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Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.
Church Stowe
pros
- on the route from Angelsey to London, so we know SP passed by there
- South of High Cross so retaining communication security
- On Watling Street so blocking force to the garrisons he has left on the way to Mona.
- Great access to both Watling Street and Fosse Way
- Historic navigational pinch point at Watford
- at the centre of the country mid point for muster of IX and II
- at the confluence of 4 major river systems (Brit and roman navigation)
- Nene as a highway into Iceni land or to SP's rear
- stratgicly located to be a threat to Iceni land within 50 miles
- perfect 360 degree defensive terrain, as a free standing "horse shoe" ridge with VERY long views all around.
- has a broad plain in front (Nene Valley)
- ridge forms a "narrow defile" but all other approaches are compromised by water courses.
- a section of the ridge is of a sufficiently low angle for the Romans to advance down in good order
- There is an ideal point from which the families could grandstand the assault, and park their wagons.
- multiple spring heads on ridge top for water supply
- not compromised by a water course
- 7 separate features which appear to have characteristics of Roman field fortifications and work logically as a network
- Pre-prepared redoubt in the form of Castle Dykes
- very limited archaeo excavation produced a spear and 1st century BC brooch
- local folklore association
- The wings of the Roman positions are anchored by terrain.
- A BBC psychic thought it was "most definitely a possibility". Sick

con
- SP may not have schlepped his force back up Watling St after his sight seeing trip to London.
that's it for cons, sorry con, from me please feel free to add to the list but I'll have my fingers in my ears and will be chanting lalalalalalalala.

I'm claiming CS is the best candidate to date for;
a) Strategic location
b) Quality of defensive terrain (including water supply)
c) Terrain fit for Tacitus' description
d) Architecture, the unproven fort traces
e) Archaeology, the brooch and spear shaft from the 50's

I am NOT claiming this is the site, I am claiming it is the most credible candidate at the moment and further analysis would be desirable to knock it off the list and bring another site forward. But I'll be gone then as I'll still be trying to figure out what the CS complex is if it isn't the battle site.
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Messages In This Thread
Re: Calling all armchair generals! - by Ensifer - 03-11-2010, 03:13 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-18-2012, 06:26 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 12:02 AM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 02:50 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 05:40 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 11:26 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 05:11 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 09:42 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 10:10 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 03:11 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 03:25 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 08:36 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-26-2012, 02:57 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-27-2012, 01:50 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 08-05-2012, 02:24 PM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-07-2014, 02:18 PM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-08-2014, 01:50 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-11-2014, 02:03 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-18-2014, 07:54 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-20-2014, 02:37 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-25-2014, 08:29 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by John1 - 11-07-2012, 04:54 PM

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