Boudicca’s Revolt

Queen Boudicca or Boadicea of the Iceni, a Roman Client Kingdom in Britannia, conducted a serious Rebellion between 60-61 CE.
The Revolt almost led the Emperor Nero to order a withdrawal from Britannia. Boudicca was eventually defeated at the Battle of Watling Street and Roman Rule lasted for 365 years.

Before the Rebellion, the Capital of Britannia was at Colchester (Camulodunum) in Iceni territory.
After the Revolt, the Capital was moved away from the Iceni to Londinium.

In 60-61 CE, King Prasutagus of the Iceni, one of the Roman Client Kingdoms in Britannia, died. In his Will, he left his Kingdom to be inherited by both the Roman Emperor Nero, and by his two daughters.
However, under Roman Law, Royal inheritance could not pass to daughters, and as it was not acceptable to the Romans to share a Kingdom with women rulers, so by the same Law, Boudicca could not claim the succession either.
So, ignoring the Will, the Romans foreclosed their loans to the Iceni, and abruptly seized their Lands and enslaved the Royal family. Prasutugas’ wife, Queen Boudicca, was flogged and his daughters raped and tortured.
Consequently, they planned a Revolt and waited for the right moment to execute a well organised Rebellion.

That moment came when, in 60-61 CE, when the Governor of Britannia, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus invaded and attacked the Druid Base in Anglesey.
He caught the Druids by surprise, getting the Batavian Auxiliaries to swim across the Straits, without using boats, and achieved a victory, after which he destroyed the Druid Groves.

The Revolt started in the Capital of Britannia at Camulodunum Colchester. The retired legionaries were forced to retreat to the Temple of Claudius, the centre of the Cult of the Roman Emperor in Britannia. It was burnt to the ground after two days, killing all its occupants.

The nearest Regiment to Colchester was the Legio IX Hispana. But as soon as they left their Base at Lincoln, they were ambushed and massacred, with only the Cavalry and the Legate, Quintus Petilius Cerealis, escaping to join the Governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. Later, the Legion had to be reinforced by units from the German Legions.

Meanwhile the Prefect of the Legio II Augusta in Exeter was misled by false rumours and refused to march out of his camp for fear of being ambushed.

Paulinus now hurried back from Anglesey. Leaving the Legio XX Valeria Victrix, he took a small force and raced on down Watling Street to London to anticipate Queen Boudicca’s army from the east. But realising on arrival, that London could not be held, he advised its population to evacuate.
He then returned up Watling Street to consolidate his Legion with the Legio XIV Gemina, creating a combined force of at least 10,000 legionaries and await the impending Attack.

Queen Boudicca, having burnt Colchester and destroyed the Legio IX Hispana, then proceeded to London, where all those Romans and Britons who had not fled were tortured before being massacred, and the town was burnt to the ground.
She then marched with a large army up Watling Street to St. Albans, which she razed to the ground to punish the Tribe for being pro-Roman.
A Total of 70-80,000 Romans and Britons are estimated to have been killed in these three cities. As a result, the Emperor Nero was apparently considering withdrawing from Britannia during Boudicca's Revolt.
Queen Boudicca had now amassed a considerable Army of approximately 100,000 or more soldiers, and continued up Watling Street towards Paulinus and his small Army.

The Legion was taken to Anglesey to fight against the Druids under the Roman Governor Paulinus.
He then brought the Legion back to Watling Street, but Paulinus left them and took a light force to intercept Boudicca at London. However, realising the town was undefendable, he ordered the populace to evacuate as he could not protect them.
He rejoined his Legion of 5,000 men and united with the Legio XIV Gemina, to confront Boudicca at the Battle of Watling Street.

This Legion made a successful and historical stand with the Legio XX Valeria Victrix at the Battle of Watling Street against Boudicca’s 230,000 men, according to Tacitus and Cassius Dio.

On hearing the news that Colchester was being attacked, the Legion left its Base at Lincoln (Lindum). However, as soon as they had left the Fortress, they were ambushed and completely eliminated as an effective Force. Only the Prefect and the Cavalry escaped.
After the Revolt, they had to be sent reinforcements from the German Legions to restore their numbers.

The Legion was based at Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum). The Commandant was away and the Prefect Poenius Postumius was convinced by rumours that the enemy would ambush them if they left the Fortress.
Consequently, he gave orders for the Legion to stay inside the Fort at Isca Dumnoniorum and not relieve the Legio IX Hispana. A decision which led to his subsequent disgrace and suicide.

The Battle of Watling Street is thought to have taken place near Mancetter (Manduessedum) on Watling Street.
A successful and historical stand was made by the 10,000 men of the Legio XX Valeria Victrix and the Legio XIV Gemina.
Boudicca had an army of between 80,000 according to Tacitus and 230,000 according to Cassius Dio with all their wagons and camp followers gathered to observe the impending massacre.

Suetonius Paulinus had situated himself with an open Plain in front of his army, and a narrow gorge with thick forests behind him. This protected his rear from ambush. He then massed his Legions in the centre, with the Auxiliaries on either side and the Cavalry on the wings.
Suetonius Paulinus then gave the Order to advance in a Wedge Formation. The tip of the wedge broke into the Enemy line, whilst the Enemy soldiers were caught in the dips created as the wedge moved forward. Once the Enemy line was broken, the Enemy soldiers could only fall back to defend themselves.

There were no more Roman Client Kingdom in Southern Britannia, although Client Kingdoms continued in northern Britannia.
The Capital was moved from Colchester (Camulodunum) to London (Londinium)
The decision was made to eventually move the Border North and invade Caledonia.

Colchester Castle