Gods And Heroes: Legio IX Hispana Exclusive Interview at GnH WarCry

WarCry: How did Legio IX Hispana come about?

Hibernicus: Legio IX Hispana (20th C AD version) was a coming together of history minded... minds, guys with an abiding interest in military history, in doing history and not just reading about it. For me it was about doing something no one else had done here in the US, the creation of a large active Roman military re-enactment club.

WC: How many members do you currently have?

Hibernicus: Membership fluctuates, but in six western US states within 1/2 a dozen chapters we have about 50 active members. We also have another dozen members who are active duty US Marines and US Army but they're kind of busy right now. Two Marines are currently in Iraq and one Soldier is in Afghanistan. Others are posted faraway. Several of our newer Marine participants from Camp Pendleton are shipping out again.

WC: How difficult is it to get started in Historical Re-enactment?

Hibernicus: It's easy if you join an existing group. Others have done most of the research; put together their own "manual of arms". No need for you to try to figure out how something was done... no need to reinvent the wheel... though as Roman re-enactors we have to deal with an historical and an archaeological record that's incomplete. For example: we do not know for certain what color Roman military tunics were! For many participants half the fun is making authentic gear. Some gear can be purchased but many of the mass produced items are not historically acceptable. That helmet might look Roman when in fact its something not replicated from anything in any museum, stuff we call "Roman-lite".

WC: What is a typical daily schedule at one of your events?

Hibernicus: Our most common event is a monthly Exercitium, a day of drilling, marching and weapons training. Members don their gear in order to practice at and learn to be Roman soldiers... we march, practice with gladius and toss pilum. Several times a year we'll combine an Exercitium with a Campaign March, a average 5 mile hike with a soldier's full field kit... armor, weapons, carry bundle... all weighing about 110 pounds. The Sarcina (carry bundle) is comprised of a cross shaped pole to which are lashed pila, entrenching tools, palisade stakes, a satchel for personal gear and extra clothes, food bag, water bag, blanket, cloak, basket and other gear a soldier will need.

Two or three times a year we'll do a multi-day event, 2 or 3 days as Roman soldiers in persona, living as Roman soldiers in the field... eating, cooking, sleeping as real Roman soldiers may have done. We set up the largest Roman camp in the US. As a club our "group persona" is that of a company of soldiers on extended stay in one place. This historically justifies the presence of women and children in camp. As a club it is important for us that our wives, kids and girlfriends have an opportunity to participate.

WC: If you could be any historical figure from Ancient Rome for a day, who would you be, and why?

Hibernicus: I'd be Gaius Valerius Tacitus, "Hibernicus" to my men, a senior Centurio, a veteran NCO, kind of like a modern master sergeant. Emperors don't live long enough. Politicians and Provincial administrators spend too much time on their collective gluteus maximii! Give me 80 motivated trained and disciplined men over one Provincial Governor any day.

WC: What do you find to be the biggest misconception about Roman Warfare and Tactics?

Hibernicus: The misunderstood use and effectiveness of missile weapons. Gaivs Ivlivs Caesar writes that he had archers and slingers but he does not go into detail regarding their use or effectiveness. Five hundred archers or slingers with a rate of fire of 15 per minute can put 75,000 missiles in the air in 10 minutes! Each of Caesar's legions had missile troops.... do the math.... five 500 man missile using auxiliary squadrons.. times their rate of fire.... that's 375,000 missiles in 10 minutes... then each soldier had two pilum that's another 50,000 missiles and each Legion had 60 field artillery units (ballista or scorpio) with a rate of fire of 10 per minute. Sometimes the missile auxiliary squadrons had 1000 men assigned to them! No wonder Caesar was able to defeat a quarter million Gauls!

Missile use seems to be one thing that Hollywood is getting right in recent films... One of the good part of Gladiator was Ridley Scott's use of missiles (the use of fire was silly.. fire in a forest?) but it was great seeing so many missiles in the air. The film Troy did an even better job of depicting missile use.

WC: Out of the many games featuring Ancient Rome available for PC and Console systems, which one do you think does the best job of representing the Period accurately?

Hibernicus: My opinion, as for historical accuracy in unit combat, it has to be Rome: Total War. It comes closest. Unfortunately, some factors that affect unit movement and tactics are ignored mostly because they are misunderstood. Imagine the effect of rows of dead and dying combatants or the effect of a battlefield strewn with bodies and gear on unit movement! The dead, dying and their gear should become terrain obstacles. Units might only be able to advance at a much slower pace. Cavalry may not be able to operate at all.

Also, Roman armies would, when there was time, develop the battlefield by setting up rows of sharpened stakes and digging footfalls to protect flanks, redirect enemy movement and make charges difficult.. no Game takes these factors into account... but, I understand why.. any Game that added these factors would give the Romans a serious advantage.. How much fun would a Game be if the Romans won all the time!

WC: Have you checked out Gods and Heroes yet?

Hibernicus: Absolutely. Looks like its going to be great fun! A game that takes this and that from history, combines it with myth and fantasy to create a fun story and an enduring game. We've decided to make it our "Official Game".

WC: What is the most personally rewarding part of your involvement with Legio IX Hispana?

Hibernicus: The knowledge and insights I've gained from making and using the use gear and then teaching the public, especially kids. Most of us get a great deal of satisfaction doing demonstrations at schools, giving kids some hands on experience with replica gear.

WC: Do you have a favorite memory you can share from your experiences over the years?

Hibernicus: Sure... A firm connection to the past... On our very first full kit Campaign March, Gaius Marius Marinus (Staff Sergeant Aaron Andrews, USMC) was the first one to get his Sarcina (carry bundle) ready. He hung his scutum off his left shoulder, helmet slung around his neck and he hoisted his Sarcina onto his right shoulder. He took a turn around the dirt parking lot, about 500 feet. Upon returning to our location he chucked the Sarcina onto the ground and proclaimed "Nothing's changed!" He explained that the Roman load he was carrying didn't feel any different than his Marine field kit.... "I must be wearing 100 - 120 pound of gear! That's what my Marine gear weighs!" We weighed everything later that day.. he was right.. it averaged 110 pounds... Nothing's changed.

WC: Et tu, Brutus?

Hibernicus: Brutus? What a fool. Voting with knives is generally not a good thing.

I would like to thank Sean for all his time and for the great answers! Lots of good information about what makes Gods and Heroes even more real for players. And for more information about Legio IX Hispana, you can check out their website at http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org

-Minotaur