Thread Rating:
  • 4 Vote(s) - 5 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.
Nathan Ross wrote:

I agree with Michael that neither quote specifies an ambush: it sounds more like the Britons, having already taken Colchester and hearing of Cerealis advancing on them, moved out to block his route.

I can accept this but the corollary is that this does not sound like the action of a slow moving horde but a well organised force that knows that an army is coming to attack them whilst they are themselves on the march.

For a general of Cerialis undoubted skill (although perhaps rash) to not have realised that there was a huge group confronting him does seem a little strange.

The problem is that there has to be consistency – either there is a slow moving horde or a swift moving army or an acknowledged mixture of both.

Renatus wrote:

Deryk wrote:
Previous Brythonic armies moved equally as swiftly as the Roman Army for the previous 18 years so why is it assumed that this army was any slower?

Wives and wagons, perhaps.

This again doesn’t seem to fit the early part of the war and we know it was regarded as a continuing war, even after Boudica’s defeat from SP’s later actions.

How on earth did a slow moving huge horde surprise the people of Colchester in such a manner that there were no preparations for defence made at all.

Especially as Roman forts were destroyed in the occupied territory.

Tacitus makes reference to the inhabitants of Colchester being re-assured by locals that it was nothing to worry about, but surely the inhabitants of Colchester would have had time to escape if the Brythons were travelling so slowly.....


Renatus wrote;

The problem with a thread that has been going on for as long as this one is that arguments previously made get forgotten.

This is not necessarily the case. The points have been raised and argued but not necessarily accepted by all, so perhaps are still up for debate?

Renatus wrote:

This was not a little local difficulty but a major uprising. Before setting off on her campaign, Boudicca set about enlisting the support of the British tribes generally to throw the Romans out of the province. If she wanted to retain that support, she had to carry the campaign forward, not return home after one success.

Perhaps we have to agree to disagree here. I think that that there are (at least) two camps of thought regarding the early campaign

The first view is the one described by Michael (above) where the horde (comprising a number of tribes?) led by Boudica destroys Colchester and sacks it over a period of days , and proceeds slowly onto London plundering all the way, destroying the Ninth (via a short diversion) and arrives in London after Seutonius Paulinus has left. This horde then follows Seutonius Paulinus, destroys London and St Albans and is defeated at an unknown location.

The second is that the Iceni and the Trinovantes alone destroyed Colchester. In this second theory after the sack of Colchester, the Trinovantes reclaimed their land and farms (looted and plundered back from the Roman settlers if you like) whilst Boudica and her followers returned home to defend their land against the subsequent arrival of the next Roman army which did not invade but went to London.

When the Roman Army retreated, the Trinovantes and the Iceni then chased Seutonius Paulinus (perhaps via a number of routes), destroying London and St Albans on the way. In the process, attracting other tribes to their banner because of their successes and catching the Roman Army at an unknown location chosen by Seutonius Paulinus where the Brythons were defeated.

Is that a fair summation?

Renatus wrote:

I don't think anyone in this thread has supported the 'London dash' theory.

OK - not necessarily the “London Dash” but certainly leaving the infantry somewhere on Watling Street and approaching London with limited mounted forces only.
Deryk
Reply


Messages In This Thread
Re: Calling all armchair generals! - by Ensifer - 03-11-2010, 03:13 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-18-2012, 06:26 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 12:02 AM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 02:50 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 05:40 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 11:26 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 05:11 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 09:42 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 10:10 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 03:11 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 03:25 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 08:36 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-26-2012, 02:57 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-27-2012, 01:50 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 08-05-2012, 02:24 PM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-07-2014, 02:18 PM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-08-2014, 01:50 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-11-2014, 02:03 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-18-2014, 07:54 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-20-2014, 02:37 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-25-2014, 08:29 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Deryk - 03-21-2015, 01:44 PM

Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Armchair Wall walking mcbishop 3 3,481 01-11-2012, 03:22 AM
Last Post: Vindex

Forum Jump: