Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.

[MonsGraupius]

Finding the site of Boudica's last battle: multi-attribute analysis of sites identified by template matching. http://bandaarcgeophysics.co.uk/arch/bou...late.xhtml

There is also a PDF version on the same site.

Regards, Steve Kaye

Steve I like the approach, but there are two problems which still beset us.

The first is that there is no recognition that Suetonius had a large delay between London and taking on Boudica. And this is so abundantly clear from the words used:He "prepared" to break off "delay", he did not repeat Cerialis "rash" rush to battle and was looking for a "seat of war".

The second, is that there is a general denial that the Thames exists. We know this was a great tribal boundary, and we know that Caesar had huge problems crossing the Thames at London. Yet people pretend it does not exist. Yet we know that if people were overwhelmed in London, having been forewarned of Boudica's arrival, that means they could not escape by merely walking over the bridge ... which means the bridge had been taken down. Which means it had been deliberately taken down, before Boudica got to London, and so by Suetonius who "sacrificed the settlement". And he would only do that if he was using it as a defensive measure "pulling up the drawbridge" after he crossed.

When you take these two facts into account: the big delay and that Suetonius crossed the Thames and used it as a defensive barrier, we get a completely different starting position from the one which was created by the infamous "galloping Suetonius down Watling Street". Everyone now seems to agree, the gallop down Watling street never happened. Yet, people are still tied to the galloping man scenario in that they still  have the perception of "acting in haste" (like Cerialis), assume (despite nothing in the text saying anything of the sort) that Suetonius went back north up Watling street, and ignore the strategic value of the Thames.

WHEN WILL PEOPLE GIVE UP THE GALLOPING HORSEMAN SCENARIO?
WHEN WILL THEY START AFRESH AND DUMP ALL THE FALSE ASSUMPTIONS OF THE GALLOPING HORSEMAN?

So, the multi-attribute analysis, likewise repeats the same dash in that every scenario of Suetonius after leaving London, has him dashing off as fast as he can. Despite highlighting that Suetonius had a "cautious, prudent and experienced character" we still see the same "Galloping man" craziness of Cerialis as the author has Suetonius dashing over the Thames and heading at speed to the south cost: going through the gate of the Thames "wall", and leaving it unguarded.

Why would Suetonius go all the way to the south coast with Boudica supposedly pursuing and then start defending, when he could have gone over the bridge at London, taken down the bridge, sent small forces to guard the other bridge and a few (very difficult ) fords and then sat down to pour himself a nice glass of wine, knowing he was safe from Boudica? The only minor drawback would be the screams of Romans being crucified on the far bank ... (not in text ...but not unrealistic)