09-20-2022, 08:45 PM
MonsGraupius wrote:
So, what is the problem with understanding that the Thames is an extremely difficult barrier to cross ... what is it that people are having problems understanding ... THE THAMES IS A DEFENSIVE BARRIER!
This thread moves at such a rate it is difficult to know where to enter but here goes, with a feeling of impending doom….
If we go back only a few years before when Rome invaded in AD43 the Brythonic Tribes defended against the Roman advance at the River Medway.
This was a 2 day battle and the Brythons kept the Romans at bay and it is agreed that the there must have been a considerable force of Brythons there to have done this, however the Catuvellauni Kings Caratacus and his brother Togodumnus withdrew their army after the defeat by the Romans, across the Thames with tens of thousands of men so they could defend the northern banks.
The River Thames did not have embankments at that stage and at low tide the London Museum indicates there were islands in the River that could be used to easily cross at Southwark and at Westminster / Lambeth by the Brythons who had no heavy armour and knew the way.
Roman troops followed up and whilst Caratacus was away (no doubt getting extra forces), managed to cross the Thames, kill Togodumnus who was defending the northern shore and establish a bridgehead from whence they defeated the Brythons , Caratacjus fled and they waited for Claudius. It is tempting to think that it was the Batavians who did this, as they had at the Medway but unproven.
They main point here is that the Thames was crossed by armies without a bridge only 17 or so years before Boudica.
Of course Caesar also crossed the Thames, as did his Brythonic opponents with their chariots, in his second invasion even earlier, possible at Weybridge or Cobham or Westminster and as did William the Conqueror at Wallingford in 1066.
Like any defensive barrier (like the Maginot Line) if you cant go over it you can always go around.
So, what is the problem with understanding that the Thames is an extremely difficult barrier to cross ... what is it that people are having problems understanding ... THE THAMES IS A DEFENSIVE BARRIER!
This thread moves at such a rate it is difficult to know where to enter but here goes, with a feeling of impending doom….
If we go back only a few years before when Rome invaded in AD43 the Brythonic Tribes defended against the Roman advance at the River Medway.
This was a 2 day battle and the Brythons kept the Romans at bay and it is agreed that the there must have been a considerable force of Brythons there to have done this, however the Catuvellauni Kings Caratacus and his brother Togodumnus withdrew their army after the defeat by the Romans, across the Thames with tens of thousands of men so they could defend the northern banks.
The River Thames did not have embankments at that stage and at low tide the London Museum indicates there were islands in the River that could be used to easily cross at Southwark and at Westminster / Lambeth by the Brythons who had no heavy armour and knew the way.
Roman troops followed up and whilst Caratacus was away (no doubt getting extra forces), managed to cross the Thames, kill Togodumnus who was defending the northern shore and establish a bridgehead from whence they defeated the Brythons , Caratacjus fled and they waited for Claudius. It is tempting to think that it was the Batavians who did this, as they had at the Medway but unproven.
They main point here is that the Thames was crossed by armies without a bridge only 17 or so years before Boudica.
Of course Caesar also crossed the Thames, as did his Brythonic opponents with their chariots, in his second invasion even earlier, possible at Weybridge or Cobham or Westminster and as did William the Conqueror at Wallingford in 1066.
Like any defensive barrier (like the Maginot Line) if you cant go over it you can always go around.
Deryk
