... Nobody knows where the battle took place, or the (Briton's) conditions and reasons for the action taking place where it did. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. The exact location of the battle is not known. The legion was later reinforced with legionaries from the Germania provinces. View Academics in Boudicca Battle of Watling Street Location on Academia.edu. This series examines the British uprising against Roman occupation in 60 AD led by the famed warrior Queen Boudica. To add insult to injury, the Romans had erected a temple to the former emperor Claudius in the city, built at local expense. Stick together. While some kingdoms were defeated militarily and occupied, others remained nominally independent as allies of the Roman empire. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Battle of Watling Street, (61ce). Their king, Prasutagus, secured his independence by leaving his lands jointly to his daughters and to the Roman emperor, Nero, in his will. They are not soldiers - they're not even properly equipped. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. As their losses mounted, the Britons tried to retreat, but their flight was blocked by the ring of wagons and they were massacred. In this commentary we will provide a detailed account of the Battle of Watling Street itself, and determine exactly why Boudica's rebel force was defeated, despite its massive numerical superiority. Grahame A. Appleby, "The Boudican Revolt: countdown to defeat", List of female United States Air Force generals, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, "Landscape Analysis and Appraisal: Church Stowe, Northamptonshire, as a Candidate Site for the Battle of Watling Street"; by craftpegg.com, "British Archaeology: "Can Computerised Terrain Analysis Find Boudica's Last Battlefield?" Although based in current day Britain, this one saw the Britons ma… When King Prasutagus of the Iceni died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. 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. Jul 11, 2017 - Battle of Watling Street, Boudica's Rebellion, 60 AD Nobody knows for sure how Boudicca died. She’s seeking an engagement because she knows if she wins, it’s the end of Roman Britain. Christoph M. Bulst, "The Revolt of Queen Boudicca in A.D. 60". [5] Battle of Watling Street (AD 60) Watling Street was originally a track used by the Britons for hundreds of years before the Romans returned to the island in AD 43. "[14], Although the Britons gathered in considerable force, they are said to have been poorly equipped, their military strength having been impaired by an Iceni disarmament that had preceded the rebellion. In AD 43, Rome invaded south-eastern Britain. The Romans killed not only the warriors but also the women, children, and even pack animals. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Battle of Watling Street A5 road (Great Britain). At the Battle of Watling Street, why didn't Boudica's British try to outflank the Romans? [29], It is said that the emperor Nero was so shaken by these events that he considered withdrawing from Britain altogether,[30] but with the revolt brought to a decisive end, the occupation of Britain continued. The eponymous street, 25mm scale Roman road from that excellent little Welsh company, Iron Clad Miniatures. Today, a large statue of Boudica wielding a sword and charging upon a chariot can be seen in London on the north bank of the Thames by Westminster Bridge. Along this route Boudicca met her end, the Battle of Bosworth changed royal history, Bletchley Park code breakers cracked Nazi transmissions and Capability Brown remodelled the English landscape. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters. Although these articles may currently differ in style from others on the site, they allow us to provide wider coverage of topics sought by our readers, through a diverse range of trusted voices. In AD 43, Rome invaded south-eastern Britain. The gorge protected the Roman flanks from attack, whilst the forest would impede approach from the rear. [2] Sept/Oct. The Iceni allied with their neighbours the Trinovantes, whose former [[Capital capital, Camulodunum (Colchester), was now a colony for Roman veterans. In AD 69 a Brigantes noble Venutius would lead another less well documented revolt, initially as a tribal rivalry but soon becoming anti-Roman in nature.[32]. The Battle of Watling Street took place in Roman-occupied Britain in AD 60 or 61 between an alliance of indigenous British peoples led by Boudica and a Roman army led by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. She’s already torched London, and she’s reached torched St. Albans. The site of the battle is not given by either historian, although Tacitus gives a brief description. As they advanced, they were channelled into a tightly packed mass. [11] A third legion, II Augusta, near Exeter, failed to join him;[12] a fourth, IX Hispana, had been routed trying to relieve Camulodunum. The cavalry also attacked the Britons from the flanks as the Roman infantry advanced. Updates? Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. [31] In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The Britons/Boudica brought wagons and families and children and left them behind to watch what was supposed to be a great victory. This is a woman's resolve; as for men, they may live and be slaves. One source places it near Mancetter in Warwickshire, and this is not unreasonable, given the similarities to the terrain described in Tacitus’ account of the battle. