Boudicca -- Ancient History Encyclopedia

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Timeline

55 BC

Caesar attempts to invade Britain.
54 BC

Caesar successfully invades Britain but withdraws to Gaul.
43 AD

Romans invade Britain under Aulus Plautius.
43 AD - 47 AD

Romans conquer South Britain and claim the territory as part of Roman Empire.
51 AD

Briton rebel leader Caratacus defeated, rebellion crushed.
60 AD - 61 AD

Boudicca's revolt in Britain.
75 AD - 77 AD

Romans defeat the last of the Northern tribes; Roman conquest of Britain complete.

Definition

Celtic Queen of the Iceni tribe of modern-day East Anglia, England, who lead a revolt against Rome in 60 or 61 CE. The Iceni King, Prasutagus, an independent ally of Rome, divided his estate between his wife and daughters and King Nero of Rome. When Prasutagus died, however, his lands were taken by Rome and his wife, Boudicca, was flogged, his two daughters raped, for their presumption to Roman citizenry.

Boudicca mounted a revolt against Rome which left the
ancient Roman cities of Camulodunum, Londinium and Verulamium in ruins and over 80,000 Roman citizens of England dead. She was defeated at the Battle of Watling Street by the Roman Governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, chiefly by allowing her army to cut off its own escape route by encircling their rear with their wagons, animals and families. Boudicca is said to have committed suicide by poisoning herself to avoid capture after her defeat.

Written by JPryst.

Articles

Tacitus on Boudicca's Revolt

Tacitus (full name, Publius Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, ca. 56 – ca. 117 CE) was a Roman Senator and an important historian of the Roman Empire. In the following passages Tacitus gives...
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Boudicca: Queen of the Iceni, Scourge of Rome

Boudicca (died 60 or 61 CE) was the Celtic Queen of the Iceni tribe who lead a revolt against Roman occupation of what is now East Anglia, England. So charismatic was Boudicca...
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