01-24-2023, 04:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-25-2023, 12:31 PM by Nathan Ross.)
Meanwhile, for anyone interested (or just for the bot traffic!), here is the latest version of my projected timeline for the revolt.
As I mentioned above, I'm currently thinking that the fighting broke out in mid autumn 60, after the completion of what could have been a bad harvest, with the full report not reaching Rome until 61 - which is why Tacitus dates the whole event to that year instead. This puts the fall of Colchester in mid October, which would explain the evidence of soft fruit remains, including grapes, berries and dates on the stem, in the destruction layer. It puts the climactic battle in early November - perhaps a colder and wetter environment than we've been anticipating so far - and spreads the Roman reaction over the first two thirds of 61.
I've also slowed down the Roman marching pace to allow for different types of roads and terrain, and given Suetonius Paulinus three days for rest and reconnaissance on the march as well. This, I think, would suit the attitude of a cautious and meticulous commander, but one capable of acting decisively when required.
AD60
September 23rd – Autumn Equinox. Boudica holds tribal assembly and calls for revolt.
September 29th – Iceni mustering at Thetford. Catus Decianus’s message requesting military support against the Iceni reaches Suetonius Paulinus at his camp beside the Menai Strait.
DAY 1-7 (October 1st-7th) Paulinus, with c.6000 men (4000 men of 14th Legion, plus 4 auxiliary units) marches from the Menai Strait to Wroxeter, covering nearly 100 miles in seven days at an average 14 miles per day. Iceni and Trinovantes form alliance at Sudbury, neglecting to sow winter crops as they intend to seize Roman supplies.
DAY 8 (October 8th) Paulinus rests and resupplies for the day at Wroxeter. He sends orders to Cerialis to meet him at Godmanchester for operations against the Iceni. Iceni and Trinvantes move south towards Colchester.
DAY 9-11 (October 9th-11th) Paulinus marches 48 miles from Wroxeter to Mancetter, three days on Watling Street averaging 16 miles per day. Iceni and Trinovantes surround Colchester and commence attack.
DAY 12 (October 12th) Paulinus rests his troops at Mancetter. Fall of Colchester. Cerialis marching towards Colchester to try and relieve siege.
DAY 13 (October 13th) Paulinus marches 17 miles Mancetter to Leicester. Cerialis’s force is destroyed a few miles outside Colchester. Cerealis falls back to his last marching camp and defends himself there.
DAY 14-16 (October 14th-16th) Paulinus marches 48 miles from Leicester to Godmanchester in three days, averaging 16 miles per day. News of defeat of Cerialis’ force reaches him when he arrives at Godmanchester.
DAY 17 (October 17th) Paulinus rests his troops at Godmanchester. He sends messages to the 2nd Legion detachment at Exeter, the 20th Legion veterans at Usk, the 14th legion veterans at Wroxeter, and his remaining troops in North Wales to march for a collective rendezvous at London. Iceni and Trinovantes plundering Colchester and celebrating their victories.
DAY 18-20 (October 18th-20th) Suetonius Paulinus marches 60 miles down Ermine Street ‘through the midst of the enemy’ to London, averaging 20 miles a day at ‘full pace’. He arrives in London to find Catus Decianus has already fled to Gaul. Iceni and Trinovantes plundering area of Chelmsford. Order to march reaches 14th Legion veterans at Wroxeter.
DAY 21-22 (October 21st-22nd) Paulinus rests his troops in London. Order to march reaches 20th Legion at Usk. Iceni and Trinovantes plundering the area of Romford. 14th veterans set off from Wroxeter.
DAY 23 (October 23rd) Paulinus, deciding to give up London, orders the inhabitants to prepare for evacuation. Sends orders rerouting advancing reinforcements to St Albans. Original order to march reaches 2nd Legion veterans at Exeter. 20th Legion veterans and auxiliaries set off from Usk.
DAY 24 (October 24th) Suetonius Paulinus retreats from London towards St Albans with refugees and supplies. Postumus, commanding 2nd Legion garrison at Exeter, refuses to move. Order to march reaches legions in North Wales.
DAY 25 (October 25th) Boudica, learning of Paulinus’s retreat, enters city and commences sack of London. Paulinus reaches St Albans, delaying there while awaiting reinforcements. 20th Legion veterans arrive at Gloucester, collecting any troops remaining there and at Kingsholm.
DAY 26-30 (October 26th-30th) Paulinus remains at St Albans, sending out scouts and detachments to watch the enemy and attack wider-ranging rebel bands. Iceni plundering and burning London, with plundering bands ranging to Brentford, Putney and Staines, across the Thames to Southwark, and potentially as far west as Silchester. 14th legion veterans arrive at St Albans from Wroxeter.
DAY 31 (October 31st) 20th Legion veterans and auxiliaries join Paulinus at St Albans. Boudica recalls scattered plundering bands to London.
DAY 32 (November 1st) Paulinus continues holding position at St Albans. Boudica musters her full army north of London.
