THE BATTLE FOR ROMAN BRITANNIA 60 AD

In 60 AD, an alliance of British tribes led by Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, rose up against Roman rule and severely mauled  the 9th Hispania Legion under General Quintus Cerialis. She then went on to completely destroy the towns of Verulamium, Colchester and the capital city of London.

The military Governor of Roman Britannia, Gaius Suetonius, hastily gathered the 14th Gemina and parts 20th Valeria Victrix Legion (In all some ten thousand men) and awaited Boudica's much larger army nearly one hundred thousand strong in the midlands between London and Wroxeter.

The Romans lined up in a narrow gorge with thick forests to thier flanks and rear. The gorge itself opened out into a wide plain which offered a limited front in which Suetonius was to give battle.

By contrast Boudica's forces set up and paraded wildly everywhere. Thier confidence was such that they placed there wagon train in an arc formation at the end of the battlefield, from which point the women and children could watch what they expected to be a great victory.

Boudica began the battle launching a massive frontal assault on the Roman Lines. As the Britons drew nearer, they were met by waves of Roman javelins which killed or wounded almost five thousand tribesmen with each volley, decimating there front ranks.

As Boudica's charge began to wain, General Suetonius concluded they had absorbed the fury and  momentum from the Britons and ordered his Legionaries to draw there short swords and began to march forward. With there superior weapons, armor and training, they easily advanced unappeaded through the densely packed masses of the enemy.

As British losses mounted they attempted to turn and flee but thier escape was blocked by thier own wagons and they were mercilessly cut down and slaughtered. The Romans killed not only armed warriors but also the women and children.

After an entire day of one sided carnage and butchery, seventy five thousand Britons lay dead or dying for the meager Roman losses of six hundred Legionaries. It is believed that Boudica survived the battle only to have poisoned herself afterwards to avoid capture