- The Iceni were a powerful British Tribe located in the area of present day Norfolk and northern Suffolk. They were one of the Roman Client Kingdoms in Britannia between 47-60 CE, until they rebelled in 60 CE.
- The Civitas or Capital of the Iceni became Caistor St Edmund (Venta Icenorum), near Norwich.
Boudicca's Revolt
- The Cause:
- Prasutagus was King of the Iceni in 47 CE.
- In 47 CE the Iceni rebelled, but after the rebellion was suppressed, the Iceni were forced to disarm and hand over all their weapons.
- Afterwards, King Prasutagus was installed and the territory continued to enjoy Independence, with the expectation the Kingdom would revert to Roman Rule after he died.
- In 60 CE Prasutagus died, but in his Will he left his Kingdom to his daughters as well as to Rome, in the hope of continuing the independent Kingdom.
- The Will was ignored and the kingdom was taken over by the Romans when he died.
- His wife, Boudicca, and her children were enslaved, leading the Iceni under Boudicca to plan a Major Rebellion.
- The Revolt:
- In 60 CE Boudicca's Revolt started in Colchester and spread rapidly across southern England, resulting in the Romans almost being ejected from Britannia.
- Colchester:
- Queen Boudicca first burnt Colchester and destroyed the Legio IX Hispana.
- London:
- She 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.
- St. Albans:
- 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.
- The Finale:
- 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 Revolt was finally crushed by Paulinus at the Battle of Watling Street.
- The Iceni lost their independence and the Capital of Britannia was moved away from Iceni territory to London.
Venta Icenorum, Caistor Saint Edmund