The Battle of Watling Street took place in AD 61 between an alliance of Briton tribes and the Romans. Though outnumbered by more than 5 to 1, the Romans held their ground against the Briton hordes and gained victory. The revolt had shaken Rome's hold on its new province, but victory secured Roman rule in Britain. For other uses, see number 61. ... The modern Watling Street crossing the Medway at Rochester near the Roman and Celt crossings Watling Street is the name given to a British ancient trackway which was first used by the Celts mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. ... For other senses of this name, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... The Iceni or Eceni were a Brythonic tribe who inhabited an area of Britain corresponding roughly to the modern-day county of Norfolk between the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE. The Iceni are mentioned in Tacituss Annals, which were written c. ... The Trinovantes or Trinobantes were one of the Celtic tribes that dwelt in pre-Roman Britain. ... Some of the known Celtic tribes in Britain and Ireland were as follows: The Brigantes were an important tribe in northern England. ... Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, also spelled Paullinus, (flourished 1st century CE) was a Roman general. ... Statue of Boudica near Westminster Pier Boudica (also Boudicca, Boadicea, Buduica, Bonduca) (d. ... Britain was the target of invasion by forces of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire several times during its history. ... For the battle of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, see raid on the Medway. ... The Battle of Caer Caradoc was the final battle in Caratacuss resistance to Roman rule. ... The Battle of Mons Graupius took place in AD 83 or 84. ... For other uses, see number 61. ... Look up Briton in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... Principal sites in Roman Britain Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ...

Background

In AD 43, Rome invaded south-eastern Britain. The conquest was gradual. While some kingdoms were defeated militarily and occupied, others were for the time being allowed to remain nominally independent as allies of the Roman empire. One such tribe was the Iceni in what is now Norfolk. Their king, Prasutagus, secured his independence by leaving his lands jointly to his daughters and to the Roman emperor in his will. But when he died, in 61 or shortly before, his will was ignored. The Romans seized his lands and violently humiliated his family: his widow, Boudica, was flogged, and their daughters raped. Roman financiers called in their loans, which must have placed an increased burden of taxation of the Iceni. Events Aulus Plautius, with 4 legions, landed on Britain. ... Britain was the target of invasion by forces of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire several times during its history. ... For other senses of this name, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... The Iceni or Eceni were a Brythonic tribe who inhabited an area of Britain corresponding roughly to the modern-day county of Norfolk between the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE. The Iceni are mentioned in Tacituss Annals, which were written c. ... Norfolk (pronounced IPA: ) is a low-lying county in East Anglia in the east of southern England. ... Prasutagus was king of a British Celtic tribe called the Iceni, who inhabited roughly what is now Norfolk, in the 1st century AD. His wife was Boudicca. ... Roman Emperor is the term historians use to refer to rulers of the Roman Empire, after the epoch conventionally named the Roman Republic. ... For other uses, see number 61. ... Statue of Boudica near Westminster Pier Boudica (also Boudicca, Boadicea, Buduica, Bonduca) (d. ...

While the Roman Governor of Britain, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, was campaigning in Wales, the Iceni revolted, allied with the neighbouring Trinovantes, whose former Capital, Camulodunum (Colchester) was now a colony for Roman veterans, with a temple to the former emperor Claudius, built at local expense. They descended on Camulodunum and destroyed it, killing all those who could not escape. Verulamium (St. Albans) followed in similar manner. Suetonius raced to Londinium (London), but, concluding he did not have the numbers to defend it, evacuated the city. It, too, was burnt to the ground and every inhabitant who could not get away was killed. A Roman governor was an official either elected or appointed to be the chief adminstator of Roman law throughout one or more of Ancient Romes many provinces. ... Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, also spelled Paullinus, (flourished 1st century CE) was a Roman general. ... The Trinovantes or Trinobantes were one of the Celtic tribes that dwelt in pre-Roman Britain. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For other uses, see Claudius (disambiguation). ... Remains of the city walls Verulamium was the third largest city in Roman Britain. ... St Albans (thus spelt, no apostrophe or dot) is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around 22 miles (35. ... Londinium may refer to: An ancient Roman name for London (see History of London) Londinium (movie) A song by Catatonia A fictional planet in the TV show Firefly, (see moons and planets in Firefly) Londinivm, a free MMORPG. Londinium (album), an album by the band Archive This is a disambiguation... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England and is the most populous city in the European Union. ...

