GAIUS FORTUNATUS

Recreating the Life of a Late Roman Soldier in the period  360-400AD

Events & Experiments

Marching Bag - The full contents of my Roman loculus or marching bag, laid out and explained.

Sleeping Rough - Experiments to replicate the adhoc tents and shelters used by Roman legionaries in the Late Empire.

Legionary Rations - A discussion on Roman marching rations. What was carried, how was it cooked, what did it taste like?

Where is Praesidium? - Legio Praesidiensis is mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum, but where was the legionary fort?

March To The Coast - 21st December 2004  - Marching along the route of the surviving Roman road on Wheeldale Moor, North Yorkshire. This linked Ravenscar and Goldsborough signal stations to the fort at Malton and must have seen 4thC troops like Fortunatus tramping up and down it daily. See also:
                The View from an Ancient Burial Mound
                Fast March To the Coast

The Big Walk - 30 January 2005 - A hike up Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, in January, in Roman light infantry marching kit. This was tough going, especially when we hit the rock scrambles and scree slopes. There was snow on the summit, but boy what a view! Doc, Jamie, John and Ingrid all from Comitatus somehow managed to get me to the top. Jamie wore a scale corselet. Ouch! The mountain looks ominous over my shoulder in this photo. The FULL STORY is here.

March Along the Wall - 14-16 October 2005, a two day  camping and marching experience along the highest and most rugged (and most spectacular!) part of Hadrian's Wall. The challenge was to camp, cook and eat authentically. Read my account of the hell that is Late Roman marching, and the joys of Late Roman camp life HERE.

Crests for Ridge Helms - Traditionally, Late Roman ridge helms are without crests, but one example of an Intercisa in the Mainz Roman Museum was found with a slit in the crown. A crest attachment? Mainz museum have created a replica using horsehair. My replica uses the slot attachment, and crow feathers in lieu of horsehair, Photos of the procedure are here.