09-17-2012, 03:19 PM
Renatus wrote:
I think that we are probably all agreed that Suetonius was withdrawing in the hope of linking up with reinforcements and that the Bri tons were moving in the same direction. The motivation of the Britons is more problematical but Tacitus states that they were interested only in plunder.
The Dunstable location has a number of interesting facets and one of them is its strategic position blocking access to the Icknield Way and the way back to the Iceni Homeland.
If however as Tacitus states the Iceni were merely after booty, had robbed London and were going back home to plant winter wheat, going up Watling street would not have been the quickest way home. That would have been via Braughing, up to Bartlow and then onto to the Icknield Way and onwards into Iceni territory or for the Trinovantes directly back to Colchester.
It would therefore seem that for the Brythonic Army to be on Watling Street they would have to be pursuing the Roman Army. Would the Trinovantes and the Iceni had 230,000 people following from London? This seems an awfully large army for just two tribes.
Would they have needed waggons etc.?
What it does seem to show is that the Brythons realised that they needed to destroy the Roman Army, miles away from their support and bases. Does this also imply that this was a weakened army when it reached London as Tacitus implies "a small army"?
Certainly what it does mean is that this was not a rabble wondering home after a few days pillage about to be surprised but an Army intent on the destruction of Seutonius Paulinus and his men.
As Steven Kaye stated once Colchester had been destroyed, the Iceni and the Trinovante's lands repossessed it was a state of Total War and the Brythons had no choice but take on the might of Rome and according to Tacitus and Dio did it spectacularly....
Kind Regards - Deryk
I think that we are probably all agreed that Suetonius was withdrawing in the hope of linking up with reinforcements and that the Bri tons were moving in the same direction. The motivation of the Britons is more problematical but Tacitus states that they were interested only in plunder.
The Dunstable location has a number of interesting facets and one of them is its strategic position blocking access to the Icknield Way and the way back to the Iceni Homeland.
If however as Tacitus states the Iceni were merely after booty, had robbed London and were going back home to plant winter wheat, going up Watling street would not have been the quickest way home. That would have been via Braughing, up to Bartlow and then onto to the Icknield Way and onwards into Iceni territory or for the Trinovantes directly back to Colchester.
It would therefore seem that for the Brythonic Army to be on Watling Street they would have to be pursuing the Roman Army. Would the Trinovantes and the Iceni had 230,000 people following from London? This seems an awfully large army for just two tribes.
Would they have needed waggons etc.?
What it does seem to show is that the Brythons realised that they needed to destroy the Roman Army, miles away from their support and bases. Does this also imply that this was a weakened army when it reached London as Tacitus implies "a small army"?
Certainly what it does mean is that this was not a rabble wondering home after a few days pillage about to be surprised but an Army intent on the destruction of Seutonius Paulinus and his men.
As Steven Kaye stated once Colchester had been destroyed, the Iceni and the Trinovante's lands repossessed it was a state of Total War and the Brythons had no choice but take on the might of Rome and according to Tacitus and Dio did it spectacularly....
Kind Regards - Deryk
Deryk