While Boudica's army engaged in an orgy of destruction, Paulinus marched north along the main Roman road of Britain, Watling Street, and regrouped his forces. According to Tacitus, he amassed a force including his own Legio XIV Gemina, parts of the XX Valeria Victrix, and any available auxiliaries, a total of 10,000 men. A third legion, II Augusta, failed to join him; a fourth, IX Hispana, had been routed trying to relieve Camulodunum. The size of Boudica's army is estimated at a quarter of a million by Cassius Dio, one hundred thousand by Tacitus. A Roman road in Pompeii The Roman roads were essential for the growth of their empire, by enabling them to move armies. ... The modern Watling Street crossing the Medway at Rochester near the Roman and Celt crossings Watling Street is the name given to a British ancient trackway which was first used by the Celts mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. ... Aureus minted by Septimius Severus to celebrate XIV Gemina Martia Victrix, the legion that proclamed him emperor. ... Legio XX Valeria Victrix was a Roman legion, probably raised by Augustus sometime after 31 BC. It served in Spain, Illyricum, and Germany before participating in the invasion of Britain in 43 AD, where it remained and was active until at least the beginning of the 4th century. ... Legio II Augusta was a Roman legion, levied by Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus in 43 BC, and still operative in Britannia in 4th century. ... Legio IX Hispana was a Roman legion probably levied by Julius Caesar before 58 BC, for his Gallic wars. ... Dio Cassius Cocceianus (155–after 229), known in English as Dio Cassius or Cassius Dio, was a noted Roman historian and public servant. ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or: Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ...

Battle

Paulinus chose his battleground carefully. Traveling north along Watling Street with Boudica and her army close behind, Paulinus chose an open field along the road surrounded by forest on three sides. The forest provided protection for the Roman flanks and rear against attack. The field also narrowed at the end Paullinus had deployed his troops, which meant Boudica could not outflank the Romans, thus removing her advantage of numbers. He placed his legionaries in close order, with lightly-armed auxiliaries on the flanks and cavalry on the wings.

As their armies arranged, the commanders sought to motivate their soldiers. The Roman historian Tacitus, who wrote of the battle no more than fifty years later, recorded Boudica's speech to her followers: "Nothing is safe from Roman pride and arrogance. They will deface the sacred and will deflower our virgins. Win the battle or perish, that is what I, a woman, will do." Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or: Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ...

The Britons placed their wagon train in a crescent at the large end of the field, from which point their wives and children could watch what they expected to be an overwhelming victory. The German king, Ariovistus, is reported to have done the same thing in his battle against Julius Caesar a century before. Ariovistus was king of the germanic tribe of the Suebis, as described in Julius Caesars The Gallic Wars. ... Gaius Julius Caesar (IPA: ; Classical Latin: IMP•C•IVLIVS•CAESAR•DIVVS[1]), July 12, 100 BC – March 15, 44 BC) was a Roman military and political leader. ...

Tacitus also wrote of Paulinus addressing his legionaries, "Ignore the racket made by these savages. There are more women than men in their ranks. They are not soldiers - they're not even properly equipped. We've beaten them before and when they see our weapons and feel our spirit, they'll crack. Stick together. Throw the javelins, then push forward: knock them down with your shields and finish them off with your swords. Forget about booty. Just win and you'll have the lot." Although Tacitus, like many historians of his day, was given to invent stirring speeches for such occasions, Paulinus's speech here is unusually blunt and practical. Tacitus's father-in-law, the future governor Gnaeus Julius Agricola, was on Suetonius's staff at the time and may have reported it fairly accurately. Gnaeus Julius Agricola (July 13, 40 - August 23, 93) was a Roman general responsible for much of the Roman conquest of Britain. ...

