Boedicea (Boudicca) Queen of The Iceni: England Defiant

Much to his surprise no doubt, instead of quelling any chance of revolt his heavy-handed treatment of the tribes had caused one. Boedicea, as it transpired, was not a Roman woman, and she was not willing to allow her own humiliation and that of her children to go unpunished. The outraged Iceni rallied to her cause, angered by the heavy taxes levied on them and the regular confiscation of their property other tribes, including the Trinovati and the Carnovii, joined her. They marched south gathering numbers as they went..

It is difficult to know the numbers involved. It has been suggested that it may have been as many as a 100,000, but given the logistics involved in transporting and feeding so many people this seems unlikely, though no doubt the numbers were swelled by local populations interested in looting and personal vengeance. Also, many of her army were not warriors at all but priests, families, and camp followers. Even so, Boedicea’s rag-tag army soon descended on the Roman capital of Camulodonum (Colchester). Forewarned by Boedicea’s defeat of a Roman army (the 9th Legion) sent to protect it much of the city had been abandoned. Still Boedicea burned it to the ground killing all those who remained.

Roman Britain was in a panic, who was this terrifying, monstrous woman. She was described thus, ” In stature she was very tall. In appearance terrifying. In the glance of her eyes most fierce. And her voice harsh. A great mass of tawniest (red) hair fell to her hips. Around her neck was a large gold necklace, and she wore a tunic of colours over which a thick mantle was fastened with a brooch.” This most fearful apparition was soon to fall upon Londinium (London) the trading centre of Roman Britain and with by far the largest population, estimated at more than 25,000. Hearing of Boedicea’s approach the newly-arrived Seutonius, deaf to the pleas of its people, withdrew his army and left the city to its fate. Boedicea fell upon it with a vengeance. In an orgy of violence lasting days her army massacred thousands, Briton’s and Roman’s alike, and put to the torch every building they could find.

Boedicea, now headed north, she was determined to destroy every Roman settlement, to kill every Roman, and to likewise annihilate every Briton who collaborated with them. She descended upon the city of Verulanium (St Albans) it was said, with a fury, slaughtering its inhabitants in the most vile and bestial ways. The British, it was said, took no prisoners, they weren’t interested in selling slaves, only in slaughter by gibbet and fire. A particular target were the Roman nobility and their women who would be impaled alive and have their breasts cut off. Seutonius decided to act soon after, and though no one knows the exact location, their armies were soon to clash.

Cassius Dio, describes Boedicea addressing her army before the final battle. She stood upon her chariot, spear in hand, a frightful sight,and spoke, ” I am avenging lost freedom, my scourged body, the outraged chastity of my daughters. Behold the proud display of warlike spirits, and consider the motives for which we draw the avenging sword. On this spot we must either conquer or die with glory. There is no alternative. I am a woman but my resolution remains firm. You men can either fight or die.”

Fight they did, and die they did, in their thousands. Boedicea’s army went down to a catastrophic defeat. She survived the battle and is believed to have returned home where she took poison  to end her own life rather than fall into the hands of the Romans. She may have failed to liberate Britain from the yolk of Roman rule but she had avenged herself many times over.