POLITICAL IMPORTANCE 5

military values became, in 733, an ecclesiastical
metropolis, for from this date the Archbishop of
York was not only the ruler of the diocese of.York,
but in addition spiritual head of the Church in the
North of England. Further, there were established
in the city branches of the civil government.
Business of the state, both civil and military, and
of the Church was regularly conducted at York from
early times. This political importance lasted long
and is intimately connected with' many events in
the city's history. The fort and military, defences
were renewed from time to time, and staff-work
and general administration, whether Roman or
Edwardian, were conducted from York. The king,
from, whom York was rented by the citizens, had his
official representatives with their offices permanently
established here. The siege of 1644 after the
royalist defeat at Marston Moor, was due mainly to
the political importance of the city. In Danish
times there were kings of York. The Archbishops,
besides owning large areas of land in and around the,
city, had their palace in the city. Monasteries grew
up and flourished till the Dissolution ; churches and
other religious buildings were everywhere. Further,
from century to century, York was the home of
important nobles of the realm,

This political importance has persisted through
the centuries. York still claims its traditional rank of
second city in the kingdom.