York was known as Eboracum by the Romans, who founded the fortress city on the River Ouse in the year 71. York was home first to the Ninth Legion and later the Sixth. York quickly became one of the most important cities in Roman Britain, and after 211 became the capital of the province Britannia Inferior. Constantine the Great-later responsible for making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire-was first proclaimed Emperor in the city.

After the Romans York was taken by the Angles and was renamed Eoforwic c. 400AD.

Captured by the Vikings 866, the city quickly took on a new identity as Jorvik (pronounced "Yor-vik") and experienced a major urban revival as a centre of Viking trade and settlement in northern England. The Coppergate excavations of the 1970s revealed much of this Viking past.

After the Norman Conquest, York became the second city of England, and kings often moved their court here while campaigning against Scotland. King Richard III had a special connection with the city and although portrayed as a villain by Shakespeare, many locals will tell you that it's all Tudor Propaganda. During the Georgian era, York's racecourse attracted the rich and influential from around the country, which meant in turn that the city was saved from the worst ravages of the industrial revolution - the factory and mill owners didn't want to pollute their "playground".

Industry finally came to York with the arrival of the railways in the 1830s, and owing to its strategic position approximately halfway between London and Edinburgh on the East Coast Main Line, the city became a major headquarters, junction and works for the railways, a role which it continues to this day. The other major industry of the city was confectionery; the Rowntree's works, now owned by Nestlé, is the only one still producing but a delicious chocolatey smell still wafts through the city when the wind is in the right direction.