The legionary fortress at York (Eboracum) was established c. AD 71 by the Legio IX Hispana under Quintus Petillius Cerialis as the northern campaign base against the Brigantes, and was rebuilt in stone from the early second century, later garrisoned by Legio VI Victrix from c. AD 122 until the late fourth century. Covering roughly 50 acres (c. 20 ha) on the northeast bank of the Ouse at its confluence with the Foss, it followed the standard rectangular playing-card plan and developed into the principal Roman military centre in northern Britain, complemented by a substantial civilian colonia on the opposite bank.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
Eboracum became the de facto capital of Britannia Inferior after the Severan reforms and hosted imperial courts on at least two occasions: Septimius Severus died here in AD 211 during his Caledonian campaigns, and Constantius I died here in AD 306, with Constantine proclaimed emperor by the troops at the fortress. It was raised to colonia status, one of only four in Britain, marking its exceptional administrative and ceremonial importance.
Substantial remains survive, most visibly the Multangular Tower (a polygonal southwest corner bastion of fourth-century date) and stretches of the fortress wall in the Museum Gardens, while excavations beneath York Minster have revealed the principia (headquarters building), including a great hall with painted plaster
The legionary fortress at York (Eboracum) was established c. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fort site from the Roman period in Britain.
Roman Fortress at York is classified as a Roman fort — a military site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.
Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Multangular Tower (0.3 km), Eburacum (0.5 km), York Castle: motte and bailey castle, tower keep castle (including Clifford's Tower), and site of part of Romano-British fort-vicus and Anglian cemetery (0.7 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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