Roman War

1. Roman War The trouble started when Prasutagus, hoping to make peace with the Romans. The Roman Emperor Nero co-heir with his daughters to his considerable kingdom and wealth. He was hoping to keep his kingdom and household free from attack.

2. Britain tries to rule The Roman Governor of Britain at that time was Suetonius Paulinus who had other ideas on the subject of lands and property. After Prasutagus's death his lands and household was invaded by the Roman officers and their slaves. Britian was not pleased with taking all the property and lands. Suetonius had Boudica publicly whipedand beat and her daughters were raped by Roman slaves. Other Iceni chiefs suffered in a like manner and their families were treated like slaves.

3. Britian violates The defenders fled and the towns were sacked and burned! The revolting Britons even desecrated the Roman cemeteries, mutilating statues and breaking tombstones. Some of these mutilated statues can be seen today in Colchester Museum.

4. Boudica goes to War Boudica and her daughters drove round in her chariot to all her tribes before the battle, exhorting them to be brave. She cried that she was descended from mighty men but she was fighting as an ordinary person for her lost freedom, her bruised body and outraged daughters. Perhaps as taunt to the men in her ranks, it is said that she asked them to consider: 'Win the battle or perish: that is what I, a woman will do; you men can live on in slavery if that's what you want.' The Britons attacked crowding in on the Roman defensive line. The order was given and a volley of several thousand heavy Roman javelins was thrown into the advancing Britons, followed quickly by a second volley. The lightly armed Britons must have suffered massive casualties within the first minutes of the battle. The Romans moved in for the kill, attacking in tight formation, stabbing with their short swords.

5. From Colchester, the rebels moved on to London. Here a similar pattern of destruction took place. It is thought that 70,000 died here. Suetonius only had a small garrison defending London at this time. He ordered it to leave for its own safety. To him, trained soldiers were more important than civilians. St. Albans was also attacked.