Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.

[Renatus]

I am interested to know if you have any similar 'circumstantial' reasons for thinking west was best.

I would like to add a point or two to Nathan's summary, albeit with some repetition.

Suetonius withdrew northwards into the almost certainly friendly territory of the Catuvellauni, who were sufficiently Romanized for their tribal capital to be made a municipium, as far as St. Albans.  As Nathan has said, this was at the junction of Akeman Street and Watling Street and thus provided a rallying point for reinforcements coming from the north down Watling Street and from the west along Akeman Street.  It was also within scouting range of London and allowed him to monitor the movements of the enemy.  In addition, it also provided a possible haven for the civilians.

When it became clear that the rebels were advancing towards him, he withdrew westwards to the area of Tring.  He could not withdraw further up Watling Street, as that would mean abandoning the Akeman Street junction and would allow the rebels to block troops coming from the west.  Taking a position there would still allow troops from the north to reach him, depending upon how far down Watling Street they had progressed.  They could branch off on to the Icknield Way at Dunstable, which would bring them to Aston Clinton just west of Tring, or they could turn on to the Fosse Way at High Cross and thence to Cirencester and on to Akeman Street or they could turn on to Ryknield Street at Letocetum (Wall) and join the Fosse north of Cirencester.  He would still be within scouting distance of the rebels as they approached St. Albans.  If the rebels advanced further towards him along Akeman Street, as I believe they did, he could withdraw further westwards towards Alchester.  This would mean abandoning the Aston Clinton junction but the northern troops would still have the Fosse Way and Ryknield Street options.

I am doubtful of Suetonius adopting Fabian tactics.  I think his 'delay' was simply a matter of avoiding engaging the enemy until he was sufficiently reinforced.