The Roman Nineth Legion began construction of a fortress at the junction of the rivers Ouse and Foss in 71 AD. Up until that time, the area had been inhabited by a confederation of tribes known as the Brigantes. Calling the place "Eboracum", meaning "Place of Yew Trees, the Romans had nearly 6000 soldiers stationed in this 50 acre fort. Such a large number of military personnel required a lot of resources, so the 9th Legion began extensive trading with the Brigantes. At that time, the two rivers were much deeper than they are today, so ships could easily navigate up them from the coast. By the start of the second century, population growth surrounding the fort became so rapid that a permenent settlement was established. Emperor Hadrian reportedly visited Eboracum in 122 AD while planning his walled frontier. For the Romans, this was a major military base of operations and it soon became the largest town in Northern Britannia. By 237 AD, Eboracum had achieved the status of "Colonia", the highest legal status for a Roman city. Two Roman Emperors died in Eboracum while visiting the fort; Septimus Severus in 211 AD, and Constantine Chlorus in 306 (Constantine's son, Constantine the Great, was immediately proclaimed emperor, following his father's death, by the Roman troops on a spot next to what is now the York Minster). The Romans eventually abandoned Britannia by 400 AD. The Anglo-Saxons were the next to invade the area, followed by the Vikings (who renamed the area "Jorvik", which eventually became known as "York"). This is the kind of historical information we love to discover when visiting new places. It provides us with a perspective into the development of a city or town that we would not get if we just zipped in for a day or two and then moved on. We love it! Over time, the original earthen ramparts of the fortress were replaced by stone walls. This Multiangular tower is the oldest surviving part (ca. 200 AD). This is facing into the current Museum Gardens. The backside of the Multiangular tower is located behind the current York Library. This longer view of the Multiangular tower shows its relationship to other parts of the wall. Archeologists believe this was the southwest corner of the walls. Artist rendition of how the Eboracum fort might have looked during the second century AD. Like all "permenent " forts of the size of Eboracum, the Romans had to deal with the hygiene of its 6000 soldiers. this is an archeological photo of the remains of the Roman baths they constructed. Excavations around the fort area revealed this tomb for Lucious Duccius Rufinces, a standard bearer for the Ninth Legion. Following the death of his father in 306 AD, Constantine the Great was declared Emperor by the Roman Soldiers of Eboracum on this spot next to the current York Minster. Remains of the eastern corner tower of the fortress. As the city grew, so did the defensive stone walls of the fort...
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Carl and Lorraine Aveni are two retirees planning on traveling through Europe for at least one year.
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