The Legend of Boudica – Warrior Queen of the Iceni Tribe.

The Iceni Tribe was located in modern Norfolk, East Cambridgeshire and North Suffolk.  Main bases seem to be Iron Age sites in Thetford and Snettisham.  Boudica was born in Roman Britain in 30AD.  Described as tall, piercing eyes and a cascade of red hair down to her hips, she was a formidable looking woman.  She married King Prasutagus, the ruler of the Iceni and they bore two daughters.  In a ploy to win Roman favour, Prastutagus named Emperor Nero and his daughters co-heirs to his kingdom and wealth.  He thought this would keep him safe from Roman attack.  He died and guess what……..?  The Roman Governor Suetonius Paulintushad other ideas and ordered his army to plunder the lands.  He then had Boudica publicly flogged and her daughters raped by Roman Slaves.  Other Iceni chiefs and families suffered the same outrage and were treated like slaves.

Boudica vowed revenge.

Unsurprisingly the Icenis were backed by other tribes and a vast untrained army was formed.  The Britons stormed to Camulodunum (Colchester) and routed and burned the Roman Garrison, with the Imperial agent fleeing to Gual.  Rome was wary of Boudica, their women had very limited powers and so they found this rebel Warrior Queen difficult to comprehend.

Not content with this victory, they stormed Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans) and burned them to the ground.  They even desecrated Roman cemeteries and mutilated statues.

Suetonius had tactfully withdrawn (fled) his troops to North Wales before deciding to challenge Boudica.  His army contained 10,000 trained men with weapons and horses.  In 61AD, battle commenced, somewhere in a place called Mancetter near Nuneaton.  Boudica and her daughters drove through their flanks in her chariot, rallying her tribes to be brave.

The Britons attacked first when a volley of heavy Roman javelins was thrown towards them, followed by a second volley.  The Britons only has a few shields and suffered straight away.  The Romans attacked back in tight formation and used their short swords effectively.  There was no room for the long heavy swords of the Britons to be used.  The Roman cavalry then came round to the rear and began their slaughtering.  The Britons lost around 80,000 men, women and children.  The Romans lost only 400 in comparison.

Boudica was not killed in the battle but it is speculated that she took poison rather than to be kept alive by the Romans.

Legacy – the Romans ruled Britain for about 400years before they were summoned back to Italy.  Their past presence can be seen today.

Boudica has become a British Heroine, a powerful and mighty Queen that hails Girl Power!!  There is a spectacular bronze statue of Boudica and her Daughters, riding a chariot with two magnificent stallions at the Embankment near Westminster Bridge.