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Boudicca: What Do We Really
Know?
by Natalie Kohout
Cities were sacked and thousands lay dead and "moreover, all this ruin was
brought upon the Romans by a woman, a fact which in itself caused them the
greatest shame."[1] In 60 and 61 C.E. a woman is reported to have led a
rebellion of the Iceni in Roman Britain which ultimately resulted in three
Roman cities razed to the ground, thousands of Romans and Britons alike killed
and the slaughter of thousands of the Iceni perpetrators in a final battle with
Roman soldiers.[2] This woman, whom is credited with this catalog of crimes, is
known to history as Boudicca. Boudicca herself is a mysterious figure; her only
record of existence lies within the written words of two men. These accounts
vary in quality and details, leaving the reader with a limited, scant
impression of who this person was.
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The Conquest of Britain
by John Griffiths
Some military historians have argued that the murderous attack on Anglesey in
AD60 could be likened to butchery whilst history itself records that the
assault on the island was particularly vicious, with little quarter given. It
has been said to have been one of the bloodiest campaigns undertaken by the
Romans in Britain, acknowledging that the purpose of the campaign and its
leader - Suetonius Paullinus - were both well matched. In reality there were
only ever two ways in which to bring other civilisations under the pax Romana;
assimilation within the Roman way – or annihilation. History shows that Roman
achievements were won ruthlessly, even to the extent of destroying whole
civilisations in the process. Within the oft recalled expression concerning the
glories of Rome one must not forget that this same achievement was often won by
the Empire flexing its considerable muscle.
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Agricola and the Final
Invasion of Anglesey
by John Griffiths
Gnaeus Julius Agricola is far better known in the history of Anglesey than his
predecessor, Suetonius Paulinus. Whilst Paulinus’s invasion was the first aimed
at the Druidic homeland of Mona Insulis, scant knowledge is available to
historians as to its extent and effect. Many historians have suggested its
purpose was the total destruction of the Druids whilst others have said that
the push was a determined effort to crush, totally, the base of resistance for
the Ordovices of North Wales. If anything, it is generally agreed that it was
left as unfinished business although the reasons for this are tactical, given
the uprising which Paulinus was hastily called away to quell. The records
pertaining to the second campaign under Agricola provide more detail - due, it
has to be said, because the famous Roman historian Tacitus was Agricola’s son
in law. Tacitus left behind a very detailed biography of his father in law thus
guaranteeing him a permanent place in history as a result.
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