HOWICK MILITARY TATTOO - Sunday, 28 February, Lloyd Elsmore Park
The Howick Military Tattoo includes Roman, Celt, Norse and modern army re-enactors in Living History camps, along with bagpipes, Highland games, battles, NZ Army artillery firing, and many other great family entertainments. We were worried for the weather with rain forecast, but it was a glorious day, thanks to the Roman god Sol Invictus, the unconquered sun.
Our Living History camp consisted of our two legionary tents, and period gear display. Petronius set up his pell (wooden training post) for gladiators to practice their sword work. We kept a rotation of gladiators training together in different styles for the public entertainment while we answered their questions and let them try on some of the gear.
The Romans led the parade around the arena for the official opening of the games, with our gladiators on display, under the golden Eagle of Rome out front. We had Vic fighting in the Norse Battle, and Keith fighting in the Kids' Battle - and they say that the kids' battle was far more brutal!
The public were entertained by different pairs of matched gladiators training in camp and displaying how the particular weapons were used and the peculiarities of different fighting styles. They could get up close, ask questions and were given practical demonstrations. Some of the "display" fights were more furious than those in the official arena!
Video of a gladiator training session for the public.
The Gladiator show began with our gladiators lining up to give the oath, "We who are about to die, salute you!" for empress Sharon, the patroness of the Howick Military Tattoo. The first bout pitted Petronius the Pict fighting as a retiarius against Glaucus the Grey fighting as a thraex. Glaucus was hoping to win his freedom, but sadly was defeated, although the appreciative crowd awarded him his life.
Then the famous undefeated rudiarius (a gladiator that had won his freedom), Lucius the Damned, made a guest appearance, because he had come along to watch his son, Marcus the Butcher, fight his first gladiator bout. It isn't often that sons follow their fathers in this particular trade, of carving people up in the arena, and the proud dad had taught his boy everything that he knows. Marcus was matched against Decebalus the Dacian, a tired old barbarian left over from the Dacian Wars, and the last of his kind. Unfortunately Decebalus was not so slow as he looked, and after a furious fight with a crafty move unexpectedly cut the throat of Marcus. Lucius went mad with greif and had to be held back by the Roman soldiers, bellowing his rage. He quickly donned his helmet, picked up his dead son's shield, and prepared to avenge his death. Lucius battered down the old hoplomachus and trapped his spear under his shield when a stab was made at his legs. But to Lucius' anger, the rudus referee stopped the match and ordered that Decebalus be re-armed with the deadly Dacian falx, his native weapon. Decebalus wielded his falx to deadly effect, smashing Lucius on the helmet and hooking his shield away, but eventually the champion prevailed. The crowd were impressed by Decebalus' bravery and voted for life with thumbs-up, but Lucius ignored them to kill Decebalus anyway. For his defiance of empress Sharon and the people of Rome, Lucius was immediately executed by the Roman soldiers. And so the undefeated champion died in ignominious dishonour and disgrace.
The final bout matched Petronius against Pinguis Sus, the evil "Fat Pig" secutor. The Fat Pig was a crooked lawyer who had sold Roman children into slavery and sold Trajan's Column to the Germans. He was condemned to die in the arena, but turned out to be a very tough fighter. The crowd cheered so loudly for the Fat Pig that we can only assume the stands were filled with crooked lawyers. Just as Petronius gained the upper hand, the Fat Pig pulled an illegal dagger out of his sock to unexpectedly murder his opponent. The crowd roared in anger, and the Fat Pig looked as he might even threaten empress Sharon, but as last man standing Glaucus the Grey saved the day by leaping forth to strike down the Fat Pig. Empress Sharon rewarded Glaucus with the ceremonial sword of freedom, the palm-leaf of victory, and a kiss! So brave Glaucus won his freedom after all, and became the new rudiarius champion of Rome. The Wheel of Fortuna had turned full circle.
Our gladiators then showed the kids that they were not really dead, took a bow, and the Roman mob was entertained.
Then the famous undefeated rudiarius (a gladiator that had won his freedom), Lucius the Damned, made a guest appearance, because he had come along to watch his son, Marcus the Butcher, fight his first gladiator bout. It isn't often that sons follow their fathers in this particular trade, of carving people up in the arena, and the proud dad had taught his boy everything that he knows. Marcus was matched against Decebalus the Dacian, a tired old barbarian left over from the Dacian Wars, and the last of his kind. Unfortunately Decebalus was not so slow as he looked, and after a furious fight with a crafty move unexpectedly cut the throat of Marcus. Lucius went mad with greif and had to be held back by the Roman soldiers, bellowing his rage. He quickly donned his helmet, picked up his dead son's shield, and prepared to avenge his death. Lucius battered down the old hoplomachus and trapped his spear under his shield when a stab was made at his legs. But to Lucius' anger, the rudus referee stopped the match and ordered that Decebalus be re-armed with the deadly Dacian falx, his native weapon. Decebalus wielded his falx to deadly effect, smashing Lucius on the helmet and hooking his shield away, but eventually the champion prevailed. The crowd were impressed by Decebalus' bravery and voted for life with thumbs-up, but Lucius ignored them to kill Decebalus anyway. For his defiance of empress Sharon and the people of Rome, Lucius was immediately executed by the Roman soldiers. And so the undefeated champion died in ignominious dishonour and disgrace.
The final bout matched Petronius against Pinguis Sus, the evil "Fat Pig" secutor. The Fat Pig was a crooked lawyer who had sold Roman children into slavery and sold Trajan's Column to the Germans. He was condemned to die in the arena, but turned out to be a very tough fighter. The crowd cheered so loudly for the Fat Pig that we can only assume the stands were filled with crooked lawyers. Just as Petronius gained the upper hand, the Fat Pig pulled an illegal dagger out of his sock to unexpectedly murder his opponent. The crowd roared in anger, and the Fat Pig looked as he might even threaten empress Sharon, but as last man standing Glaucus the Grey saved the day by leaping forth to strike down the Fat Pig. Empress Sharon rewarded Glaucus with the ceremonial sword of freedom, the palm-leaf of victory, and a kiss! So brave Glaucus won his freedom after all, and became the new rudiarius champion of Rome. The Wheel of Fortuna had turned full circle.
Our gladiators then showed the kids that they were not really dead, took a bow, and the Roman mob was entertained.
Video of the tail-end of the gladiator fight between Petronius the Pict fighting as a retiarius, and Pinguis Sus, the "Fat Pig" secutor. Glaucus the Grey wins his freedom!
Official Opening Ceremony parade of re-enactors including the Romans of Leg VI Ferrata led by the Eagle of Rome, and the gladiators of the NZ Gladiator School.