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in Britain in the southern half of the island, a period that lasted until 410 AD. Outnumbered 23 to 1, the 10,000 strong Roman legion was battle hardened, well-equipped and disciplined, facing off against a mob of nearly a quarter-million unarmored, poorly disciplined individuals. With a clear advantage in armour, weapons, and discipline, this gave them a decisive edge in the close quarters fighting against the tightly packed Britons. Battle of Watling Street (61 AD) By 60 AD Rome’s conquests had spread to modern day England with the subjection of many Celtic tribes including the powerful Iceni. The Battle of Watling Street. Boudica and her army headed for Londinium (London). She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape. [26] In 2009 Arbury Banks, near Ashwell (Herts. He selected a narrow gorge with a forest behind him, opening out into a wide plain. Questions or concerns? The decisive battle ending the Boudican Revolt took place in Roman Britain in AD 60 or 61 between an alliance of British peoples led by Boudica and a Roman army led by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. [9] Suetonius chose the ground carefully for the fight we remember today, as the battle of Watling Street. By A. Brady – CC BY-SA 3.0. The western continuation went on to Holyhead while the northern ran to Chester and on to the Picts in Scotland. The main path led from Richborough on the English Channel to a natural ford in the Thames at Thorney Island, Westminster, to a site near Wroxeter, where it split. Nobody knows for sure how Boudicca died. The Romans were heavily outnumbered but decisively defeated the allied tribes, marking the end of resistance to Roman rule in the south of Britain. A small Roman force of around 10,000 was attempting an organize retreat from the revolt raised by Iceni Queen Boudicca. Their king, Prasutagus, secured his independence by leaving his lands jointly to his daughters and to the Roman emperor, Nero, in his will. Although heavily outnumbered, the Romans decisively defeated the allied tribes, inflicting heavy losses on them. But heaven is on the side of a righteous vengeance; a legion which dared to fight has perished; the rest are hiding themselves in their camp, or are thinking anxiously of flight. [20] This tactic destroyed any organised advance by the Britons. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410. 2010, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Watling_Street?oldid=4277538, Decisive Roman victory, end of Boudica's revolt, Roman rule secured. romans win battle watling street. The Romans seized his lands and violently humiliated his family: his widow, Boudica, was flogged and their daughters raped. The key battle of the Boudiccan Revolt took place somewhere to the northwest of St Albans, along Watling Street. Roman rule in Britain was in the balance, so Suetonius had to choose his battleground carefully: a narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. This was called the Battle of Watling Street, and afterwards, Rome ruled most of Britain for 350 years. The Battle of Watling Street took place in Roman-occupied Britain in AD 60 or 61 between an alliance of indigenous British peoples led by Boudica and a Roman army led by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus.Although heavily outnumbered, the Romans decisively defeated the allied tribes, inflicting heavy losses on them. Let us know. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410. On the life and character of Julius Agricola) is... Anachronism. Suetonius gathered his forces, amassing around 10,000 men. The Battle of Watling Street took place in Roman-occupied Britain in AD 60 or 61 between an alliance of indigenous British peoples led by Boudica and a Roman army led by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The survivors of the battle remained in the fort near Camulodunum under Cerialis until they met up with Suetonius Paulinus after the latter's final victory at the Battle of Watling Street. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred. [7], When the Roman Governor of Britain, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, was campaigning on the island of Mona (Anglesey, north Wales), the Iceni, led by Boudica, revolted. Around AD 71 they constructed a new fortress at York (Eboracum), as shown by finds of tile-stamps fro… The battle of Watling Street is almost an alternate version of the Spartan stand at Thermopylae, except the defenders won. Nero, fifth Roman emperor (54–68 ce), stepson and heir of the emperor Claudius....…, Boudicca, ancient British queen who in 60 ce led a revolt against Roman...…, Watling Street, Roman road in England that ran from Dover west-northwest to London and...…. [12] A wide variety of sites, all consistent with an army attacking from the area of London toward the Roman forces concentrating from the direction of Cornwall and Wales, has been suggested. Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s outnumbered but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street, near Wroxeter in Shropshire. Start studying After the battle of watling street. Although heavily outnumbered, the Romans decisively defeated the allied tribes, inflicting heavy losses on them. Watling Street is a road of witches and ghosts, of queens and highwaymen, of history and myth, of Chaucer, Dickens and James Bond. As their armies deployed, the commanders would have sought to motivate their soldiers. But those 10,000 Romans were all well-drilled soldiers, while Boudicca’s rag-tag mob included women and even children. While some kingdoms were defeated militarily and occupied, others remained nominally independent as allies of the Roman empire.One such people was the Iceni in what is now Norfolk. [8] We've beaten them before and when they see our weapons and feel our spirit, they'll crack. Throw the javelins, then push forward: knock them down with your shields and finish them off with your swords. