Events

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  • 71 A.D.

    The Romans Arrive

    Read More York’s history truly begins with the Romans.
     
    The city was founded in about AD 71 when the 5,000 men of the Ninth Legion marched from Lincoln and set up camp.
     
    Eboracum, as the Romans called York, was born.
     
    Read more

  • 208 A.D.

    Roman Empire Governed from York

    Read More In 208 AD the emperor Septimius Severus arrived in York accompanied by his wife and two sons.
    He was in Britain to fight a compaign agains the tribes based in Scotland.
    Severus died in York in 211 AD.
    During his time in the city, York had been the political centre of the whole Roman Empire.
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  • 306 A.D.

    Emperor Constantius Dies in York

    Read More In 293 Constantius Chlorus became one of the four Caesars ruling the empire.
    Nine years later Constantius became Augustus - leader of the western empire.
    His reign only lasted a year when in 306 he became the second emperor to die in York, where he was campaigning.
    Their son was Constantine the Great, the next Roman emperor.

  • 306 A.D.

    Constantine the Great Declared Emperor in York

    Read More When Constantine's father, the emperor Constantius, died in York in July 306 the next in line to be emperor was the Caeser in the west, one Flavius Valerius Severus.
    Instead, Constantine's troops acclaimed Constantine as emperor.
    It was a huge moment in European history.
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  • 400 A.D.

    The End of Roman York

    Read More

    Eboracum remained an important provincial capital throughout the 4th century.
    But by the turn of the 5th century, it was virtually abandoned.
    read more...

Outside the Walls

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  • 43 A.D.

    Roman Invasion of Britain

    Read More Like many leaders Emperor Claudius saw invasion of a foreign land as a way of strengthening a weak position at home.
     
    In this case the foreign land was Britain.  Victory offered riches and the prestige of conquering a territory where Caesar had failed.
     
    The invasion was eventually successful but it took 30 years to gain control of the north; York was the key.

  • 50 A.D.

    London is Founded

    Read More About seven years after the Roman invasion of Britain Londinium was established as a small civilian settlement.

  • 60 A.D.

    Boudica Leads A Rebellion

    Read More Boudica, the Queen of the Iceni tribe, led a major revolt which ransacked the Roman towns of Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans).
     
    The Roman forces eventually regained control and the queen killed herself to avoid being captured.

  • 71 A.D.

    Colosseum Built in Rome

    Read More At around the same time that York was founded, in Rome itself work was starting on the massive arena known as the Colosseum.  It was completed by about 81AD.
     
    The vast amphitheatre consisted of three circular storeys of  arches, originally complete with a fabric roof that could be pulled over like the most advanced modern-day stadia.  It's generally accepted that a Roman settlement the size of York must have had an arena of some description but its location has never been found.

  • 122 A.D.

    Hadrian's Wall is Constructed

    Read More Emperor Hadrian wanted a physical barrier to protect the empire from 'barbarians'.   He ordered a 73-mile-long stone wall to be built across the country, between where Carlisle and Newcastle stand today.
     
    The wall was built and permanently manned by Roman soldiers.  There were strong connections between the forts on the wall and the fortress at York.