The historic city of York owes its origins to the Roman ninth legion who built a fortress on the banks of the river Ouse in AD 71. In the second century York became the site of a major urban settlement and later acquired the status of colonia. The Emperor Septimius Severus died there in 211 and Constantine the Great was acclaimed there. This book describes the history of the fortress and town from their foundations until the early fifth century when Britain ceased to be part of the Roman Empire.