09-25-2021, 03:15 PM
Populations seem to be correct at Colchester 15,000, London 10,000 and St Albans 5,000 but as both London and St Albans would have been evacuated either under their own violition or with SP (with a few left behind in London) it seems that the actual civilians in those places who were slaughtered would be less than 20,000 as opposed to the 80,000 mentioned.
Regarding the grain stored in these places the Iceni and Trinovantes would have emptied the granaries as part of the sacking of Colchester but as SP arrived in St Albans and London before the Brythons. SP in turn would have raided the stores that he needed or had capacity to move and destroyed anything he couldn’t in order to prevent the enemy accessing the supplies.
I still feel that the quickest way to London would have been via Watling Street and to St Albans, a Roman City that had to be protected. If this was the case the food caches at the forts would have been consumed on the way down the country and therefore retreating back up Watling Street would not have been a preferred option. Akeman Street then comes into play as the best way back to Roman Army strength in the West.
Difficult to estimate numbers of Brythons as there were other tribes at the battle other than the Iceni and Trinovantes, according to the sources.
I agree with Nathan as the battle playing out in autumn but I would go for third week in September to allow for the arrival of re-inforcements from Germany and the replacement for Catus.
The fact that there were 400 dead and 400 wounded romans would imply that it wasn't a walkover but 80,000 dead Brythons does seem excessive. Certainly a lot of Brythons escaped to fight another day - for a long time.
Regarding the grain stored in these places the Iceni and Trinovantes would have emptied the granaries as part of the sacking of Colchester but as SP arrived in St Albans and London before the Brythons. SP in turn would have raided the stores that he needed or had capacity to move and destroyed anything he couldn’t in order to prevent the enemy accessing the supplies.
I still feel that the quickest way to London would have been via Watling Street and to St Albans, a Roman City that had to be protected. If this was the case the food caches at the forts would have been consumed on the way down the country and therefore retreating back up Watling Street would not have been a preferred option. Akeman Street then comes into play as the best way back to Roman Army strength in the West.
Difficult to estimate numbers of Brythons as there were other tribes at the battle other than the Iceni and Trinovantes, according to the sources.
I agree with Nathan as the battle playing out in autumn but I would go for third week in September to allow for the arrival of re-inforcements from Germany and the replacement for Catus.
The fact that there were 400 dead and 400 wounded romans would imply that it wasn't a walkover but 80,000 dead Brythons does seem excessive. Certainly a lot of Brythons escaped to fight another day - for a long time.
Deryk
