About Us
MILITARY LIFE​
The display team of THE RMRS (Vexillatio Legionis Geminae) represents a detachment of the Fourteenth Legion, “Legio XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix”, along with its historically associated auxiliary units. The team demonstrates the drill, tactics, battle formations, training armour and equipment of the Roman army of the 1st- and 2nd-centuries CE.
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Where a safe space permits, our displays include archery and the shooting of accurate reproductions of Roman catapults. Various military ceremonies are also a feature and include swearing loyalty to the Emperor, roll calls and religious rites.
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Presentations involving military figure types and their arms and armour can span the period from the early Republic to the fall of the Empire in the 5th–century CE.
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Between displays THE RMRS’ soldiers are only too happy to talk to members of the public answering their questions, explaining military life, and exhibiting a typical Roman soldier’s clothing and equipment. We speak Latin whenever possible and, in homage to our forebears, answer to the names of original Roman soldiers.
CIVIL LIFE​
Our members, male and female, portray various aspects of Roman domestic life, manufacturing and trade. Like the soldiers, THE RMRS’ civilians are enthusiastic historians keen to answer questions, provide information, and demonstrate the use of the artefacts and items on display. To add a more authentic flavour, they too have adopted the names and life stories of Romans who lived in Britain.
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Our living history displays include religion, food, clothing, spinning, dyeing and weaving, cosmetics, children’s toys and games, reading and writing. We enjoy presenting fashion shows, including guides to Roman-era hairstyles and make-up, demonstrating medicine and the sometimes gruesome aspects of surgery, and more light-hearted storytelling.
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Many of these activities offer opportunities for members of the public, particularly children, to gain “hands on” experience.
RESEARCH​
All our clothing, footwear, personal belongings, arms and armour, equipment, and artillery pieces have been reproduced after extensive research using materials correct for the historical period to be as accurate as possible.
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An account of the research and reconstruction of one of our pieces of artillery, the manuballista, was reported in the proceedings of the Roman Military Equipment Conference, and we continue to demonstrate our range of catapults and other missile weapons to academics, for example at the Roman Army Conference.
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Our armourers are highly regarded in their field and have produced pieces for museums and collectors the world over. Using these reconstructed artefacts provide further opportunities for our research and the testing of theories.
COURSES, TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS
Along with full-scale public displays, THE RMRS also runs weekend courses on Roman military life, and several of our members deliver talks and presentations on diverse Roman history topics. To schools, colleges, clubs and societies.​
​Should you have any enquiries about these or any of our other activities, then do please
For more information on who provides services for schools, click here.