Boudicca's Deathly Defeat

I am Boudicca - Queen of the Iceni tribe. I took over as leader when my husband, King Prasutagus, died. I've just led thousands of men and women into battle against the invading Romans.

When the Romans invaded nearly 20 years ago, our tribe - based in the east of the country - lived fairly peacefully with them, considering. We were allowed to keep our own leader - our king. But when my husband died, we didn't have a son to pass the title on to. Instead he declared in his will that the power and wealth of our kingdom should be shared between our two daughters and the Roman Emperor Nero. But that wasn't enough - oh, no! They used my husband's death as a chance to try to take control of our tribe. They beat me, they stole our belongings and they hurt my beloved daughters.

My tribe and a neighbouring tribe called the Trinovantes, who had also suffered under the Romans, decided to stand up for ourselves and fight. I got up on my chariot and led our troops to Camulodunum (Colchester). We also visited Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans). Altogether we killed 70,000 Romans. Just before my final battle I got on my chariot once more and drove among my troops - urging them to fight for their freedom and seek revenge for the horrible things that the Romans did to me, my daughters and my tribe. I urged them to conquer or die with glory. Although we put up a brave fight, we couldn't beat the great Roman army. But they won't take me alive! I refuse to become a prisoner of the Romans - I would kill myself - I would rather die by taking poison than become a slave to those murdering invaders.

"I got up on my chariot and led our troops to Camulodunum (Colchester). We also visited Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans). Altogether we killed 70,000 Romans."

"Although we put up a brave fight, we couldn't beat the great Roman army."

"I would rather die by taking poison than become a slave to those murdering invaders."

Greetings. My name is Suetonius Paullinus and I am the Roman Governor of Britannia. I am an experienced military man, and was personally chosen by the Emperor to govern this part of the Roman Empire.

I've been in the north west of Britannia leading an invasion on the island of Mona (Anglesey) and trying to conquer the people who live there. They're Druids, and we Romans don't like their ways. We would wish to rule and control Mona - just as we do many other parts of Britannia. But then I heard the news. That fiendish woman with the long, red hair and tartan cloak - the 'so-called' Queen Boudicca - was rebelling against us. I ordered my soldiers to march back south as quickly as they could. It took my foot soldiers from the 14th legion and the 20th legion some two weeks to march south.

I was horrified when I realised that some of the other troops I'd already summoned hadn't arrived in Londinium (London). I knew we didn't have enough men to fight Boudicca and the Britons. Who would have thought it! A mere woman leading troops into battle! And there were women fighting too - not like in the Roman army! I took the difficult decision to let Londinium and Verulamium (St Albans) burn, and withdrew to central Britannia to start gathering reinforcements from nearby forts. Soon I had nearly 10,000 men. I arranged them with the legions in the centre and the cavalry on the wings. When the Britons - or barbarians as we call them - started attacking us, we charged and were soon able to overpower them. They seemed very disorganised and were no match for the disciplined Roman army. We killed at least 80,000 rebels and we didn't care if they were men, women, or children.

"Who would have thought it! A mere woman leading troops into battle! And there were women fighting too - not like in the Roman army!"

"They seemed very disorganised and were no match for the disciplined Roman army. We killed at least 80,000 rebels and we didn't care if they were men, women, or children."

"That fiendish woman with the long, red hair and tartan cloak - the 'so-called' Queen Boudicca - was rebelling against us. I ordered my soldiers to march back south as quickly as they could."

Hello there. I'm Verica and I'm a member of the Iceni tribe. I've been fighting with thousands of men and women from my tribe and the Trinovantes tribe, who are sick of being pushed about by those Romans. We killed thousands of their men, and burnt three of their towns, but now they've finally defeated us and I'm running to save my life.

It's a right mess back there. We did our best - chucking our spears at the enemy as we moved forward, but they were so well organised and had such good weapons and armour. They rushed towards us, using swords and pikes, and slaughtered anyone that got in the way. They reckon they've killed 80,000 of our men, women and children, but they would say that, wouldn't they! You know the Romans, they always like to brag about their fighting and their conquests!

There's talk that more Roman soldiers will be brought to our country from the mainland to stop any future up-risings by people from my tribe. I guess the Romans will build more forts in the east of our country to make sure there are no more rebellions. To be honest, I don't see what else we can do to stop the Romans taking control of our land. Their army is so powerful. I might just have to learn to live under Roman control. I don't suppose it will be that bad. After all, the Romans build comfortable homes made from stone. They construct public buildings. They have running water and central heating. They also build proper roads and have a system for delivering letters. They've brought new and interesting foods to our country, which they call Britannia, and they have a sophisticated coinage system too. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I realise that living under the Romans might just be quite welcome.

"We killed thousands of their men, and burnt three of their towns, but now they've finally defeated us and I'm running to save my life."

"I don't see what else we can do to stop the Romans taking control of our land. Their army is so powerful. I might just have to learn to live under Roman control."

"Actually, the more I think about it, the more I realise that living under the Romans might just be quite welcome."

My name is Poenius Postumus. I'm with the 2nd legion Augusta, which is currently based in the west of Britannia.

I am the camp prefect, which means I'm usually third in command of the legion. But the legate - that is the main in charge of the legion - is away just now, so I'm the commander at the moment. There are about 5,000 men in a legion, so that's quite a lot of men to take control of.

I received orders that the troops of the 2nd legion should march and join the rest of the army and get ready to fight. But I'm ashamed to say I disobeyed those orders. I'm not sure why. Maybe I was worried about leaving the west of Britannia unguarded, or maybe I was just afraid to move. When I heard that our army had defeated the Britons, I was devastated. I feel I've let everyone down. My troops have been denied the chance of taking part in such a great victory and deprived of the honours given to the other legions involved in the battle. I have committed one of the worst sins of our magnificent Roman army. I cannot live with myself. I must do the only honourable thing left to me. I shall fall on my sword - and kill myself.

"I received orders that the troops of the 2nd legion should march and join the rest of the army and get ready to fight. But I'm ashamed to say I disobeyed those orders."

"I feel I've let everyone down."

"I must do the only honourable thing left to me. I shall fall on my sword - and kill myself."

Greetings. My name is Julia, and until recently I lived in Camulodunum (Colchester) in a comfortable home. The town has been run by we Romans - or rather the men folk - for a few years now. We had lots of fine buildings and shops, including a stone temple built in honour of one of our past emperors - the Emperor Claudius. I say 'had' because just recently our town was destroyed by those horrible Britons.

It was all very spooky really! Just before the town was attacked we received some omens warning us that something dreadful was about to happen. A statue that had been set up to celebrate the Roman invasion of Britannia mysteriously fell over and the sea turned purple with blood, so someone said. We didn't have many soldiers in Camulodunum and when we asked for more help, only 200 were sent. None of the women or children was evacuated. It was terrible! Those dreadful tribesmen were able to kill thousands of our residents, and then they burned our lovely town.

Apparently some people barricaded themselves into the temple of Claudius for two days, but eventually the building was stormed by the barbarians and everyone inside was killed. I've heard that the Britons don't take prisoners when they fight. They kill instead, not like we civilized Romans. Our military men understand the laws of war - and turn prisoners into slaves. We use a lot of slaves throughout the Empire...in our homes, our businesses, our shops, our mines and our public buildings.

"I've heard that the Britons don't take prisoners when they fight. They kill instead, not like we civilized Romans. Our military men understand the laws of war - and turn prisoners into slaves."

"We didn't have many soldiers in Camulodunum and when we asked for more help, only 200 were sent."

"Those dreadful tribesmen were able to kill thousands of our residents, and then they burned our lovely town."