Early Roman Helmet
airbrush
illustration by Les Still
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Back to the rebellion of the Silures
In AD59-60 the Roman military governor of
Britain, Suetonius Paulinus, led two legions across North Wales and
massacred the druidic sanctuary on Anglesey. At around the same time the
Romans decided to annex the kingdom of the Iceni on the death of it's
ruler, Prasutagus. Brutality against his widow, queen Boudicca, incited
the whole region to rise in revolt, soon to be joined by the
neighbouring tribes, the Trinovantes and others.
The Roman historian Dio
Cassius, writing a century after the events, describes Boudicca as,
"tall, terrible to look in and gifted with a powerful voice. A flood of
bright red hair ran down to her knees: she wore a golden torque made up
of ornate pieces; a multi coloured robe; and over it, a thick cloak held
together by a brooch. She took up a long spear to cause dread in all who
set eyes on her."
Under Boudicca's leadership Colchester
was sacked and the inhabitants put to the sword and then a relieving
force from the IXth Legion was wiped out.
Verulanium (St.Albans) and then London
were burnt and their inhabitants massacred.
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On receiving news of the revolt of the Iceni "Suetonius made the bold decision
to hasten from Wales to London ahead of his main troops. But when neither his
own legions arrived nor the Second Legion which he had summoned from the
Southwest [Exeter], he had to abandon both London and St. Albans to Boudicca's
fury. Suetonius withdrew along Watling Street, and then stood and fought,
although heavily outnumbered and deserted by the Second legion, whose commander
had disobeyed the order to come to the rescue." from
'Roman Britain, Outpost of
Empire.'
Suetonius' Romans soundly defeated
Boudicca's Britons at an unknown location on Watling Street with great
slaughter. Boudicca survived the battle but her subsequent fate is
unknown. Suetonius ravaged the tribal lands mercilessly.
After the suppression of the revolt the camp prefect of the II
Augusta apparently killed himself in shame. His name; Poenius Postumus. No one has ever offered a satisfactory reason for the
failure of the Legio II Augusta to obey a direct order, or, in view of the
potential consequences of its failure to respond, why no sanctions were taken
against this legion. Other legions were disbanded in disgrace for much less.
The Jewish revolt |
