Gallio Velius Marsallas (Nova Roma)

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Gallio Velius Marsallas
Album Civium

The late quaestorian senator and interrex Gallio Velius Marsallas was one of the first citizens of Nova Roma, and one of the first Roman reenactors and the most active Roman military reenactor of the Nova Roman Americas. He has contibuted significantly to the Sodalitas Militaris of Nova Roma, as well. At many reenactment events, including the Roman Days and Fort Malden events, he promoted Nova Roma through pamphlets and his excellent replica displays of Roman military garb and armor.

Gallio Velius Marsallas served Legio XXIV Media Atlantia of Nova Roma as its commander, holding the office of praefectus legionis (as politically appointed tribunus for a while) and he held the actual professional rank of centurio. This legion founded by Gallio Marsallas was the first legion of Nova Roma, enlisted just 17 days after the founding of Nova Roma. Marsallas continued to publish periodically the Vicesima Quarta Newsletter, detailing all the work his Nova Roman unit performed, which was always rich and very educational. Marsallas was a highly regarded vir militaris respected in all segments of the Nova Roman society. He was admired and famous for possessing and displaying a huge array of Roman armor and equipment, various helmets, swords, loricae, spears, shields, and his formidable ballistae and catapultae which were the star of any event where he brought them.

As a statesman

Marsallas was not heavily involved in Nova Roman politics, and he only held two regular magistracies: he was vigintisexvir rogator in K. Buteone T. Labieno cos. ‡ MMDCCLVI a.u.c. and quaestor in Sex. Lucilio C. Claudio P. Annaeo Q. Catulo tr. mil. cos. pot. ‡ MMDCCLXX a.u.c.. He actively participated in the saving of Nova Roma with his legion during the Third "Civil War" of Nova Roma under the supreme command of consul, then proconsul T. Domitius Draco, and after the victory, the Legio XXIV Media Atlantia hailed T. Domitius as imperator.

He reached the pinnacle of his Roman career during the years of the struggle for saving Nova Roma, when, due to his patrician status and universal respect, he was appointed as one of the first interreges of Nova Roma, as special "temporary king", interim head of state, and he filled three consecutive terms as interrex in November and December in Sex. Lucilio C. Claudio P. Annaeo Q. Catulo tr. mil. cos. pot. ‡ MMDCCLXX a.u.c., and was a senator of Nova Roma ever since holding the office of interrex, until his passing (during his 7th year in the senate).

Private life and legacy

In his private life, he was a well-known Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica cosplayer, using the name "Old Sarge Oberon", and was admired for the quality and variety of his movie replica gears. He maintained a very active life until his 80s, participating in Roman festivals, history events and in movie cosplay, in many events and programs until his last days.

His legacy is his paramount contribution to Roman reenactment in the USA and Roman revivalism worldwide, culminated in Nova Roma thanks also to his contributions. His website was one of the best internet sources for Roman reenactors for a long time (now it's outdated, but his legacy lives on).

When he died on a.d. IX Kal. Feb. ‡ M. Cotta C. Petronio cos. ‡ MMDCCLXXVII a.u.c., many of his comrades lamented his passing saying "We have lost a true legend...!" "An awesome person...," "a true gem of a human being...," "Always smiling, giving selflessly," "truly legendary legionary, friend, confidant, and amazing human being." Our other Nova Roman legion, the Legio III Cyrenaica made the statement about his legacy that his "contribution to, and enthusiasm for, Roman living history in the USA has been instrumental." His significance as a cornerstone of Roman reenactment is well illustrated with what his commilitones stated with broken heart after hearing about his passing: "The end of an era...!"

Cursus honorum

• Interrex for three terms

Sex. Lucilio C. Claudio P. Annaeo Q. Catulo tr. mil. cos. pot. ‡ MMDCCLXX a.u.c.

• Quaestor

Sex. Lucilio C. Claudio P. Annaeo Q. Catulo tr. mil. cos. pot. ‡ MMDCCLXX a.u.c.

• Vigintivir rogator

K. Buteone T. Labieno cos. ‡ MMDCCLVI a.u.c.

Other posts

• Praefectus legionis of Legio XXIV Media Atlantia

K. Buteone Po. Minucia cos. ‡ MMDCCLIX a.u.c. - M. Cotta C. Petronio cos. ‡ MMDCCLXXVII a.u.c.

• Legate of Provincia Mediatlantica (Nova Roma)

K. Buteone T. Labieno cos. ‡ MMDCCLVI a.u.c.

• Scriba

Q. Maximo M. Minucio cos. ‡ MMDCCLIII a.u.c.