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. With the Britons in disarray, Suetonius ordered his legionaries and auxiliaries to push forward in small units. The conquest was gradual. This name for the road originated in Anglo-Saxon times, thus the modern name of the battle is anachronistic as well as being somewhat speculative. In the meantime, more information about the article and the author can be found by clicking on the author’s name. One legend places it at Battle Bridge Road in King's Cross, London, although from reading Tacitus it is unlikely Suetonius returned to the city. Cerialis returned as governor of Britain in 71 and took command of the Ninth once more in campaigns against the Brigantes. This one is a bit more ambiguous though, as the exact location of the battle is not known but Watling Street has been offered as one of the more likely locales. The province will fall. The rebels descended on Camulodunum and destroyed it, killing all those who could not escape. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in Britain in the southern half of the island, a period that lasted until 410 AD. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. If you weigh well the strength of the armies, and the causes of the war, you will see that in this battle you must conquer or die. They will not sustain even the din and the shout of so many thousands, much less our charge and our blows. The scene was set for the Battle of Watling Street and the end of Boudicca’s winning run. He was a contributor to. Cerialis was recalled to Rome. So did Suetonius and a small portion of his army, but, arriving ahead of the rebels, concluded he did not have the numbers to defend the city and ordered it evacuated before it was attacked. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Watling-Street, English Monarchs - The Battle of Watling Street. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. But archaeologists - … 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;[19] A second volley followed, as each Roman legionary carried two pila. Battle of Watling Street, (61 ce).In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. One such people was the Iceni in what is now Norfolk. In March 2010 evidence was published suggesting the site may be located at Church Stowe, Northamptonshire. This would have prevented Boudica from bringing considerable forces to bear on the Roman position, and the open plain in front made ambushes impossible. The A5 London Holyhead Trunk Road is a major road in England and Wales. 0 0. imperialpoetpurple. The broad, grassy trackway found by the Romans had already been used by the Britons for centuries. Fearing Suetonius' punitive policies would provoke further rebellion, Nero replaced the governor with the more conciliatory Publius Petronius Turpilianus. The British governor, Paulinus, has been fighting in Anglesey in Wales. While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica led the Iceni in rebellion. [12] However the figures quoted for the campaign in the ancient sources are regarded by modern historians as extravagant. [21][22], Boudica is said by Tacitus to have poisoned herself;[12] Cassius Dio says Boudica fell ill and died and was given a lavish burial. The Romans were greatly outnumbered, but their weapons and organization and tactics were clearly. The Agricola (De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae, lit. The Battle of Watling Street is the prequel to the upcoming contemporary Sci-fi novel The Bondage of The Soil. 6. The Battle of Watling Street is a historical science fiction mystery: a speculative re-imagining of a defining period in British history. Boadicea by Thomas Thornycroft, depicting Boadicea with her daughters in their chariot as she addresses troops before the battle. Articles such as this one were acquired and published with the primary aim of expanding the information on Britannica.com with greater speed and efficiency than has traditionally been possible. This was called the Battle of Watling Street, and afterwards, Rome ruled most of Britain for 350 years. Omissions? [16], Tacitus also wrote of Suetonius addressing his legionaries: "Ignore the racket made by these savages. Lv 6. Interested in participating in the Publishing Partner Program? [23] Poenius Postumus, prefect of the 2nd legion, which had failed to join the battle, having robbed his men of a share of the glory, committed suicide by falling on his sword.[12]. Most historians favour a site in the Midlands, probably along the Roman road of Watling Street between Londinium and Viroconium (Wroxeter in Shropshire), now the A5. The Romans seized his lands and violen… Watling Street was such an impressive feature of the British Isles that it has been used as a boundary of many historic administrative units, and some of these are still in existence today, either through continuity or the adoption of these as by successor areas. [13], Hugely outnumbered, Suetonius would have chosen his battleground carefully. But when he died, in 61 or shortly before, his will was ignored. The Romans, led by Gaius Suetonius, were massively out-numbered, with some historians giving figures of 10,000 against 230,000. "[17] Although Tacitus, like many historians of his day, was given to invent stirring speeches for such occasions, Suetonius's speech here is unusually blunt and practical. The Battle of Watling Street Today we played our annual Battle of Watling Street game at the Hall of Heroes, using Hail Caesar rules. Follow/Fav The Battle of Watling Street By: T.J.98 A brief poem