Signifer, Legio XX Valeria Victrix, Britannia, AD 61

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BUYING THIS BUST:

– The detailing level of this Ramón Martínez’s sculpture is out of this world. Every single aspect of it has been carefully researched and crafted.
– There are a few cool Signifers out there, but this massive portrayal of the subject works best on the 1/12 scale we do. Otherwise, you would be painting it forever!
– It allows a lot of room for interpretation for painting.
– Our signature resin quality allows you to get the figure clean and ready in almost no time, so you may invest your precious free time in what really matters: painting and having fun.

The Roman conquest of Britain was a long, hard, and unfinished project. The first contacts with the Romans were made by Julius Caesar’s expeditions in 55 and 54 BC, which set the basis of a great influence of the Latin culture on the British Islands, especially in the southern part of England. The actual conquest didn’t start until AD 43 when Emperor Claudius set up an invasion plan involving a few legions and the usual diplomacy strategy that exploited the rivalries among the local tribes.

Progress got less steady as the Romans reached the Northern parts of Britain, due to the harsher nature of the land and the weather and the wild nature of the local tribes. Eventually, they set a fortified frontier at the limits of the pacified lands, Hadrian’s Wall, and renounced to push forth to the north, setting effectively the actual frontier of Scotland and England.

Romanized Britain became an important province of the Empire but it took years to fully pacify it. Revolts were commonplace, especially at the beginning. One of the most famous revolts was the Iceni, led by the mighty Boudicca. The revolt started in Colchester and spread to other areas, gaining support enough to defeat the Legio IX Hispana and destroying Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St. Albans). The Romans reorganized the remains of their troops, including the Legio XX Valeria Victrix, and managed to defeat Boudicca, ending the rebellion, at the Battle of Watling Street in 61 AD.

Signifers were particularly brave legionaries that held the honor of carrying the standard of the Century or Cohort. They were deployed alongside the troops, in the first rank. Our bust portrays one of these soldiers from the Legio XX Valeria Victrix with some particular pieces of equipment. A Lorica Squamata, a smaller shield, typical of the signifers and, of course, the massive bearskin over the helmet and the impressive Signum.

Note: This is a resin miniature kit that requires assembly and painting.