BOUDICCA
It is difficult to imagine a more fearsome woman than
Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni people. Dio Cassius wrote: ‘She was huge of frame,
terrifying of aspect, and with a harsh voice. A great mass of bright red hair
fell to her knees.’ Not exactly your usual romantic heroine, but she put
together an army and almost sent the Romans packing. To her followers she was
the personification of a goddess, which may explain the variety of Celtic
tribes who united so passionately behind her.
When her husband Prasutagus
died, he left half his estate to his wife and daughters and half to the Emperor
Nero, as was expected at that time. But a few days after his death an
administrator was sent to seize his total belongings and retrieve his debts. Unable
to pay, Boudicca was publicly flogged and her daughters raped in front of her by
Roman soldiers.
Perhaps it was grief that drove her, or perhaps revenge, but
it is said that she raised an army of 100,000 warriors made up of her Iceni
tribe and various other Celtic tribes. They burned and pillaged their way from
Camulodunum (Colchester) to Londinium (London) and by the time she reached
Verulamium (St Albans) her army was 200,000 strong. She was eventually subdued
by Paullinus and, rather than face defeat, the proud warrior Queen and her
daughters took their own lives by drinking poison.
What a wonderful plot this story has. Maybe a bit strong for
a Pocket Novel, but otherwise it has everything. Love, romance, excitement,
danger and tragedy. Boudicca has been written about many times, and the wonderful
Alex Kingston with her bright red hair played the Queen in the 2003 film, but
Boudicca’s story still has the power to inspire women everywhere.
I live in Colchester, so Boudicca is part of my heritage.
Her picture is a stained glass window in our town hall. The town is still
enclosed within a Roman wall, and part of Colchester’s Norman Castle is built
on the foundations of the Temple of Claudius where Boudicca fought her famous
battle with the Romans.
Like any other real heroine, she will always be remembered.
Wonderful stuff Fay, I've never really focussed on her story although like most people I've heard of her. I'm keen to get the film now, thank you for highlighting a worthy heroine.
ReplyDeleteCara
Thank you for reading my blog Cara. Sometimes real life is more interesting than fiction.
DeleteWhat a good choice, Fay. Thanks for all the background info, too. Definitely someone you'd want on your side! A great heroine.
ReplyDeleteI didn't need to do much research. Roman history is all around us here in Camulodunum. We even have the remains of a Roman Circus, which is the place where chariot races took place.
ReplyDeleteI know her by this name, but actually she is generally referred to as Boadicea, isn't she? She certainly fought back. That was inspiring.
ReplyDelete