"The history of York is the history of England!"
-King George VI
Before the Roman invasion of York in AD 43, Britain from the Humber to the Firth of Forth was ruled by confederate Celtic tribes known as the Brigantes. In AD 71, the Roman Govenor of Britain, Quintus Petillius Cerialis invaded "Brigantia" and set up a camp which, after the Ninth Legion had subdued the Brigantes, became a permanent fortress. The sight was called "Eboracum", and rested on the junction of the Rivers Ouse and Foss - where modern York is now. At the height of Roman power, the fortress enclosed 50 acres and housed a garrison of 6000 soliders. A civilian town grew up and "Eboracum" became one of the leading cities of the Roman Empire.
The fortress of the VI Legion was on a hill close to what is now the Cathedral, and a market-town grew up near the site of the present day (20th century) railway station. Four Emperors are connected with the city: Hadrian visited in AD 120. The body of Septimus Severus was burnt on "Severus Hill" in AD 211 and in 306 Constantine Chlorus, died here. He was the father of the much more famous Constantine the Great, who had visited York as a child.In 306, there was a Romano-British Bishop at York, though Christianity did not become the official religion until after AD 330.
Over 300 years of Roman occupation of York came to an end around AD 400, when Roman legions were withdrawn to serve in Gaul. In the 5th century, the Germanic tribes of the Anglo-Saxons invaded the country. Despite the legendary recapture of York from the invaders by King Arthur, York became "Eoforwic", the center of the independent kingdom of Northumbria, ruled by mighty Anglo-Saxon warlords.
One such warlord was Edwin, who reintroduced Christianity to Northumbria. He married a Christian princess from the South, who brought a priest named Paulinus to York. Paulinus babtised Edwin and many of his subjects on Easter Day 627 in a timber church. This was the first cathedral of present York Minster, and Paulinus later became the first bishop of York. By eight century "Eoforwic" dominated this part of Britain. But Northumbria was in decline, and in 866 was overrun by "Ivar the Boneless" and his hordes of Danish Vikings.
Ivar the Boneless took advantage of Northumbria in the middle of a civil war and the Vikings captured York on November 1st 866. The Viking King Halfdan shared out the Northumbrian lands from this capital, now renamed "Jorvik". The Viking warriors settled down to a more peaceful farming existence, and "Jorvik" became a major river port, part of the extensive Viking trade routes throughout northern Europe. The city walls were extended and new streets laid out. The last Viking ruler of York, Eric Bloodaxe, was driven from the city on 954 by King Eadred of Wessex, who united Northumbria with the southern kingdom. In the years 1056-66 York changed hands following local rebellion, Norwegian invasion and finally the defeat of the Norwegian army at Stamford Bridge (about 8 miles from York). The victor at Stamford Bridge, King Harold II of England fell three weeks later before the Norman invasion of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings.
William came to York in 1069 to subdue Northern rebellion. He built two wooden castles on top of earth mounds. The castles have long since gone, but the mounds can still be seen today. The Domesday Book census of 1086 showed that half of York was owned by the King, and the other half by influential Normans. York prospered, and the rebuilding of the Minster was begun. Over the next 300 years York grew to become the second largest city in the country and was the northern capital of England. The stone walls and gates were built during this time. But York's prosperity was not to last. During the 1400's, the population was declining, and the all-important wool industry was moving elsewhere, and the citizens were soon taking up arms in the War of the Roses.
York has city walls that have a Roman base, rebuilt by the Saxons, destroyed by William the Conqueror and rebuilts by the first Normans. Two rivers play their part: the Ouse flows through the Wall; the Foss replaces the Wall for a short distance on the East side. The gates through the Wall are called Bars, Mickelgate Bar (the best preserved in the 20th century) was where the heads of traitors were once impaled.
