Eboracum — Constantine's Imperial Conspiracy

Your quest begins before the Statue of Constantine the Great, in the imposing shadow of York Minster. It was here, in Eboracum, that Flavius Valerius Constantinus was proclaimed emperor in 306 AD, an event that altered the course of the Roman Empire. The Gothic cathedral, built between 1220 and 1472, itself rests on the foundations of a 4th-century Roman basilica dedicated to Constantine, proof of the site's deep history. The Chapter of York Minster holds archives detailing Roman remains discovered during 19th-century excavations, offering a glimpse into the treasures buried beneath the city of York.

Continue towards the York City Walls, medieval ramparts built between 1238 and 1372, largely following the foundations of Eboracum's Roman walls dating from the 2nd century. These original defenses were erected around 120 AD under Emperor Hadrian and reinforced in the 4th century under Constantine. Along the 4.1 km of these walls, you will discover sections like the Multangular Tower, a Roman defensive tower built around 300-310 AD from limestone and red sandstone, with its first three meters of foundation dating from the Roman era. It is one of the few complete Roman structures remaining in England, visible from Museum Gardens.

Your exploration of York's Roman past then leads you to the Yorkshire Museum, founded in 1830 and located within the Museum Gardens. The museum houses Roman collections from Eboracum, including sculptures, lapidary inscriptions, and coins from the 1st to 4th centuries. The permanent 'Roman York' exhibition documents the presence of Constantine and Legio VI Victrix, the legion stationed in Eboracum. The gardens themselves, laid out in 1857 on the site of St. Mary's Abbey, reveal fragments of Roman columns and inscriptions dated from the 2nd-4th centuries during ongoing excavations since 1960. The Eboracum Roman Festival celebrates this rich heritage annually.

Your route also uncovers the remains of the Roman Bathhouse in Swinegate, a 2nd-4th century Roman thermal establishment discovered in the 19th century. Located near the River Ouse, this edifice was part of Eboracum's military infrastructure, with an identified hypocaust heating system. Although only fragments remain in situ, the Yorkshire Museum preserves artifacts (tiles, mosaics) from this site. Further on, the York Guildhall, a medieval building from 1446-1459, stands on the east bank of the Ouse. Archaeological studies suggest that a Roman administrative building, possibly a praetorium, stood nearby, illustrating the continuity of a power center in York.

Finally, Walmgate Bar, a medieval fortified gate (1330-1350) integrated into the City Walls, reveals underlying Roman structures dating from the 2nd century. Remains of Roman gates were identified during 19th and 20th-century restorations, attesting to the Roman engineering that prefigured York's medieval defenses. It is here that your investigation into the imperial conspiracy finds its resolution. By walking the 1.5 km of this historical circuit, you will have followed in the footsteps of Constantine and the legions, deciphering a part of Yorkshire's and the Roman Empire's history, an unforgettable cultural tourism experience for the whole family.