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Around 2,000 years of history is crammed into this city. York's recorded life begins with the Romans, who built the massive fortress of Eboracum here to defend the North. It soon became the capital of the whole Northern region and a Roman town or Colonia developed across the River Ouse. The Roman Emperor Septimius Severus died here in 211 AD and in 306 AD another famous Emperor, Constantine the Great was declared Emperor while at York. Christianity was widely adopted by the Romans during Constantine's reign and there seems to have been a Roman bishop at York. But the building of York Minster, which occupies the site of the Roman fortress was not commenced until 627 AD, when Edwin, King of Northumbria converted to Christianity. Edwin built a little wooden 'Minster' or church dedicated to St Peter and over the centuries this would evolve into what is now the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. From the 860s Christianity suffered a temporary setback with the arrival of the Vikings who made York their capital in the North, but they too would convert to Christian ways. Throughout the Norman and Medieval period York continued to be the most important town in the north and apart from the Minster there are many other buildings of architectural and historical interest. The city's museums help visitors grasp York's significance and the well-preserved medieval streets, especially The Shambles and Stonegate are a delight to explore with modern shops complementing the traditional daily markets.