York

• York is a Cathedral city located on the confluence of the River Ouse and Foss in the North Riding of the County of Yorkshire.
• The city was founded by the Romans as Eboracum in 71 CE and was the site of a permanent Legionary Fortress. York Minster is built over the Roman Basilica.

History

• The Legionary Fortress was built by the Legio IX Hispana and later occupied by the Legio VI Victrix.
• Hadrian stayed at York during his visit to Britannia when he authorised construction of the nearby Hadrian's Wall.
• In 197 CE, Britannia was divided into two Provinces, with York becoming the Capital of Britannia Inferior and London the Capital of Britannia Superior.
• Two Roman Emperors died in York after military campaigns, Septimius Severus in 211 CE and Constantius I Chlorus in 306 CE.
• On 25th July 306 CE, after his father Constantius Chlorus had died, the Legio VI Victrix proclaimed Constantine I Roman Emperor at York.
• York was listed in Iter I and Iter II of the Antonine Itinerary.

Roman Sites

• York Minster
  • The Foundations of the Basilica (Roman Fortress Ceremonial Building) are in the Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt below York Minster.
• York Roman Walls
• The Multangular Tower
  • This was once part of the defensive Roman Wall now in York Museum Gardens.

Roman Legions

• Legio IX Hispana (71-c.118 CE)
  • c. 71 CE They built and moved into the Legionary Fortress at Eboracum, York.
  • 108 CE Last known testimony of the Legion’s existence.
  • 117-120 CE The Ninth disappears from the record and is replaced at York by the Legio VI Victrix
• Legio VI Victrix (119-408 CE)
  • 119-122 CE Moved to Eboracum (York) by Hadrian to replace the Legio IX Hispana.
  • 122-128 CE Built the entire eastern section of Hadrian’s Wall including the Fort at South Shields, whilst the Legio II Augusta and the Legio XX Valeria Victrix jointly built the western section.
  • 122-128 CE Built the Bridge over the Tyne at Pons Aelius Newcastle
  • 139-142 CE Later assisted with the construction of the Antonine Wall with the Legio II Augusta and the Legio XX Valeria Victrix.

Museums

• Yorkshire Museum
  • The Yorkshire Museum contains Artefacts from the Roman, Viking and Medieval Periods.
  • It holds three Roman Hoards.

Roman Roads

• Dere Street
  • York–Antonine Wall (in Scotland)
• Ermine Street
  • York-London
• Icknield Street
  • York-Gloucester
• Iter I
  • Hadrian's Wall to Brough-on-Humber via Dere Street.
• Iter II
  • Hadrian's Wall to Chester then Watling Street to Richborough.
• Iter V
  • Pye Road from London to Caistor St Edmund, then Cambridge–Lincoln–Doncaster-York-Carlisle.
• Iter VIII
  • York to London via Ermine Street, Fosse Way and Watling Street

Photo and map: York Minster