The Romans were able to build alliances with the various Celtic tribes through a variety of means. One way was in a client-ruler style. In this relationship, which was personal and special, and was dissolved upon the death of the client, where it was then put up for re-assessment. One of the British tribes that the Romans had such a relationship was the Iceni.Prasutagus was the client-king of the Iceni, whose center of power was around Norfolk. When he died, in 61 AD, the Roman emperor Nero's representative, Decianus Catus, moved with incredible haste to do an inventory of the property of the Iceni and the late king. Prautagus had left a will in which he left half of the property to the emperor, and the other half to his two daughters. The Romans declared the will invalid, and carried out the inventory.
Prasutagus' wife was Boudicca. She was described as being a large woman, with flaming red hair. Her name in the Brythonic language meant victor. Boudicca had expected that the previous relationship with the Romans to continue uninterrupted. This was not to be the case. Catus had decided to make an example of the Iceni.
Boudicca and her subjects were incensed by the incredible lack of tact in which the matter was being carried out by Catus. Boudica then declared herself ruler of the Iceni. The Romans captured Boudicca, had her flogged, and raped her two daughters. The property of the Iceni was then declared in forfeit to the Romans, and seized. The Iceni rallied around Boudicca, taking up arms in a challenge of the imperial authority. They were joined by the Trinovantes, who were tired of the high taxes, misappropriation of their lands, and the expensive temple that was built to the memory of Claudius in the city of Camulodunum, modern Colchester. With the backing of this army, Boudicca sacked the cities of Camulodunum, Londinium, (London), and Verulanium, (St Albans).
Boudicca's army at the sack of London were exceptionally savage. According to Roman historian Tacitus, the Roman women were rounded up, taken to a grove that was dedicated to the worship of the Celtic war goddess Andraste, where they were murdered, had their breasts cut off and stuffed into their mouths, and then impaled on large skewers. This was in some ways a cruel parody of the rape of her own daughters. It was also in response to the savage slaughter of Druids at Mona earlier in 61 AD. It may also have been a play at all or nothing winning.
Bodicca's rebellion was destined to fail. The Roman commander in chief, Suetonius, rallied a force of Roman legionnaires, and friendly Britons that numbered 10,000. The Roman army took up positions at the edge of a forest, near a narrow gorge. The Britons came with their forces, including a number of chariots, used to transport both warriors and women and children. The Celts would often go into battle with women and children away from the battle, shrieking and screaming, in attempts to unnerve the enemy.
Suetonius' forces were able to decide the way the battle was fought. Because the Britons army was hemmed in by the woods and the small opening, and the Romans were on foot, the chariots became a hindrance, as there was no way to maneuver them. The battle became a rout in favor of the Romans, and it was reported that the Romans didn't collect many prisoners that day. Women and children were also put to the sword. Boudicca poisoned herself, rather than end up as an amusement for the Romans.
Boudicca's revolt initially caused an increase in the severity of Roman rule. The Romans became more determined to subdue the Celtic tribes that were not completely under their domain. However, it also made the independent Celtic tribes, and those with only a nominal allegiance to Rome more determined to hold out. Suetonius' successor, Pretonius Turpilanius, decided to let the Britons guide themselves with self-rule, something that was not popular with a number of Romans. The Roman historian Tacitus called it "cowardly inactivity." At the same time, Britain was quiet, and no overt revolts occurred. Boudicca's revolt didn't free the British tribes of the Romans. It also didn't result in the return of any lands to the Iceni or the Trinovantes. What it did show, however, was that the Celts could not unite to throw out a common enemy. The Roman legions in Britain were filled with numbers of Gaulish soldiers, cousins to the British. And the use of the allied British tribes against the Iceni also showed the lack of unity that the Celts were famous for.
Britain's tribes Atrebates
Belgae
Brigantes
Cantiaci
Carvetii
Catuvellauni
Coritani
Cornovii
Deceangi
Demetae
Dobunni
Dumnonii
Durotriges
Iceni
Ordovices
Parisi
Regnenses
Segontiaci
Silures
Trinovantes
Burial Rites| Who Were the Celts?| La Tene|Halstaat
Celtic Tribes| TORCS| Hillforts and Oppida
Boudicca and the Romans| Druids||Social Classes
Terrifying Helmets|Arms And Weaponry|Gods and Goddesses
Were the Celts Illiterate?|European Celtic Place Names
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