detailing Boudica's Rebellion against Rome and The Roman Empire, following the rebellion from the Massacre of Camulodunum to the Battle of Watling Street. Losses: According to Roman sources: British, 80,000 men, women, and children; Roman, 400. Boudicca had already marched all the way from East Anglia, and torched Camulodunum, the provincial capital. Boudica led her army forward across the plain and into the narrowing field in a massive frontal attack. Media in category "Battle of Watling Street" The following 8 files are in this category, out of 8 total. [3] The precise location is not known, but most historians place it between Londinium and Viroconium (Wroxeter in Shropshire), on the Roman Road now known as Watling Street. But when he died, in 61 or shortly before, his will was ignored. The battle took place at an unknown location, probably in the West Midlands somewhere along Watling Street. Boudicca confronted the last, great bastion of Roman resistance in Britain somewhere along Watling Street. Somewhere around AD60, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, governor of Roman Britain, was leading a campaign against the island of Mona (Anglesey) in north Wales, which was a stronghold of the druids. The Battle of Watling Street, one of the bloodiest battles in ancient British history, was fought in the year 60 or 61 AD between an alliance of the British tribes led by Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, who had previously destroyed the Roman towns of Colchester, London and Verulamium (St Albans), and a Roman army led by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. Bulst, "The Revolt of Queen Boudicca", p. 504. [11] Two Germanic leaders, Boiorix of the Cimbri and Ariovistus of the Suebi, are reported to have done the same thing in their battles against Gaius Marius and Julius Caesar respectively. Forget about plunder. The photo above shows the battlefield layout for the Battle of Watling Street between the Romans and the British. Kevin K. Carroll, "The Date of Boudicca's Revolt". Tacitus, who wrote of the battle more than fifty years later, claims to relate Boudica's speech to her followers: "But now," she said, "it is not as a woman descended from noble ancestry, but as one of the people that I am avenging lost freedom, my scourged body, the outraged chastity of my daughters. Tony Bunting is a historian who has recently completed a research project at the University of Central Lancashire on the evolution of nineteenth-century British imperialism. With their superior discipline, the Romans were able to continue fighting as fiercely as ever. Plausible suggestions include Manduessedum (Mancetter), near Atherstone in Warwickshire,[24] a site close to High Cross in Leicestershire,[25] and a small dip at Cuttle Mill, two miles south-east of Lactodorum (Towcester) in Northamptonshire. Bulst, "The Revolt of Queen Boudicca", p. 505. There are more women than men in their ranks. [10], While Boudica's army continued their assault in Verulamium (St. Albans), Suetonius regrouped his forces. superior. Battle of Watling Street Where and When: England, AD 60/61 Who: The Iceni vs Roman legion in England Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 8 years ago. Roman lust has gone so far that not our very persons, nor even age or virginity, are left unpolluted. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Battle of Watling Street Statue of Queen Boudicca. [6] Roman financiers called in their loans, which must have placed an increased burden of taxation on the Iceni. Tacitus claims 100,000; Dio claims 230,000. )[27] was suggested as a location. [4] The conquest was gradual. [15] They placed their wagon train in a crescent at the large end of the field, from which point their families could watch what they may have expected to be an overwhelming victory. The defeat of Boudicca ensured Roman rule in southern Britain, however northern Britain remained volatile. He also knows, as soon as … At approximately forty yards, their advance was staggered by a volley of Roman pila, the Roman javelin. General route of Watling Street overlaid on an outdated map of the Roman road network in Britain.Photo Neddyseagoon CC BY-SA 3.0 It, too, was burnt to the ground and the Roman historian Tacitus claims every inhabitant who could not get away was killed. Suetonius placed his legionaries in close order, with lightly armed auxiliaries on the flanks and cavalry on the wings.[13]. [28] The Kennet valley, close to Silchester has also been suggested as a candidate site for the battle. Her defining encounter was at the Battle of Watling Street. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the army made its way inland, they set up new Roman towns, Britons tribes that got in its way including the Iceni were told to … The cavalry, lances extended, then entered the fray. 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.[18]. Corrections? Tacitus relates a rumour that 80,000 Britons fell for the loss of only 400 Romans. This contribution has not yet been formally edited by Britannica. Historians are dependent on Roman sources for accounts of the battle. Her opposition consisted of two Roman legions – the 14th and parts of the 20th – commanded by Suetonius Paulinus. Agricola (book). G. B. Townend, "Some Rhetorical Battle-Pictures in Dio". Feb 16, 2017 - Hunter Erickson brings us another classic battle pulled from history in this incredible MOC. These articles have not yet undergone the rigorous in-house editing or fact-checking and styling process to which most Britannica articles are customarily subjected. Just win and you'll have everything. Introducing the resourceful Celtic hero Dedo, attendant to the doomed warrior queen.