Eboracum, Roman military settlement in York, England
Eboracum was a Roman military settlement on the banks of the Ouse, covering 20 hectares with stone fortifications, soldier quarters, and administrative structures. The layout followed an orthogonal street grid that organized internal zones for commanders and troops.
The Ninth Legion founded this garrison in 71 AD as a strategic base to control northern Britain. It later became the capital of Britannia Inferior under Septimius Severus and remained a Roman administrative seat for over three centuries.
The Roman name derives from the Celtic Eburacon, referring to yew trees in the region. Legionaries and traders shaped life in this northern military outpost, which served as a gateway for further conquest.
The remains lie beneath present-day York, with sections of Roman wall and the Multiangular Tower accessible in Museum Gardens. Visitors should expect uneven ground and steps, as the site connects different historical levels.
Constantine the Great received his imperial title here in 306 after his father died in the local headquarters. This proclamation made the site a turning point in church history, as Constantine later promoted Christianity throughout the empire.
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