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Reenactment Units and Other Groups, Outside North America
If you have a Roman reenacting website and would like us to link to it, please click here.
So, okay.... here's what you're after. A listing of Roman reenacting units in North America. Of course, some links will be dead, that being the nature of the Internet -- please let me know about dead links so I can repair or remove them. Anyway, when looking at a unit to join, take your time, don't get "recruit-itis" and just jump! Look, learn, study, ask questions... MAKE SURE the group you join is a good match for YOU and your interests -- if not, you are only asking for an unhappy time.
Comments? Want to know more?
Feel free to e-mail me or ask questions at:
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The Ermine Street Guard (UK) -- The original Roman reenacting group in the World! The ESG has been around for almost 30 years and they have their impression down right.
The Ermine Street Guard is a society dedicated to research into the Roman Army and the reconstruction of Roman armour and equipment. The reconstructions are primarily from the latter half of the first century A.D. although equipment from other Roman periods is reproduced for experimental and display purposes. Since its formation in 1972 the Guard has become firmly established as the leading society making such a detailed and accurate study of this subject. Since 1988, the Society has been a registered charity and is financed through public displays, educational visits and donations.
Public displays are given at major Roman sites throughout Great Britain and Europe. The display, includes aspects of the Roman soldier's training and the firing of artillery pieces. At selected venues the Guard is also joined by two fully equipped Roman cavalrymen. A static display provides information on various aspects of the Roman army and gives the opportunity to examine the armour and equipment at close quarters. In 1993, in consultation with archeological experts the Guard made the first ever accurate, hand stitched reconstruction of an eight man goat skin tent. Guard members are only too willing to talk to members of the public and answer their many questions.
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Legio I Adiutrix (Hungary) -- Neat site, not much about THEM. Waiting to hear back... At least they DO have an English section...
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Legio I Adiutrix (Poland) -- Okay, I looked at the site, it's in Polish. I can't read Polish, nor can I find a translator page. They look good. Wish I could tell what they were saying ;-(
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Legio I Italica (Italy) -- The group was founded in 1996 upon an idea of Sandro Maragno, partner of GAV, to honor and remember the legion recruited by the Emperor Nero in the 67 AD.
The GAV or Gruppo Archaeologico di Villadose was founded in 1988, with the primary objective being to explore the territory and to census the present archaeological sites. In 1990 the GAV prepared, in collaboration with Town Administration and Archaeological Superintendence of Veneto, the permanent Show on the Roman Centuriation in Villadose that in 8 years has been visited by around 15,000 people. The Show contains around 400 finds, all found by the partners of the GAV during the search of surface. In these last years the group has become interested in reenacting, so was born the Legio I Italica.
The group is composed of around 15 legionaries, impassioned of Roman history, who introduce to the public how the Roman legionaries fought and lived in their camp. In 2000, the legion is endowed with a rule.
The Legion collaborates with the institute of Experimental Archaeology Istituto Ars Dimicandi® of Dario Battaglia with the goal being to develop a didactic demonstrative circuit finalized to the promotion of the experimental archaeology.
In 2002 the group is enrolled in the Federazione Ars Dimicandi® of which the GAV is one of the partners founders. They also belong to the Federation:
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Legio II Augusta (UK) -- Since its conception, a little over 15 years ago, LEG II AVG's military section has grown from strength to strength.
Including in its displays; soldiers, artillery, engineers, bowmen, cavalry, medical staff, fletchers, complex models, full marching camp equipment, musical instruments, standards, cartography and much more, which all work towards an interesting day out or the ability to supply men and equipment for all manner of events or filming.
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Legio II Augusta (NZ) -- We are a research and re-enactment group specialising in recreating the Roman Army and Roman life from the 2nd to the 4th century A.D. Consisting of around 90 members, male and female, young and old, the Second Legion Augusta presents living history and combat displays of military life at venues throughout New Zealand. Our members come from many parts of New Zealand although our main base is to be found in Auckland where our training takes place. Members include artisans, armourers, artists, historians, and performers as well as combatants and display fighters.
