Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.

[Nathan Ross]

the River Anker would supply water but would also cut through the battleground

Yes, quite; it's a critical problem - and if it were used as a water source then the Romans would either be camping in front of their own battle line, or surrendering their water to the enemy...

Twelve miles a day doesn't really ring true

I get the impression that the author of the (unpublished) paper cited has perhaps used Gary Breuggeman's estimates for march distances and times, or perhaps just noted the distances in Scotland - where 8-12 miles between camps appears normal. However, these would be the kind of distances covered in an advance into enemy territory, building camps every day. Marching by road on an established line of communication, with forts or supply bases en route, I don't see why Paulinus's men couldn't cover the regular Vegetian 18-22 miles per day.

Of course, it could be that the author is trying to slow the legions down, to support the 'cavalry dash' theory and make it even more likely that they fought their battle in the Midlands...!

On a similar note, I was interested by the idea (I think from John Waite?) that Boudica was leading her force into the Midlands to link up with the Corieltavi near Leicester. This sounds plausible, although of course Tacitus does not mention the Corieltavi - nor do any other writers of the era - and we have no idea of their allegiances at the time, or even their true location. And why would the Iceni and Trinovantes etc haul themselves all the way up to Leicester just to meet up with another tribe - why them, particularly? what did they intend to do? How would they return to thier own country to plant winter crops?

As before, while this theory appears to be circumstantial support for the Midlands location generally, its sole support is the theory, rather than the other way around!

Half way between Bicester and St Albans is Tring

Yes, it does seem to be a likely place for a fort or road station. But perhaps in later decades, once the road system had become more established?

Part of my consideration for the evidence from Cow Roast is that military equipment would perhaps not be manufactured in what appears to be a civilian site, a long way from the nearest fort or garrison.