristocracy and gentry. Trade and manufacturing were in steady decline but York's role as the cultural centre of the north was becoming steadily more secure.
Elegant new town houses were erected, along with civic building projects such as the Assembly Rooms and Assize Courts. A racecourse was built along with numerous hospitals. In 1719 the coach service to London was improved, reducing the journey time from four days to under 20 hours by the 1830's.
The Railway Age
George Hudson was a ruthless businessman and of dubious moral character. Although he died in disgrace after the disclosure of numerous financial improprieties he left a legacy to which generations of York's citizens have owed their living - the railway.
Hudson brought the railway to York in 1839 and by the beginning of the 20th century the city was a major railway centre employing over 5,500 people directly and several thousand more in the manufacturing industries which sprung up around it. The strength of the railway system can be directly linked to the expansion of Rowntree's Cocoa Works and Terry's Confectionery Works and in Victorian times, the construction of numerous new churches, banks, offices, schools and colleges.
In more recent years, although traditional manufacturing has declined, new industries have risen up on the City's growing industrial and commercial sites with tourism being a major source of income for the city and its people.
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