Coming from many walks of life we are nevertheless united by our enthusiasm for the Ancient Roman world and the Roman army and by our determination to help inform, educate and enjoy!
All our armour, clothing, weapons and artillery have been made after extensive research and are as authentic as we can make them.
Our combat members undergo fortnightly combat training and participate in battle days; all members join in displays for both the corporate and educational and tourism sectors, as well as appearing on Televison & in Film.
New members are always welcome! Come and meet us at a training day!
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Legio IV Macedonica (Spain) -- Legio IV MACEDONICA, is the reconstruction of a Contubernio (group formed by eight legionaries), created by the Taller de Reconstrucción Histórica y Arqueológica (Factory of Historical and Archaeological Reconstruction), as basic unit of exercise of the Roman Legions in antiquity. The time period we cover with this unit go from its beginnings in Republican times to Imperial times.
The Contubernio has a catapult as well (Onager), made by the Factory of Historical Reconstruction and shortly, a tent made for the Contubernio (eight men) in leather and wood. Also different utensils from campaign recreate the sample of the legionary equipment.
The civil part will be represented by Donas, its clothes of Roman time will construct an image of the blunt civilian life in Roman times.
Legio IV Macedonica, develops its work of historical representation for Museums, Provincial, Regional or National Exhibitions, Festivales and Fiestas. Also teaching institutions are an objective of the Factory of Historical Reconstruction, and of legio IV, where smallest, they can live the Historical one on an almost real form.
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COHORS I PRAETORIA (Italy) -- The Cislapina Historical Reenactment Group was founded in 1999 with the name Legio V Lucana and modified in the current one in 2004.
It groups enthusiasts of the Roman historical reenacment and it is present in Italy in Milan and Turin.
We promote research, experimentation and publication on the roman military history. We are particularly focused on the pretorian soldiers because they were, more often stationed in Italy, so it can be considered as a part of our lost culture.
In collaboration with other groups, like www.romars.it, we study also the way the roman soldier used to combat, his tactics, his techniques.
This group has no political or ideological connotation.
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Legio VI Victrix (Romercohorte Opladen, Coh. VI Asturum) (Austria) -- The I. ROEMERCOHORTE OPLADEN e. V ("First Roman Cohort of Opladen") is a historical association which aims to reconstruct the equipment and the everyday life of Roman military and their civilian surroundings by re-enacting ancient Roman life as authentically as possible.
The presentation of Roman military life is not based on an exaggerated militarism of the reenactors, but only on historical and practical reflections.
- Viewed historically, the Roman military did much more than typical "soldier duties." Members of the Roman army, especially the legionary heavy infantry, did not perform strictly military tasks, but were also involved in building and repair of military infrastructure such as roads and forts, and protection of the civilian population in nearly every province of the Roman Empire. The engineering work of the army should not be overlooked, especially within the frontier provinces of the empire. It was the army's protection and manpower that made urban life possible in this regions. Without the Roman army going forth as a pioneer corps, cultural torchbearer, master builder, and watchful guard, the culture of Mediterranean Rome would never have spread so widely or thoroughly across Europe.
- A believable presentation of typical Roman civilian life in its urbanized surroundings would require fixed, local reconstructions, costing a great deal of money to present only a few aspects of civilian life in a realistic way. However, in the form of a temporary military marching-camp and a contingent of camp-followers, it is possible for us to re-create a wider and more complete picture of civil-military life in provincial Roman areas with relatively low means.
Based on this philosophy, I. ROEMERCOHORTE OPLADEN endeavors to reconstruct an ever more realistic vision of Roman life, through careful study of the military's equipment as known to archaeologists, through a permanent extension and a progressiv perfectionation of our equipment and through our own practical experiences. We then present this to public audiences as "living history." Through the enthusiastic dedication of our members, who come from all professions and age-groups, we bring provincial Rome back to life.