The History of England: York, and Other Related Trivia
As told by the Royal Historian of London
Remius Axius of Clan Cappadocius
Long before the coming of the Romans, the lands now known as Yorkshire were inhabited by the Celts and Picts. It was in these early, pagan times that the Gangrel clan did run free and true to their natures, and did consider the Isles theirs. The Malkavians, though small in number, did also enjoy existence in these days, for they were ever friends with the pixies and imps of the world, for it was in these times, also that the Fay held their greatest power, for the Celtic and Pictish Tribes did hold them in the highest of awe and esteem, considering many of them to be their gods. Also, in those ancient times, the Fianna Tribe roamed the woods, friends of Fay and often even calling the Gangrel friend. Though the isles were hardly free from tribal wars and occasional invasions from vikings, who were under the sway of the Brujah and other Gangrel, it was a land that was true to itself. Eventually, some Brujah did settle in the far North among the Picts, but little concern was given them as the Gangrel were far superior in numbers and strength. Alas in the year 208, the Kingdom of Gaul from the Continent did come across and conquer the Isle. With the Gauls came the first wave of the other vampire clans, mostly refugee Toreador escaping the battles on the continent. Not long after the Gauls, who did hold at least some small respect for the local gods and traditions, in what is called the Third Century, came the Romans.
With the Romans came their Roads, their Walled Cities, their multitude of Gods, their Soldiers, and of course their Ventrue. With the first armies came Mithras, who was worshipped as a God by the Roman Soldiery. He wandered the Isles in those days, old and hale and eager to learn the ways of this new land. During the early times of their occupancy, the Romans did build a most mighty fortress, calling it Eboracum. From Eboracum, the Romans could pillage and make war upon the tribes, always returning to the safety of their walled fortress. Yet, despite their love of conquering and control, the Romans, like the Gauls before them, held some measure of respect for local custom and religion, and the Old Ways remained. Yet, it was not long before the Roman Emporer did convert to the Risen God of Israel, the Christ, and soon all of the Empire found itself zealously worshipping a God who was Born and Died a Man. In these early times, the Nosferatu slithered into England, quickly making havens in any walled Roman city that did have the traditional catacombs beneath.
It was in those days that Uther Paendragon was king, born before the conversion of the Emperor and a follower of the Old Ways of the Celts. The blood of the fay did flow in his veins, and he did pay homage to the Sidhe and did find himself in an alliance with the Summer Court. When he was forced to make war upon the Balor, who did rise out of ancient slumber to wreak terrible havoc upon the Isle, the King did approach she who was Older than even the Sidhe. The Lady of the Lake, Bound by Ancient Rules and by the Sacred Waters, did grant Uther the aid he sought in exchange for his seed. Not long after, Arthur was born, whose blood did carry the Paendragon and Tuatha magic. The boy was sent to his father to be raised, adopted by Igraine, the wife of Uther, as her own son. When the Dark Times came and Uther joined the Fallen, the kingdom falling into the darkness of chaos, the Maerlin, sorceror and half-demon, advisor to Uther, did secret the boy away among the household of an ally. Igraine joined a convent and disappeared. Few knew that Uther had caught the eye of the Ventrue Clan, who desired his abilities and to prevent his continuing protection of the Old Ways.
In the meantime, Morgause, eldest half-sister of Arthur, did rise to her Crown of the Summer Court, immeadiately working to bring an end to these times of darkness, working to help the afflicted Gangrel and Brujah clans as they were assailed by the Ventrue with their Roman Juggernaut. It was in these times too that the Fianna Tribe did find itself under the attack of the Silver Fangs, and did lose much land and power to them. The Silver Fangs and Ventrue, as it was discovered later, had timed their attacks together, hoping to fragment the alliance of Fay, Fianna and Gangrel. Meanwhile, Arthur grew up in a Christian household, under the surveillance of the Maerlin, and did eventually stand revealed to all as the true King, taking his throne in Camelot to the south of Eboracum, now known as York. The Ventrue Clan, backing Arthur and working with The Maerlin, siezed control of much of England, with their ancient warrior, Mithras, rising to his own throne in Londinium, at the base of the Thames River.
With Arthur, once he did trounce his rivals and establish his High Kingdom, came a lasting time of peace. The Round Table did form, and mighty knights on holy quests became as commonplace as English Fog. The Maerlin had achieved what he sought, the end of the paganism of England, the death of the Old Ways. Yet, unknown to Maerlin, Arthur had met his half-sister, Morgane, and though he knew nothing of her true identity and did not realize it, he had given her a child. During these times, an ancient Brujah, Nimue, who was strong in dark magics, did begin to take an interest in the happenings of the times, seducing the Maerlin to teach her more arcane secrets.