DAY 33 (November 2nd) Boudica’s army begins advance north from London on Watling Street. Paulinus pulls back along Akeman Street to Tring. He discovers that the 2nd Legion have not left Exeter.
DAY 34-35 (November 3rd-4th) Paulinus camped at Tring. Rebels sack St Albans.
DAY 36 (November 5th) Iceni advance up the Bulborne to Cow Roast. Paulinus prepares his position at Newground.
DAY 37 (November 6th) Battle. Roman victory. Boudica defeated.
DAY 38-40 (November 7th-9th) Paulinus rests troops after battle. Scouts continue harrying fleeing rebels. Paulinus marches back to St Albans, where he meets advancing troops from North Wales. “The whole army was then brought together and kept under canvas to finish the remainder of the war.”
DAY 42 (November 11th) Seas close to shipping.
December – Iceni endure a hungry winter after abandoning their campaign supplies following the battle. They survive by eating seed corn kept back at the harvest.
AD61
April – Suetonius Paulinus’s full report of the revolt reaches Rome. Tacitus later comes to date his account of the revolt to the consular year commencing January AD61. Iceni have no seed to plant spring crops as they have consumed it over the winter.
Spring-summer – Paulinus continues punitive campaign against Iceni and other rebel peoples. “Whatever tribes still wavered or were hostile were ravaged with fire and sword.” Boudica dies.
May – Classicianus sent to Britain as replacement Procurator. Emperor sends order to Rhine garrisons to reinforce army in Britain.
June – Classicianus sends report to Rome complaining of Paulinus’s actions: “no cessation of fighting must be expected, unless Suetonius were superseded.” Troops from Germany commence crossing to Britain.
July – Suetonius establishes new winter camps* for his auxiliary forces, guarding rebel areas. Iceni in famine conditions, with no grain remaining and no crops to harvest. Polyclitus, ordered to investigate the situation in Britain, arrives with a huge retinue. After a short stay in the province, he sends more favourable report to Rome.
August – Several ships are wrecked and their crews lost. Classicianus sends report of the losses to Rome. Petronius Turpilianus (ordinary consul of the year) nominated to replace Paulinus as governor of Britain.
September – Turpilianus arrives in Britain and replaces Paulinus.
*(winter camps could be established and even garrisoned during the summer campaign season, eg Tac Ann 2.25.1 re. Tiberius in Germania, “However, as summer was already at the full (ie July) a part of the legions were sent back to winter quarters by the land route.” See also Tac Ann 15.7-8 – Paetus constructs winter camps during summer campaign season.)
As I mentioned above, I'm currently thinking that the fighting broke out in mid autumn 60, after the completion of what could have been a bad harvest, with the full report not reaching Rome until 61 - which is why Tacitus dates the whole event to that year instead. This puts the fall of Colchester in mid October, which would explain the evidence of soft fruit remains, including grapes, berries and dates on the stem, in the destruction layer. It puts the climactic battle in early November - perhaps a colder and wetter environment than we've been anticipating so far - and spreads the Roman reaction over the first two thirds of 61.
I've also slowed down the Roman marching pace to allow for different types of roads and terrain, and given Suetonius Paulinus three days for rest and reconnaissance on the march as well. This, I think, would suit the attitude of a cautious and meticulous commander, but one capable of acting decisively when required.
AD60
September 23rd – Autumn Equinox. Boudica holds tribal assembly and calls for revolt.
September 29th – Iceni mustering at Thetford. Catus Decianus’s message requesting military support against the Iceni reaches Suetonius Paulinus at his camp beside the Menai Strait.
DAY 1-7 (October 1st-7th) Paulinus, with c.6000 men (4000 men of 14th Legion, plus 4 auxiliary units) marches from the Menai Strait to Wroxeter, covering nearly 100 miles in seven days at an average 14 miles per day. Iceni and Trinovantes form alliance at Sudbury, neglecting to sow winter crops as they intend to seize Roman supplies.
DAY 8 (October 8th) Paulinus rests and resupplies for the day at Wroxeter. He sends orders to Cerialis to meet him at Godmanchester for operations against the Iceni. Iceni and Trinvantes move south towards Colchester.
DAY 9-11 (October 9th-11th) Paulinus marches 48 miles from Wroxeter to Mancetter, three days on Watling Street averaging 16 miles per day. Iceni and Trinovantes surround Colchester and commence attack.
DAY 12 (October 12th) Paulinus rests his troops at Mancetter. Fall of Colchester. Cerialis marching towards Colchester to try and relieve siege.
DAY 13 (October 13th) Paulinus marches 17 miles Mancetter to Leicester. Cerialis’s force is destroyed a few miles outside Colchester. Cerealis falls back to his last marching camp and defends himself there.
DAY 14-16 (October 14th-16th) Paulinus marches 48 miles from Leicester to Godmanchester in three days, averaging 16 miles per day. News of defeat of Cerialis’ force reaches him when he arrives at Godmanchester.
