ROMAN YORK

Before the Roman invasion of York in AD43, Britain from the Humber to the Firth of Forth was ruled by a confederation of Celtic tribes known as the Brigantes. In AD71, the Roman Govenor of Britain, Quintus Petillius Cerialis invaded "Brigantia" and set up a camp which, after the Ninth Legion had subdued the Brigantes, became a permanent fortress. This was called "Eboracum", and it was on the junction of the Rivers Ouse and Foss - where modern York is now.
At the height of Roman power, the fortress enclosed 50 acres and housed a garrison of 6000 soldiers. A civilian town grew up and "Eboracum" became one of the leading cities of the Roman empire.

ANGLO-SAXON YORK

Over 300 years of Roman occupation of York ended about AD400 when Roman legions were withdrawn to serve in Gaul. In the 5th century, the Germanic tribes of the Anglo Saxons invaded the country. Despite the legendary recapture of York from the invaders by King Arthur, York became "Eoforwic", the centre of the independent kingdom of Northumbria, ruled by mighty Anglo-Saxon warlords.
One such warlord was Edwin, who reintroduced Christianity to Northumbria. He married a Christian princess from the South, who brought a priest called Paulinus to York. Paulinus babtised Edwin and many of his subjects on Easter Day 627 in a timber church. This was the first cathedral of the present York Minster, and Paulinus later became the first bishop of York.
By the eighth century "Eoforwic" dominated this part of Britain. But Northumbria was in decline, and in 866 was overrun by "Ivar the Boneless" and his hordes of Danish Vikings.

VIKING YORK

Ivar the Boneless took advantage of Northumbria being in the middle of a civil war and the Vikings captured York on 1st November 866. The Viking King Halfdan shared out the Northumbrian lands from this capital, now renamed "Jorvik". The Viking warriors settled down to a more peaceful farming existence, and "Jorvik" became a major river port, part of the extensive Viking trading routes throughout northern Europe. The city walls were extended and new streets laid out.
The last Viking ruler of York, Eric Bloodaxe, was driven from the city on 954 by King Eadred of Wessex, who united Northumbria with the southern kingdom. In the years 1056-66 York changed hands following local rebellion, Norweigian invasion and finally the defeat of the Norwegian army at Stamford Bridge (about 8 miles from York). The victor at Stamford Bridge, King Harold II of England fell three weeks later before the Norman invasion of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings.

NORMAN AND MEDIEVAL YORK

William came to York in 1069 to subdue Northern rebellion. He built two wooden castles on top of earth mounds. The castles have long since gone, but the mounds can be seen today. The Domesday Book census of 1086 showed that half of York was owned by the King, and the other half by influential Normans. York prospered, and the rebuilding of the Minster was begun.
Over the next 300 years York grew to become the second largest city in the country and was the northern capital of England. The stone walls and gates were built during this time. But York's prosperity was not to last. During the 1400s, the population was declining, and the all-important wool industry was moving elsewhere, and the citizens were soon to take up arms in the Wars of the Roses.

THE AGE OF DECLINE

Although the Wars of the Roses (1453 - 1487) did not have a great impact on York, their aftermath did. King Edward IV never forgave York for its Lancastrian sympathies, and ruled the city harshly. There were also severe epidemics, the decline of the wool industry and the shift of much trade away from York to London. Worse was yet to come. In 1533, Henry VIII renounced the Church of Rome, made himself the head of the Church of England and, in 1536, began the Dissolution of the Monasteries. York, as a major religious centre, suffered greatly. All the monasteries and friaries were suppressed. Half the houses in York, formerly owned by the churches, were seized by the Crown and sold to royal officials and London merchants. However, Henry did strengthen the old Council in the Northern Parts, basing it in York (at King's Manor) and thus helped York to regain its title as the second city in England.

GUY Fawkes

GUY Fawkes - also known as Guido Fawkes - was born 13 April 1570 in York. He was baptised in St Michael le Belfry church which stands opposite York Minster. As a teenager he converted to catholicism following his mother's remarriage to a catholic.

He is an iconic figure who is remembered every 5th November on Bonfire Night as the most famous conspirator of the Gunpowder Plot.

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