05-20-2005, 03:36 AM
The National Legion already exists and invites individuals, conturburnia of eight or more legionariaries, and centuries comprised of two or more united contuburnia. International groups and individual are also welcome.
It is based on the success of the "squad-mess" system of autentic Civl War reenactment, whereupon "squads" of relatively generic Civil War soldiers "join" larger companies and battalions dictated by elements such as the abilities of the commander, realistic camps, activities, and other incentives. These messes and squads are free to join whichever "company" they feel will provide them with the most rewarding reenactment experience. The Roman contuburnia is remarkably similar to the Civil War squad-mess and the successes of this hobby can be applied to the Roman one.
There is no Legion "commander". The highest rank in the legion is centurion. There may be up to 60 centurions in the first formed legion, but no individul can attain this rank until he can muster two full contuburnia of legionaries at a "national" event. "Honorary" senior commanders such as Legates, Tribunes etc. may be appointed as required, but have no real command status.
The most senior centurion at a given event is the one who can bring the largest number of troops under his signa. He may do this by variety of means, just as the generals of the late Roman Republic. The "Senior" centurion is still a somewhat honorific title in as much as every bonafide member has the same "vote" in the political aspects of the organization.
The selected time period for reenactment scenearios will be the middle year of the 1st century AD, (Claudian to Flavian), since reenactors of this period far-outnumber the Roman reenactors of every other period. This does not exclude period "units" but for the purposes of the "tactical", must make an effort to conform to the event period. This can even be accomplished by playing the role of a "barbarian" unit. Special scenarios based on other Roman time periods may also be conducted if enough interest is expressed within the organization.
The national legion will represent the legion in which we have the most historical data to form a reasonably authentic impression. This can only be LEGIO XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix for the following reasons:
1. This appears to be the only legion in which of the 1st century in which the shield emblem can be determined. Shields with this emblem are already mass-marketed and available throughout the world (Deepeeka), though self-made shields that conform to basic authenticity standards are permitted.
2. The costume and Signa of two legionary signifiers of this legion are known through grave stele, and can be accurately replicated.
3. The costume and Aquila of the legionary aquilifier are known thorugh grave stele, and can be accurately replicated.
4. Legio XIIII GMV was stationed for long periods at Mainz, where a vast wealth of contemporary Roman military equipment has been excavated, which in liklihood may have been used by Legio XIIII. These items include Imp gallic D, G, I, imperial Italic D, Auxilliary B, Gutmann Pompeii Gladius, several Mainz swords, several daggers, etc. No other 1st century legion can autheticate even a small percent of the items found in the garrision location of their unit.
5.Geographically, much of the United States is similar to the Regions of Britain, Germany and Pannonia where Legio XIIII was predeominately stationed during the represented 1st century period.
6. By and large, most potential "barbarian foes" recruited into the tacticals will be interested in portraying Germannic or Celtic types
rather than more Eastern enemies, and therefore are the autentic, appropriate enemies of LEG XIIII.
7. World wide, there are already more reenactors that depict LEG XIIII than any other Roman group.
Combat simulations will be conducted by means of the NFS system, rules, standards of equipment construction, and safety requirements to be determined and published soon. NFS combat is not mandatory. People choosing not to participate in combat are not penalized but are accepted to support the "tactical" in some noncombative activities contributing to the good of the event.
There is no mandatory "tunic color". Members involved in weekend-long living history situations may determine the practicality of certain tunic colors thorugh this form of practical research. Individual century commanders
Auxilliary units have the same rights, priveledges and rank structure of legionary units. Thus, an Auxilliary centuriaon could theoretically be the senior centurion at an event if he can muster the most men under his standard.
"Barbarian" units must also have reasonable sized units to justify unit commanders, standards, etc. Equivalent to the Roman conturburnia is the barbarian "clan". Any Barbarian leader who can amass two full "clans" (16 warriors), is authorized to be a "Chieftain" with his own standard and musician.
Onced this is rolling, I believe there is the potential to recruit hundreds of Barbarians from the ranks of the tens of thousands of fantasy LARPs, many of which will already have appropriate basic costumes, and familar with the lightweight fighting weapons of their hobby. The SCA is also a potential recruiting ground. Understand tht a typical Barbarian can equip himself for under fifty dollars. This is why LARP is so popular to begin with.
The whole point of the "National Legion" is to engage true reenactment with realistic appering numbers of partipants to give a true feeling of ancient combat. Secondly it is to muster realistic numbers of men for drills and demos at static display types events. Member centuries of the National Legion are welcome to engage in the usual display activities such as Nativity and Easter displays, "Timeline" displays, wargaming and sci-fi conventions, etc.
A system of historical/authentic awards and decorations will be established, and will be "earned" in both the Roman and Barbarian elements of the hobby.
Non "National Legion" Roman and Barbarian units may be invited to "National" events if they are willing to "play the game", and maintain approved sized units. For the "right" to have their own Centurion uniform and carry their own distinctive units, these units must also have a minimum of two, eight man conturbnia/clans under their command.