Boudica led her army forward across the plain and into the narrowing field in a massive frontal attack. As they advanced, they were channeled into a tightly packed mass. At approximately forty yards, their advance was staggered by a volley of Roman pila, the Roman javelin. The pilum was designed to bend when it hit a shield, making it impossible to pull out; the enemy would either be encumbered with a heavy iron spear weighing down his shield, or have to discard it and fight unprotected; very few if any of the Britons would have had any armour. A second volley followed, as each Roman legionary carried two pila. This tactic destroyed any organzied advance by the Britons. A Roman coin showing Antoninianus of Carinus holding pilum and globe. ...

With the Britons in disarray, Paulinus ordered his legionaries and auxiliaries to push forward in wedge formation. With their superior discipline, the Romans where able to continue fighting as fierce as ever. With a clear advantage in armour, weapons and discipline, this gave them a decisive edge in the close quarters fighting against the tightly packed British. The cavalry, lances extended, then entered the fray. As British losses quickly mounted, the Britons tried to retreat, but their flight was blocked by the ring of wagons; they were massacred. The Romans killed not only the warriors but also the women, children and even pack animals. Tacitus says that according to one estimate, 150,000 Britons fell compared to only 400 Romans.

Boudica is said by Tacitus to have poisoned herself; Dio Cassius says she fell ill and died and was given a lavish burial. Poenius Postumus, prefect of the 2nd legion which had failed to join the battle, fell on his sword. Poenius Postumus was prefect of the Roman Legion Legio II Augusta, stationed in Britain during the rebellion of Boudicca in 61 AD. He ignored the call to join the governor, Suetonius Paulinus in putting down the rebellion. ...

The site of the battle is not given by either historian, although Tacitus gives a brief description. Legend places it at Battle Bridge Road in King's Cross, London, although from reading Tacitus it is unlikely Suetonius returned to the city. A site along the Roman road of Watling Street, somewhere between Londinium and Viroconium (Wroxeter in Shropshire) is more likely. Plausible suggestions include Atherstone in Warwickshire, or a site just south of Lactodorum (Towcester) in Northamptonshire. Kings Cross is an place in the London Borough of Camden. ... The modern Watling Street crossing the Medway at Rochester near the Roman and Celt crossings Watling Street is the name given to a British ancient trackway which was first used by the Celts mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. ... Viroconium was a Roman city in England. ... Wroxeter is a village in the county of Shropshire, England, on the east bank of the River Severn, at grid reference SJ563082. ... Shropshire (abbreviated Salop or Shrops) is a traditional, ceremonial and administrative county in the West Midlands region of England. ... Map sources for Atherstone at grid reference SP3197 Atherstone is a town in Warwickshire, England. ... Warwickshire (pronounced either /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃə/ or /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃɪə/) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... Towcester (pronounced Toaster ) is a small town in Northamptonshire, England with a population of 8,856 (2001 census). ... Image:Towcester - Northamptonshre dot. ... Northamptonshire (abbreviated Northants or Nhants) is a landlocked county in central England with a population of 629,676 (2001 census). ...

Aftermath

The emperor Nero, it is said, was so shaken by these events that he considered withdrawing from Britain altogether, but with the revolt brought to a decisive end, the conquest of Britain continued. Suetonius was relieved of the governorship and replaced by the more conciliatory Publius Petronius Turpilianus. This was not the end of resistance to Roman rule: Venutius of the Brigantes would lead another, less well documented but possibly more successful, revolt in 69. Nero Claudius Cæsar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 – June 9, 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (54–68). ... Publius Petronius Turpilianus was a Roman politician and general. ... Venutius was a 1st century king of the Brigantes in northern Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. ... The Brigantes were a British Celtic tribe which lived between Tyne and Humber. ... Events The Year of the four emperors: After Neros death, Galba, Otho and Vitellius are all Roman emperor a short time before eventually Vespasian takes over. ...