DAY 17 (October 17th) Paulinus rests his troops at Godmanchester. He sends messages to the 2nd Legion detachment at Exeter, the 20th Legion veterans at Usk, the 14th legion veterans at Wroxeter, and his remaining troops in North Wales to march for a collective rendezvous at London. Iceni and Trinovantes plundering Colchester and celebrating their victories.
DAY 18-20 (October 18th-20th) Suetonius Paulinus marches 60 miles down Ermine Street ‘through the midst of the enemy’ to London, averaging 20 miles a day at ‘full pace’. He arrives in London to find Catus Decianus has already fled to Gaul. Iceni and Trinovantes plundering area of Chelmsford. Order to march reaches 14th Legion veterans at Wroxeter.
DAY 21-22 (October 21st-22nd) Paulinus rests his troops in London. Order to march reaches 20th Legion at Usk. Iceni and Trinovantes plundering the area of Romford. 14th veterans set off from Wroxeter.
DAY 23 (October 23rd) Paulinus, deciding to give up London, orders the inhabitants to prepare for evacuation. Sends orders rerouting advancing reinforcements to St Albans. Original order to march reaches 2nd Legion veterans at Exeter. 20th Legion veterans and auxiliaries set off from Usk.
DAY 24 (October 24th) Suetonius Paulinus retreats from London towards St Albans with refugees and supplies. Postumus, commanding 2nd Legion garrison at Exeter, refuses to move. Order to march reaches legions in North Wales.
DAY 25 (October 25th) Boudica, learning of Paulinus’s retreat, enters city and commences sack of London. Paulinus reaches St Albans, delaying there while awaiting reinforcements. 20th Legion veterans arrive at Gloucester, collecting any troops remaining there and at Kingsholm.
DAY 26-30 (October 26th-30th) Paulinus remains at St Albans, sending out scouts and detachments to watch the enemy and attack wider-ranging rebel bands. Iceni plundering and burning London, with plundering bands ranging to Brentford, Putney and Staines, across the Thames to Southwark, and potentially as far west as Silchester. 14th legion veterans arrive at St Albans from Wroxeter.
DAY 31 (October 31st) 20th Legion veterans and auxiliaries join Paulinus at St Albans. Boudica recalls scattered plundering bands to London.
DAY 32 (November 1st) Paulinus continues holding position at St Albans. Boudica musters her full army north of London.
DAY 33 (November 2nd) Boudica’s army begins advance north from London on Watling Street. Paulinus pulls back along Akeman Street to Tring. He discovers that the 2nd Legion have not left Exeter.
DAY 34-35 (November 3rd-4th) Paulinus camped at Tring. Rebels sack St Albans.
DAY 36 (November 5th) Iceni advance up the Bulborne to Cow Roast. Paulinus prepares his position at Newground.
DAY 37 (November 6th) Battle. Roman victory. Boudica defeated.
DAY 38-40 (November 7th-9th) Paulinus rests troops after battle. Scouts continue harrying fleeing rebels. Paulinus marches back to St Albans, where he meets advancing troops from North Wales. “The whole army was then brought together and kept under canvas to finish the remainder of the war.”
DAY 42 (November 11th) Seas close to shipping.
December – Iceni endure a hungry winter after abandoning their campaign supplies following the battle. They survive by eating seed corn kept back at the harvest.
AD61
April – Suetonius Paulinus’s full report of the revolt reaches Rome. Tacitus later comes to date his account of the revolt to the consular year commencing January AD61. Iceni have no seed to plant spring crops as they have consumed it over the winter.
Spring-summer – Paulinus continues punitive campaign against Iceni and other rebel peoples. “Whatever tribes still wavered or were hostile were ravaged with fire and sword.” Boudica dies.
May – Classicianus sent to Britain as replacement Procurator. Emperor sends order to Rhine garrisons to reinforce army in Britain.
June – Classicianus sends report to Rome complaining of Paulinus’s actions: “no cessation of fighting must be expected, unless Suetonius were superseded.” Troops from Germany commence crossing to Britain.
July – Suetonius establishes new winter camps* for his auxiliary forces, guarding rebel areas. Iceni in famine conditions, with no grain remaining and no crops to harvest. Polyclitus, ordered to investigate the situation in Britain, arrives with a huge retinue. After a short stay in the province, he sends more favourable report to Rome.
August – Several ships are wrecked and their crews lost. Classicianus sends report of the losses to Rome. Petronius Turpilianus (ordinary consul of the year) nominated to replace Paulinus as governor of Britain.
September – Turpilianus arrives in Britain and replaces Paulinus.
*(winter camps could be established and even garrisoned during the summer campaign season, eg Tac Ann 2.25.1 re. Tiberius in Germania, “However, as summer was already at the full (ie July) a part of the legions were sent back to winter quarters by the land route.” See also Tac Ann 15.7-8 – Paetus constructs winter camps during summer campaign season.)
Nathan Ross
