Boudicca's Resistance to Roman Expansion and Rule in Britannia
Boudicca
Evaluate the impact of Boudicca’s resistance to Roman expansion and rule in Britannia.
Melissa Horacek Year Eleven Ancient History
Boudicca, the famous warrior queen, was Iceni, a Celtic tribe located in an area of southern Britain known now as East Anglia. The Iceni territory was geographically isolated, as it was covered in dense forest, and the north and east boundary faced the sea, invasion by foreigners was almost impossible. The Iceni farming economy were of mixed origins, Hallstat culture brought knowledge of iron and pottery and merged skills of the late Bronze Age. Approximately in 43-45AD, Boudicca was married to King of the Iceni, Prasutagus. Some historians believe, Boudicca was not of Iceni origin, as it was common for outside marriage to occur among the ruling class, this poses an issue of reliability as her background is in question. Prasutagus later died in 60AD. The people of Iceni looked at Boudicca as their Queen and natural leader, even after Prasutagus’ death. Boudicca is believed to be born into an aristocratic family, as both Tacitus and Dio Cassius agreed she was birthed into a noble family, Tacitus recounts Boudicca’s speech from Watling street battle, “It is not a woman descended from noble ancestry, but as one …”1. Boudicca had learned to fight, as most noble Celtic women are taught, along with ‘homely’ skills. Many sources, such as Cassius, all agree that Boudicca was intimidating, and is always described wearing a large golden necklace; many Celtic women wore jewellery, her wealth could be determined by the amount and type of jewellery worn. Dio Cassius has made reference to her appearance in one of his passages, “She was huge of frame, terrifying of aspect, and with a harsh voice. A great mass of bright red hair fell to her knees: She wore a great twisted golden necklace, and a tunic of many colors, over which was a thick mantle, fastened by a brooch. Now she grasped a spear, to strike fear into
Evaluate the impact of Boudicca’s resistance to Roman expansion and rule in Britannia.
Melissa Horacek Year Eleven Ancient History
Boudicca, the famous warrior queen, was Iceni, a Celtic tribe located in an area of southern Britain known now as East Anglia. The Iceni territory was geographically isolated, as it was covered in dense forest, and the north and east boundary faced the sea, invasion by foreigners was almost impossible. The Iceni farming economy were of mixed origins, Hallstat culture brought knowledge of iron and pottery and merged skills of the late Bronze Age. Approximately in 43-45AD, Boudicca was married to King of the Iceni, Prasutagus. Some historians believe, Boudicca was not of Iceni origin, as it was common for outside marriage to occur among the ruling class, this poses an issue of reliability as her background is in question. Prasutagus later died in 60AD. The people of Iceni looked at Boudicca as their Queen and natural leader, even after Prasutagus’ death. Boudicca is believed to be born into an aristocratic family, as both Tacitus and Dio Cassius agreed she was birthed into a noble family, Tacitus recounts Boudicca’s speech from Watling street battle, “It is not a woman descended from noble ancestry, but as one …”1. Boudicca had learned to fight, as most noble Celtic women are taught, along with ‘homely’ skills. Many sources, such as Cassius, all agree that Boudicca was intimidating, and is always described wearing a large golden necklace; many Celtic women wore jewellery, her wealth could be determined by the amount and type of jewellery worn. Dio Cassius has made reference to her appearance in one of his passages, “She was huge of frame, terrifying of aspect, and with a harsh voice. A great mass of bright red hair fell to her knees: She wore a great twisted golden necklace, and a tunic of many colors, over which was a thick mantle, fastened by a brooch. Now she grasped a spear, to strike fear into
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