Years passed, and the bastard son of Arthur did grow to Manhood. Mordred Pendragon, who was true to the Old Ways, not dead as the Maerlin desired, but hidden away in the wild places, came to Camelot and announced himself, welcomed into the Round Table, befriended by Gawain and muchly loved by Arthur. Alas, but it was not a happy time meant to last. The Fay, allied with Gangrel and Fianna, did begin to influence events towards conflict... sending their Green Knight to distract Gawain while they planted the seeds of discord throughout the court. Suddenly, the Queen and Lancelot were engaged in affairs. Lesser Kings began rebelling against the High King Paendragon. Decadence and discord tore apart Camelot. The Maerlin, knowing that it was Christianity that held the Table and Kingdom together, and Christianity which was his greatest weapon against the Celts, concieved of a Quest, sending the Knights off to find the Holy Grail. While the knights scurried all over England and the Wilder Places of the Isles, Nimue did strike. The Brujah, having learned all she could from the Maerlin, and discovering his role in the subjegation of her Clan in the North, did entrap him within a Tower with a most potent spell. At the same time, Mordred, son of Arthur, did at last stand up against the tyranny of the Holy Roman Empire, crying out for a return to the Old Ways. Many did follow him, fearing that with the loss of Maerlin and the absence of the knights of the Table, the Romans were surely going to fall.
Only the return of Galahad, son of Lancelot, did stave off the Hand of Doom from Camelot, for the Quest was complete and the Table renewed, though many a knight had perished in the quest and their numbers would never be so hale as in their earlier days. While Lancelot was among the missing, rumored to be a hermit, Gawain had returned from his questing a changed man... dark and mightier still, though strange. Arthur did summon these knights and his armies to go forth and make war upon the armies of Morded, and in the darkness, the Ventrue did prepare to make war upon the Gangrel and Brujah and Fianna werewolves. Yet, at the last moment, the love of the father and child did almost create a new peace, until an asp (some murmur Setites, others know the darker truth) did startle a knight into raising his sword, causing both sides to cry out betrayal and charge forward. Twas the bloodiest battle fought in England, with both sides devastated. It was then that Gawain stood revealed as the Ventrue he had become, and his friendship with Mordred lost forever. Too, it was then that Morded, as he lay dying, was embraced by the sinister Nimue, who was not finished wreaking her revenge on the Ventrue conquerors.
Arthur, so it is said, was taken away by Morgan and Morgause to Avalon, since his blood was fay, where he shall lay in deathlike sleep until some future time when England does need him. This, quite possibly, is simply legend. What is known is that only a meager handful of soliders did walk away from that battlefield that night, and among them was a great Lord who did wear armor crafted into the likeness of a Lion. On this day, it is said, the Fay began preparing for The Exodus to Avalon. Also it is said, so the story goes, the wisewomen and mages of the Celtic tribes were forever known as witches and demon-worshippers. The Old Ways were now Forbidden and considered Darkness, and those who did practice them were put to the stake and burned. The Maerlin, alas, was not around to gloat at his victory.
Centuries passed, and with them the retreat of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes under Brujah dominance, and then the Viking invasions of the Danes and Norwegians, brought on by the revenge seeking Gangrel. Though, the Ventrue were not finished yet. Though much of their power was lost, the Ventrue managed to hold onto their walled cities, forsaking the villages and towns to the Gangrel and Brujah for a time. Some thought perhaps the old ways would return, but alas, by this time the Western World was primarily Christian, and when the dust settled, England was still following the Risen God. It was during this time that the Toreador and Lasombra first began filtering into the Isles again, using the church and the new settlements as their power bases. It was also during this time that Mithras found himself so frustrated with the manner in which his clan was handling matters that he finally decided to take control. His visits to the continent became frequent, and many whisper of the deals he struck with the Ventrue Council, particularly Gustav of Germania, and of the strange death of the Toreador Prince of Normandy.
It was 1066, at the battle of Hastings, that Mithras siezed power. With his new mortal pawn, Willaim the Conquerer, the ancient Ventrue once and for all took England for his clan. London was his City, and he ruled from the Tower of London (which he had William build for him) and was pleased.