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Legio VII Gemina (Tarragona, Catalonia) -- Okay, it's anice site... however, I can't read it and I haven't found a translator program to do so... ;-( Looks good though. |
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Legio VIII Augusta (Germany) -- An interesting site, auf Deutsch and hard to get anything out of. All text id graphics ;-0 and they use multiple frames on each page [kill their webmaster $%*&#($@]. Anyway, perhaps we'll get something translated for it. |
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Legio VIII Augusta (France) -- Well crap, it's in French... okay, one should expect that in a French website... Again, looks pretty good. Hope to someday get some info in English on them. |
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Legio VIIII Hispanis/The Dobboni and Coritaini Tribes (UK) -- We aim to represent the period of the roman invasion to the battle of Mons Graupis (so in essance AD43 to AD89). As far as we know the we are the only Combat 1st C group in Britain, as such we have Legionarys representing the 9th legion Auxillarys representing the 1st Coh Brittannicus and two Tribes of Britons. Our displays and events are as the group name suggests structured around an impression of a Vicus with the aim of showing the fusion and interaction of the Roman and British cultures, this of course is not only violent. We also demonstrate the combat methords and tacics of the legions and Native Britons in full contact displays. The group also can stage Gladitorial shows with Noxi and Classically paired Fighters, again these shows are done as competative full contact matches. |
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Legio VIIII Hispana (Spain) -- A newer unit in Spain who seeks to do it right! Give 'em a look! I did look at the site w/ a translator, but I didn't get the stuff I wanted for this listing.. perhaps they'll send us something... |
Legio VIIII Hispana (Australia) -- Seems to be an SCA group, but I could be wrong. Also seem to be pretty cool! Anyway, this is what they say about themselves: The aims of the somewhat anarchic collective of interested individuals (hereinafter known as 'The Society') are:
- To recreate all aspects of life in the Roman Legions of the last half of the first century anno domini, including campaign, drill, combat and leisure activities as accurately as possible using the tools of living history and practical archaeology.
- Speaking in outrageously bad Latin.
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Legio X Gemina (Netherlands [that's Holland for those of you in Rio Linda]) -- The Gemina Project. a Dutch re-enactment society that portrays Roman soldiers and civilians as they would have appeared in the last quarter of the first century AD when the legio X Gemina was stationed at the castra of Nijmegen. Currently the society can field about two contubernia of legionaries with the associated officers and NCO's, a couple of auxiliary archers and about a dozen provincial Roman civilians. In accordance with the educational aims of our group, members regularly participate in public displays and lectures at museums, schools and sites of historical value, often in cooperation with similar re-enactment societies from all over Europe. |
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Legio XIII Gemina (& Coh.I It. C.R.) (Austria) -- |
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Legio XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix (Coh.I Batavorum, & Roman Military Research Society) (UK) -- The R.M.R.S is a research and re-enactment group specialising in the latter part of the 1st century AD. The Society presents living history displays of Roman military drill and civilian life at venues all over Britain. Our training base is at the Lunt fort, near Coventry and although many members live in the Midlands a number also come from as far afield as Essex, Scotland, Germany and even Rome! Members are of all ages, male and female, single, couples and families.
* Vexillatio Legionis Geminae
The display team of the RMRS represents a detachment of the Twin Legion, Legio XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix along with its associated auxiliary units. The team demonstrates the drill, tactics, battle formations, training, armour and equipment of the Roman army at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. at the time of the Emperor Trajan. Troops are based in an authentic encampment area and, where space permits, displays include archery and the firing of a catapulta and manuballista. Various military ceremonies are also a regular feature including the swearing of loyalty to the Emperor, roll calls and military religious ceremonies.
Demonstrations can also include figure types and equipment from the early Republic through to the fall of the Empire during the 5th century A.D. We also have a marine with two fully operational model Roman warships. Between displays soldiers talk to members of the public, answering questions, demonstrating equipment and eating authentically cooked Roman rations. Soldiers speak Latin wherever possible and answer to the names of original members of Legio XIIII.
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 Legio XV Apollinaris (Norway) -- Norwegian group for Roman re-enactment and Roman live roleplaying. Our aim is to portray a Roman military unit of the second half of the 1st century AD. One part of our group do proper roman reenactment, the other takes part in LRP events. Together, we share a common member base and a common interest in the history of Rome.
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More to come
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