Boadicea

Boadicea (Boudicca) (died 62 AD) , queen.

Boadicea was the wife of Prasutagus, King of the Iceni tribe living in East Anglia in Roman Britain.

When the king died, the Romans plundered the Iceni land and mistreated the queen and her two daughters. So Boadicea led a revolt against them.

Boadicea destroyed the cities of Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St. Albans).

The Roman historian, Tacitus, wrote 'No less than seventy thousand citizens and allies were slain' in these three cities.

Her forces were finally defeated in a pitched battle with a strong Roman army led by the Governor, Suetonius Paulinus. This took place between London and Colchester.

Tacitus called it 'a glorious victory' in which 'some say that little less than eighty thousand Britons fell.' Afterwards Boadicea poisoned herself.

See Frederick Grice Rebels and Fugitives