Far North of this battle in the walled city of Eboracum, a new Prince came to power. Leonardo DeLyonesse, the Great Lion, ally of Mithras, ruled over the kindred with strength and will, and was well feared by his foes and well admired by his friends. York soon became the Northern Stronghold of the Ventrue Clan, and from there did they keep the Brujah of the North and the Gangrel of the Wilderlands under their scrutiny. Also, it is noted that the Prince did hold a great hatred for the werewolves, particularly the Fianna Tribe, and did persecute and hunt them most readily.
One, in the year 1280, night a Ventrue contingent struck a path towards London and the throne of Mithras. The Fianna took their revenge, surprising Leonardo, who led the entourage, in ambush and assailing him with their rending claws and fanged mouths. The Prince did fall in battle, grievously wounded, and was secreted away by his childe, the faithful Julian DeLyonesse. It was this Julian who did then rise to claim the throne of York in the absence of his sire, and has ruled ever since.
Recent times have been difficult on York. The Gangrel, weary of the persecutions of their beloved Scots by the English King Edward I, the mortal pawn of Mithras, rallied behind William Wallace and did make war upon the English, going so far as to travel into England itself and sack York. Julian, it should be noted, did fight well and was mightily outnumbered, and was wise to surrender his city rather than have it burned and his people slain. Wallace did then parley with the enemy at York, and it was then that the beginnings of the end did come for poor William. For Julian did note that among the kindred who did travel among Scots were more than a few Brujah. The Brujah of Scotland, it was well known, were a savage and uncivilized lot, and were prone to betrayals and briberies, for it was thus that the Ventrue had managed them for many number of years. Julian did send word to these Brujah that the betrayal of Wallace would surely bring them great reward, promising them lands and monies and further political power. The Brujah immediately returned to Scotland while Julian did send word to Mithras of the plan. Sure enough, the next battle proved to be an English victory as the Scottish Clansmen (under Brujah control) backed away from Wallace's forces and allowed the Highlanders to fall in battle. Wallace, of course, was captured, tortured, and executed.
Yet, not long after this, Edward (Longshanks) I perished of illness (some say he was cursed by witches) and Mithras lost his best pawn since William the Conqueror. At the same time, there were many crises which faced both the Ventrue Council and Mithras personally, forcing him to spend a great deal of time on the continent away from his throne. With the rise of Edward the Second, decadence and chaos has again taken root in the British nobility, and even among the Ventrue. There are some Ventrue who do seek to overthrow Mithras, secretly gathering forces and influencing their mortal pawns.
The Gangrel, seeing opportunity, do gather at the site of their greatest victory in recent times, hoping to rally at York for revenge against the Ventrue. The Brujah, fence-walkers and untrusted by most, do worry at the question of their loyalties and honor, some travelling to York to make amends for their betrayal, others coming to York to try to keep their power. The Lasombra, now strong within the Church, hope to take advantage of this time to expand their power bases. The Toreador, generally apolitical in these strange times, seek to keep England out of France, where they do gather power and hope to take Paris. The Tremere, expanding their own power bases, have infiltrated the Freemasons, stealing it away from the Brujah slowly but surely. Malkavians wander freely in Yorkshire like they have never done in any other part of England. Nosferatu, who have long whispered of ancient evils in the northeast, have been murdered in the catacombs of York, only a meager handful surviving and now hidden away. Rumor has it that there are a great number unrestful spirits within the province of Yorkshire and as such, the Cappadocians have been increasing their numbers in the Northern city, to better study the facts around such plentifuly spread whipsers. The Ravnos, recent to England, have found Yorkshire to be a place ripe for the picking and abundant in treasure. Setites, undoubtedly responsible for much of the decadence and chaos of these times, do live in sin and opulence, corrupting all they might, though few in number. Assamites, now that the Crusades are at an end, do occasionally come North, knowing that in such times their skills are often appreciated. Tzimisce Exiles, seeking solace and escape from the wars that have taken away their ancestral lands, appear here and there hoping to find a quiet place to continue their experiments and arcane lifestyles.
