Medieval York

Abstract

The medieval period in York spans from the end of the Roman rule in Britain in 410 ce to the early 16th century, when the Reformation had a dramatic impact on religious and secular institutions and urban space. The Roman fortress of Eboracum was founded in c. 71 ce in a strategic location at the confluence of two rivers. The annexed civil settlement in the late 2nd century became a provincial capital. Roman emperors resided in Eboracum to control the northern border; Constantine was proclaimed emperor there in 313 ce and Christianity was established by 314 ce. After the Roman period, archaeological sources suggest that there was human activity on the site; however, there is no clear evidence for continuity of urban life. From 627 ce written sources indicate that a wooden church dedicated to Saint Peter was founded within the walls of the Roman fortress by bishop Paulinus, a Gregorian missionary sent to convert the local pagan population. Archaeological evidence shows, however, that the Anglian settlement of Eoforvic was located by the rivers outside of the Roman walls. By 866 ce, at the time of the Viking conquest, York must have been a prosperous town, with commercial and cultural exchanges with the Carolingian world. Under Viking and Anglian rulers, the Anglo-Scandinavian town of Jorvik flourished. Churches, cemeteries, and possibly centers of secular power were located within the Roman walls, while densely populated residential and commercial areas were developed along the rivers. Trade and cultural exchange were established with Northern Europe and the wider Viking network. In 1066 the Norman Conquest had a great impact on York’s urban environment and institutions. Changes that occurred in the 11th century shaped the form and life of the city and influenced its development for centuries to come. The cathedral, the Minster, was re-founded and rebuilt; two castles were built in Norman style to control the rivers; Roman gates and defenses were enhanced; and parish churches, monasteries, royal mansions, houses, and bridges were built in stone within the city walls. By the 13th century York had grown in economic importance; in 1212 the city communality obtained a royal charter and a civic government was developed. In the 14th century York was a center of wool trade and the wealthiest city in Northern England; private and public buildings were extensively rebuilt and a rich civic culture was flourishing. Despite the 15th century economic crisis, York remained the regional capital of Northern England until the end of the medieval period.