To the Stronkest

[From 8th of June 2021]

During all the various lock-down restrictions here in the Scottish central belt, the thing I missed the most was going to the cinema. My mum has always been a film buff and three of four of “the kids” (youngest of whom is 35) have followed her. I went to the cinema once a week for years and the last three times I’ve moved, proximity to a good cinema has been a deciding factor.

On the 17th of May, my local re-opened and you can bet your behookies that I was there. As part of the re-opening, distributors have been making up for short falls in new releases by re-releasing old films. So, after nearly sixteen months away from the cinema and over twenty years since I last saw it on the big screen, I watched Gladiator.

When Ridley Scott’s film first came out, I was a teenager with nae mates and spent most of my free time at the library or the cinema. I remember seeing Gladiator and being blown away. The battle scenes, the CGI Colosseum, the wonderful performances, the costumes and the incredible music by Hans Zimmer… I fell completely in love. I saw if four more times – tickets cost “2.50 back then – and I’ve lost track how many times I’ve watched it at home since. Getting to see is on the big screen again was the best way to celebrate the restrictions beginning to lift. I got teary-eyed at the overly dramatic ending as expecting but also at the very start, hearing the opening bars of music playing over the Dreamworks logo. It was a fine homecoming indeed.

This is an OTT project log so clearly there is a hobbying intent rising. My love of Ancient Rome was sparked 21 years ago by Gladiator and over the years, and several hard earned trips to Rome later, it’s time to commit to gaming in it. Gladiator was where it started so Gladiator is what we honour.

I could write screeds about the value of historical accuracy vs the storytelling requirements of film but other people have done a far better job than I could have. History Buffs is a fantastic channel that examines the overall accuracy of historically set movies. It’s not wargaming focused but I like the attitude he takes.

The aim of this project is to recreate the opening battle in the forests of Germania. Stepping into a wargamers role, we’ve a couple of things to sort here. The important points of the scenes are to show Marcus Aurelius as a weary old man right before his death.

“He died, of an infectious disease, perhaps, in camp on 17 March AD 180” (Meditations, 2006, biography page).

A bit of research shows that he died near Vindobona (modern day Vienna, Austria) or Sirmium, Pannonia (modern day Serbia). For the last 12 years of his life, Marcus Aurelius had spent a lot of his time fighting at the border with various tribes in campaigns known as the Marcomannic Wars.

Going with the location of Vindobona, we have a Legion that fits nicely. Not the 13th Felix legion from the movie, it didn’t exist. Our legion for this project is the Legio 10th Gemina. I think for flavour I’ll make banners for both but the 10th will be my blueprint.