On a hot and windy Summer weekend in 2022, the legions descended upon York (Eboracum) after a two-year hiaitus for the Eboracum Roman Festival 2022.

Organised by Paul Harston of Legio XX Deva Victrix re-enactment group and Roman Tours touring company (Chester), the event saw re-enactors from multiple groups representing different phases of the Roman army occupying Britain camp out in York's historic Museum Gardens with a plethora of camping and living history displays to inform and educate the residents of one of Rome's major cities on the isle. Formerly the headquarters of the Roman army in the north of England, Eboracum saw centuries of key events take place within her walls, including (for those of a later imperial bent) the crowning of Constantine I the Great as Caesar (junior emperor) in the early 4th century AD.

The festival also saw the troops gather in military kit to march around the city's historic streets, chanting exhortations to Rome and the emperor, before returning to camp to put on living history presentations as well as combat displays, fashion shows, and more. The event also saw the return of the Roman fiction authors (always a firm favourite) and a series of family friendly events organised by the York Museum team.

We were immensely pleased to return, as a truly fantastic time was had by all, catching up with old friends and meeting those in person we've only chatted to online before.

Huge thanks go to the York Museum for hosting the event, and extra special thanks to Paul and Cellan Harston of Roman Tours/Legio XX Deva Victrix for co-ordinating the re-enactment teams so efficiently. We would also like to thank L.A. Hambly and David Michaels of Legio VI (Californian branch) for organising the fashion talk in the afternoon and inviting us to take part.

In addition to the fantastic photos taken on the day, enjoy this walk-along video from the Exploring Great Britain YouTube channel taken during the march and with some shots in the encampment afterwards - it gives a really good impression of the sights, sounds, and huge enthusiasm of the groups that took part this weekend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXM9AmSA7Vc

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