Boudicca boudicca Or Otherwise Known As Boadicea Was The Queen Of The Iceni Who Was A Tribe Living Around Norfolk And Suffolk Counties Today. Boudicca Was Well Known For Her Rebellion Against Roman A
The Warrior Queen Boudicca raided many cities with the support of disaffected tribes in a protest against the mistreatment by the Romans. As the Romans pursued North Wales, the people of Iceni activated a rebellion with many other tribes joining them. Boudicca led her team of warriors to defeat the 9th Legion of the Roman troops with a total destruction of Colchester, the Roman Britain capital in that era. Her army ransacked Colchester, London and St. Albans and massacred about 70000 Roman soldiers as well as civilians. Other cities like London and St Albans were also destroyed with thousands killed. The Romans did not have the troops to defend these cities and left them at the mercy of Boudicca. 100000 Iceni and other tribers fought hard to win these battles as a sign of victory to their cause. However, the rebels were defeated in battle when Roman governor, Suetonius Paulinus, led the counter-attack. The Romans regrouped and strategized to defeat Boudicca and her rebels in West Midlands, although the Romans were heavily outnumbered by the rebels. Emperor Nero contemplated withdrawal from Britain, but the eventual victory confirmed the Romans stronghold of the province. The failed attack left Boudicca discouraged where she drank poison in committing suicide. Many believed that Boudicca committed suicide to avoid capture. The site of her death remains unknown.
Her bravery is commemorated with a memorial statue crafted by Thorneycroft displaying Boudicca in great splendour riding her war chariot. The statute of Boudicca now stands alongside Londons Thames River behind the iconic Big Ben.
Her Background Boudicca married Prasutagus who was an Iceni ruler at East Anglia. Prasutagus was allowed to continue his rule when the Romans conquered the land in AD43. But when Prasutagus died, the Romans took over the reign with a confiscation of property belonging to prominent tribesmen although Boudiccas husband, the ruler of the Iceni tribe left a will to bequeath his kingdom to his daughters and the Roman Emperor. Prasutagus had ruled as a nominal and independent ally of Rome. But his will was ignored as his kingdom was annexed with the Roman Emperor taking lock, stock and barrel.
It was said that Boudicca was stripped and flogged while her daughters were raped by the Romans. Roman financiers came to cash in on their loans immediately, although nothing was available. Such actions heightened the hatred of Roman rule in southern England for many years.
The Iceni Tribe The Iceni tribe was a Brythonic tribe in Britain inhabiting the Norfolk area between 1BC and 1AD. This tribe lived with Corieltauvi on their west and Trinovantes and Catuvellauni in the south. The Iceni tribe became a civitas according to the Roman rule to govern them more effectively. The capital of the Iceni tribe was Vena Icenorum which is currently Caistor St Edmund. As the Romans occupied Britain in that era, tribes were transformed in civitates for better control. There were about 16 civitates under the Roman rule with assigned officials to manage these civitates. The increasingly mistreatment of the Roman rule led to an Iceni uprising around 61AD. Boudicca was renowned as a Celtic tribal queen who led an uprising against the Romans around AD60-61.
Boudiccas Fame Boudiccas fame was revived during the Victorian era and the English Renaissance where the bold and brave were given greater honour for their sacrifice to uphold independence in this land. Since then, Boudicca has been an important cultural symbol in the UK, although little homeland, writing about her could be established. Her quests were recorded from the Romans. Boudicca was renowned through various identifications; she was known as Voadicia by Raphael Holinshed and Bunduca by Edmund Spenser. William Cowper penned her as Boadicea in his famous poem, Boadicea, an Ode in 1782. Boudicca means victorious from Proto-Celtic translations while the correct English spelling is Boudica. She was deemed to be more intelligent than the average woman with a tall built and harsh voice as well as a piercing glare that befits a warrior queen. Go to http://www.schoolromanvisit.co.uk/ for more information.