Fectio
Index
|
|
 A great morning,
first grey, but later sunny and windy. But due to a bad
forecast, we weren't expecting that many visitors, who of
course feared it would rain and went elsewhere. After
breakfast the last details were discussed between the
groups leaders, and we started practising for the main
events of the day:
12.30-13.15 Parade
through the entire park & Presentation
in the Arena (all the groups)
13.30-14.00 Fashion Show: Roman Army
from 200 BC to 400 AD (I Germanica)
14.15-14.45 Late Roman drill (II
Herculia & Foederati)
15.00-15.30 The Big Fight (Teuxandrii, I
Minerva, Batavi, Dun Gwalch & Litus Saxonicum)
15.30-16.00 Gladiators (Archeon, most of
us as honour guards)
First of
course the Herculiani/Foederati, now with all of the
latter present, perfected their drill (which looked
pretty well perfect to me anyway).
The Herculiani and
Celtae seniores are practising hard. |
Pius/Patrick
getting ready. |
A few early
visitors are watching the practise. Which was
really too bad, as the weather turned better and
better.. |
Afterwards, some quick repairs to
be made on Arbogast's lorica
squamata. |
The fulcum,
the Late Roman 3-rank deep defensive formation. |
The practising of a very complicated drill. |
How to fight
in the front line. The tribune Anthemius
watching Vindex and Arbogast. |
Vindex/Vincent |
Didier |
Spadinos/
Alexandre |
Arbatio/
Christian |
Replenishing plumbatae |
Afterwards, discussing the practise and how to
improve before the show later on. |
12.30-13.15 Parade through the entire park & Presentation in the Arena (all the groups)
 Unfortunately, we don't have pictures of
that event. The image here shows the smaller parade from
sunday afternoon, which gives you an idea. Too bad,
because we looked absolutely great - 50 Late Roman
soldiers assembling at the old temple, then marching
through the entire park! Lead by a draco and two
vexilla, half a century of more or less armoured
but splendid looking soldiers marched 'through the ages',
surprising the inhabitants of the Bronze Age to the
Middle Ages! After that parade we marched straight into
the arena, presenting all the groups and performing
several formations, such as the cuneus (wedge)
and the fulcum (shield wall). Alas, the arena
was only filled for one-third of the available seats, but
we had good fun nontheless.
13.30-14.00 Fashion
Show: Roman
Army from 200 BC to 400 AD (I Germanica)
We chose
to invite this Spanish group, even though most of them
were not equipped as Late Romans, because they uniquely
show the development of the Roman soldier from the 3rd
century BC to the 5th century AD. Because most members of
the public are only aware (if at all) of how the Roman
soldier of the 1st-2nd centuries AD looks (with the
classic lorica squamata), we thought it a very good idea
to make them also aware of the development before and
after, up to the Late Roman period. It's the easiest way
to make the public comprhend that the Romans did not
always look like the popular Hollywood image!
The
information stand of Legio I Germanica,
which we all thought was very good. |
Facing the public. |
Line-up. |
Eight men (and
an our Imperatrix!), the full
development of the Roman legionary. And great
weather! |
The line-up, from 250BC to 500AD, looking very
good! |
First off Cessetanus/Alfred, the hastatus
from c.250BC with his Monterfortino
helmet, hamata armour and very big scutum. |
Avitianus/Cesar, legionary from the
Flavian period. |
Tibisius/Quim, optio from the 2nd c.
Dacian wars. |
Martialis/Ricard, legionary from the mid-3rd
c. AD. |
Signanus/Jordi, legionary from the 4th c. |
Jordi (2), another 4th c. legionary. |
Galla Placidia/ Carme, our 5th c.
Empress. |
The Empress and her women, Rosa and Carolina. |
14.15-14.45 Late
Roman drill
(II Herculia & Foederati)
The Herculiani
had a very well-developed drill. With the Foederati
to aid them to showed the public a well-oiled performance
of Late Roman manouevres, with a good piece of drama
added! This part of the event showed our main flaw. being
with so many groups from all over Europe, it was
impossible to perform complicated drills together, at
least not without days of practising. The language
barrier also played a part there.
     
Under the weatchful eye of tribune Anthemius/Christian,
the centurio Pius/Patrck lined the men up. After
the tribune held his speech, there was an incident: Vindex,
apparently a Christian soldier, refused to serve and
offered his belt to the tribune. Uproar! An insult! Would
he be punished? But the tribune, remembering Vindex'
brave father, pardoned him and Vindex re-joined
the ranks.
     
The Herculiani practised several close formations and
marching drills, such as the defensive stationary fulcum
and the mobile testudo…
     
.. but also the throwing of plumbatae (in front of the
fulcum) and the close formation fighting with the sword.
     
Another formation, the anti-cavalry ‘blockade’
and the formation versus formation ‘pushing’ .
All very impressive. You can see that the boys are having
great fun!
Some
fooling about after the show, in the camp of the
Herculiani:
      
Michel/Anthemius is crowned emperor by his troops, and
gracefully accepts.. Will this usurpation be successful?
15.00-15.30 The Big Fight (Teuxandrii, I Minerva, Batavi,
Dun Gwalch & Litus Saxonicum)
 Legio I Minerva guarding
the camp of the Germanic troops. |
The fierce helmet of a Germanic federate.. |
..but he can be quite friendly, too. |
The defenders, British troops.. |
The very
good-looking scuta.. |
..of the Late Roman field army. |
Ready for battle. From right to left Gavin (Teuxandrii),
Litus Saxonicum, Gawan (Dun Gwalch),
Legio I Minerva, Mariken (Teuxandrii), Batavi,
Dun Gwalch and more Teuxandrii.
 
The battle begins. On the right side, British troops with
some Alamannic mercenaries and local
Gallo-Roman militia and on the left side the army of the
Germanic limes, enhanced with some Frankish
federates…
The clash of arms is deafening.
    
Soon the franks defeat the Alamanni and turn the British
left flank, while the Gallic militia barely holds the
right flank..
   
Just when the men of Legio I Minerva seem to break
through, their Frankish allies are defeated
and the British troops sweep the battlefield until only
dead or dying enemies remain.
 
A final charge towards the public.
15.30-16.00 Gladiators (Archeon, most of us as honour
guards)
     
Late afternoon, the trumpets sound for the beginning of
the games. The ‘new emperor’ Anthemius makes
his intentions clear – he wants a dynasty!
  
The troops gather outside the basilica, then guard the
dignitaries towards the arena for the gladiator games.
    
After the usual pagan ceremonies, the gladiators fight
their bloody duels. The empress and her general reward
the victor.
The
event is over for the day, let the relaxing begin!
   
Plumbata
session
  
     
Dino hunt!
      
     
     
       
Next day
Sunday, and now we've
had some practise..
|