Due to the danger of site shut-offs as experienced by Magnus, this ends part I, more to follow.
Dan
It is based on the success of the "squad-mess" system of autentic Civl War reenactment, whereupon "squads" of relatively generic Civil War soldiers "join" larger companies and battalions dictated by elements such as the abilities of the commander, realistic camps, activities, and other incentives. These messes and squads are free to join whichever "company" they feel will provide them with the most rewarding reenactment experience. The Roman contuburnia is remarkably similar to the Civil War squad-mess and the successes of this hobby can be applied to the Roman one.
There is no Legion "commander". The highest rank in the legion is centurion. There may be up to 60 centurions in the first formed legion, but no individul can attain this rank until he can muster two full contuburnia of legionaries at a "national" event. "Honorary" senior commanders such as Legates, Tribunes etc. may be appointed as required, but have no real command status.
The most senior centurion at a given event is the one who can bring the largest number of troops under his signa. He may do this by variety of means, just as the generals of the late Roman Republic. The "Senior" centurion is still a somewhat honorific title in as much as every bonafide member has the same "vote" in the political aspects of the organization.
The selected time period for reenactment scenearios will be the middle year of the 1st century AD, (Claudian to Flavian), since reenactors of this period far-outnumber the Roman reenactors of every other period. This does not exclude period "units" but for the purposes of the "tactical", must make an effort to conform to the event period. This can even be accomplished by playing the role of a "barbarian" unit. Special scenarios based on other Roman time periods may also be conducted if enough interest is expressed within the organization.
The national legion will represent the legion in which we have the most historical data to form a reasonably authentic impression. This can only be LEGIO XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix for the following reasons:
1. This appears to be the only legion in which of the 1st century in which the shield emblem can be determined. Shields with this emblem are already mass-marketed and available throughout the world (Deepeeka), though self-made shields that conform to basic authenticity standards are permitted.
2. The costume and Signa of two legionary signifiers of this legion are known through grave stele, and can be accurately replicated.
3. The costume and Aquila of the legionary aquilifier are known thorugh grave stele, and can be accurately replicated.
4. Legio XIIII GMV was stationed for long periods at Mainz, where a vast wealth of contemporary Roman military equipment has been excavated, which in liklihood may have been used by Legio XIIII. These items include Imp gallic D, G, I, imperial Italic D, Auxilliary B, Gutmann Pompeii Gladius, several Mainz swords, several daggers, etc. No other 1st century legion can autheticate even a small percent of the items found in the garrision location of their unit.
5.Geographically, much of the United States is similar to the Regions of Britain, Germany and Pannonia where Legio XIIII was predeominately stationed during the represented 1st century period.
6. By and large, most potential "barbarian foes" recruited into the tacticals will be interested in portraying Germannic or Celtic types
rather than more Eastern enemies, and therefore are the autentic, appropriate enemies of LEG XIIII.
7. World wide, there are already more reenactors that depict LEG XIIII than any other Roman group.
Combat simulations will be conducted by means of the NFS system, rules, standards of equipment construction, and safety requirements to be determined and published soon. NFS combat is not mandatory. People choosing not to participate in combat are not penalized but are accepted to support the "tactical" in some noncombative activities contributing to the good of the event.
There is no mandatory "tunic color". Members involved in weekend-long living history situations may determine the practicality of certain tunic colors thorugh this form of practical research. Individual century commanders
Auxilliary units have the same rights, priveledges and rank structure of legionary units. Thus, an Auxilliary centuriaon could theoretically be the senior centurion at an event if he can muster the most men under his standard.
"Barbarian" units must also have reasonable sized units to justify unit commanders, standards, etc. Equivalent to the Roman conturburnia is the barbarian "clan". Any Barbarian leader who can amass two full "clans" (16 warriors), is authorized to be a "Chieftain" with his own standard and musician.
Onced this is rolling, I believe there is the potential to recruit hundreds of Barbarians from the ranks of the tens of thousands of fantasy LARPs, many of which will already have appropriate basic costumes, and familar with the lightweight fighting weapons of their hobby. The SCA is also a potential recruiting ground. Understand tht a typical Barbarian can equip himself for under fifty dollars. This is why LARP is so popular to begin with.
The whole point of the "National Legion" is to engage true reenactment with realistic appering numbers of partipants to give a true feeling of ancient combat. Secondly it is to muster realistic numbers of men for drills and demos at static display types events. Member centuries of the National Legion are welcome to engage in the usual display activities such as Nativity and Easter displays, "Timeline" displays, wargaming and sci-fi conventions, etc.
A system of historical/authentic awards and decorations will be established, and will be "earned" in both the Roman and Barbarian elements of the hobby.
Non "National Legion" Roman and Barbarian units may be invited to "National" events if they are willing to "play the game", and maintain approved sized units. For the "right" to have their own Centurion uniform and carry their own distinctive units, these units must also have a minimum of two, eight man conturbnia/clans under their command.
Due to the danger of site shut-offs as experienced by Magnus, this ends part I, more to follow.
Dan
