Few towns of its size have as rich and varied a history as Reading, and few hide the fact better. For the past two centuries and more growth and modernisation have swept away much of the evidence of the past. But, for a thousand year before that, Reading played a major role in the affairs of the nation. King Alfred fought in the town for control of his kingdom, and in medieval times Reading was an international centre for pilgrimage and governance. Parliaments met here, and kings and princes were married and buried locally. The town has been sacked by Vikings, besieged in the Civil War and saw fighting in the streets during the so-called 'Bloodless Revolution' that overthrew King James II in 1688. Since then, Reading's fortunes have been transformed by a series of revolutions in transport.