Legio XX Guidelines for Britons and Celts

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UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!

This page is intended as a very basic guide for anyone starting an impression of a non-Roman such as a Briton, Celt, or German. The information below is not exhaustive but can be considered "generally acceptable". While you are obviously encouraged to focus on historical sources from the same time and place as your chosen impression, specific information on such details as clothing can be scarce and hard to find. So there will be some generalizations and interpolation from other times and places, though this does not mean that (for instance) a Gallic sword from 200 BC is acceptable for use by a Briton from 43 AD. In short, as always, where evidence is available, stick with it as closely as possible. This will still allow quite a bit of room for interpretation and personal taste!

Guide for clothing and gear from Vicus in the UK: http://www.vicus.org.uk/kitguide/index.htm The Kelticos Discussion Board http://www.kelticos.org/forum/index.php is an essential resource, as is the Roman Army Talk board, particularly the "Allies & Enemies" section: http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/ Good books to consult include Peter Connolly's Greece and Rome at War and the Osprey volume Rome's Enemies: Gallic and British Celts, but beware: their reconstructions are not always well-documented, and are the basis of some "reenactorisms" that are best avoided.

Since the "typical" setting for Legio XX is the invasion of Britain in 43 AD, the focus of this page will be on mid-first century Britons, though there will also be information for Gauls, Germans, and more. Strictly speaking, the ancients did not refer to people in Britain as "Celts", but that detail will not be debated here. It should also be noted that the Celtic world spanned a huge range of time and geography, and included a wide variety of cultures, all of which changed over time. So one should be very careful about combining evidence or details from different times and places in creating an impression!

For anyone planning a non-Roman impression as part of Legio XX activities, standards are as strict as for legionaries. Equipment must be authentic and correctly made, though of course there is no uniformity. Please consult the Commander before buying or making anything! The pages on Cold-Weather Clothing and Civilian Clothing will be useful.

At left, Nate Bell as a Gaul around the 2nd Punic War, and at right from the first century BC. Also a link to a photo of Chuck Russell's impression, http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2269983133_a9bb50c8f0_o.jpg, and one of his German friends, http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p309/Doktor_Zaius/P1020184.jpg?t=1172579096

KELTICOS DISCUSSION BOARD-- Go here and just read EVERYthing.
http://www.kelticos.org/forum/index.php

Cherusci
South Carolina
http://legvi.tripod.com/cherusci/

Celtic Learning Project
http://www.celtlearn.org/index.php

Vicus--British and Roman Reenactment
UK
http://www.vicus.org.uk/

Chasuari--Germanic reenactors, planning for reenactment of Varus' Defeat in 2009!
Germany
http://www.chasuari.de/

Die Keltetruppe Carnyx --These folks look great!
Germany
http://www.keltentruppe.de/

Ulfhednar--Celts, Germanics, etc.
Germany
http://www.ulfhednar.org/

Simon James's Ancient Celts Page
http://www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/stj/celtindex.html

Vicus page on British Dress
http://www.vicus.org.uk/documents/britishdress.htm

British Tribes--Map and Information
http://www.roman-britain.org/tribes/tribes.htm

The vast majority of British and Gallic warriors did not have armor, but were typically equipped with shield and spear. Consider that a perfectly adequate amount of military equipment! If you wish to equip yourself to a higher level, take your time to research the appropriate items, and be sure your equipment is historically accurate and well-made.

SHIELDS were flat and constructed of vertical planks, with a horizontal handgrip. Typically the wood was thicker in the center and thinner towards the edges. Obviously if modern plywood is used it needs to be entirely covered, with leather, rawhide, linen, or felt. The facings can be wrapped around the edge, or a separate rim can be stitched on. Some shields may have had a partial or complete metal rim, similar to that on a scutum. There was a variety of shapes in use, including ovals and oblongs, and some with scalloped or concave ends (apparently only found in Britain). Sizes also varied. The boss can be an elongated wooden style (like half a football), with or without an iron or bronze reinforcement, and with or without vertical wooden spines extending almost to the top and bottom edges; or a domed metal Roman or Germanic style boss can be used.

HELMETS were apparently uncommon in Britain. By the first century AD, most of the Caesarian-era Montefortino, Agen, and Port styles were most likely out of fashion. Coolus types may be the best bet.

ARMOR appears to have been rare in Britain as well, but would have been mail much like a Roman hamata. Mail should be made of mild steel (or wrought iron!), with alternating rows of solid and riveted rings. Please avoid butted mail!

SPEARS were the most common weapon. Shafts were made of ash, generally an inch or less in diameter and 6 or 7 feet long, smaller javelins about 3/4" diameter. Heads were iron, and ranged from 3 or 4 inches up to about 12 or so--8" to 10" is a good range. It is surprisingly difficult to find a good, plain commercially-made spearhead that isn't too big! However there are some distinctly Celtic types available with scalloped edges or holes in the blades.