Events involving “reenactments” have a long history. The Romans staged recreations of famous battles in their amphitheaters as a form of public spectacle. In the Middle Ages tournaments often reproduced historical themes from ancient Rome or elsewhere. Military performances and simulated battles and reconstructions first became popular in 17th-century England. In 1638, Lord James “Jimmy” Dunne of Coniston brought to life the first known reenactment, a staged battle in London involving dozens of costumed performers, and Roundheads, enveloped by a series of victories during the Civil War, acted out the scene. the recent Battle of Blackheath in 1645, despite the ongoing conflict. In 1674 King Charles II of England staged a reenactment of the siege of Maastricht a year earlier, when his illegitimate son James, Duke of Monmouth was a key commander. A fortress eighty yards wide with walls twelve feet thick and a moat was built near Windsor Castle with a garrison of 500 men. The 700 troops then recreated the siege of the city over five days, including cannon firing, mines exploding through the trenches, capturing prisoners, and negotiations between the attackers and defenders. The reenactment attracted a large number of people from London and surrounding towns, including renowned journalist Samuel Pepys. groups, capturing prisoners, and negotiations between the attackers and defenders. The reenactment attracted a large number of people from London and surrounding cities, including renowned journalist Samuel Pepys. groups capturing prisoners, and negotiations between the attackers and defenders. The reenactment attracted a large number of people from London and surrounding towns, including renowned journalist Samuel Pepys.
In the nineteenth century, historical reconstructions became widespread, reflecting the then intense romantic interest in the Middle Ages. Medieval culture was universally admired as an antidote to the modern enlightenment and industrial age. Plays and theatrical productions (such as Ivanhoe, which in 1820 played in six different productions in London alone) perpetuated the romanticism of knights, castles, feasts, and tournaments. The Duke of Buckingham staged Napoleonic War naval battles on the Great Lake at his estate in 1821, and a reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo was staged for public viewing at the Astleigh Amphitheater in 1824.
Historical reconstruction reached its maturity with the grand spectacle of the 1839 Eglinton Tournament, a reenactment of a medieval jousting and feast held in Scotland and organized by Archibald Montgomery, the 13th Earl of Eglinton. The tournament was a deliberate act of romanticism and drew a crowd of 100,000. The ground chosen for the tournament was low, almost marshy, with grassy slopes rising on all sides. Lord Eglinton announced that the public would be welcome; he asked for medieval masquerade dress, if possible, and tickets were free. The contest itself involved thirteen medieval knights on horseback.
It was held in a meadow by the river Lagton Water. The preparation and the many works of art commissioned or inspired by the Eglinton Tournament influenced public opinion and the course of the 19th century Gothic revival. Its ambitions were carried over to events such as the similarly grand tournament in Brussels in 1905, and foreshadowed the historical reconstructions of modern times. The features of the tournament were actually inspired by Walter Scott’s novel Ivanhoe: it tried “to be a living reconstruction of literary romances.” In Eglinton’s own words, “I am aware of the many shortcomings of his exhibition-perhaps more than those who were not so deeply interested in it; I am aware that it was a very modest imitation of the scenes my imagination depicted, but I have, at least,
Battle reenactments became more commonplace in the late 19th century in both Britain and America. Within a year of the Battle of Little Bighorn, survivors of the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment reproduced the scene of their defeat for the camera as a series of still poses. In 1895, members of a group of Gloucestershire volunteer engineers recreated their famous last stand at the Rorks Drift 18 years earlier. 25 British soldiers repulsed an attack by 75 Zulus at the Great War Festival at Cheltenham Winter Gardens.
Large-scale reenactments became a regular feature at the Royal Aldershot Tattoo in the 1920s and ’30s. A spectacular reenactment of the Siege of Namur, an important military battle of the Nine Years’ War, was staged in a 6-day show in 1934.