Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.

[Renatus]

Nathan wrote:

I'm not sure that Cerialis wouldn't have brought half his legion with him, even if he had to leave the other half to guard the northern approaches. If he was marching into enemy territory he surely would have taken all his available troops?

 

Some years ago Adrian Goldsworthy sent me his paper “Instinctive Genius.” I am not sure if it has been published. 

 

Anyone has been able to download it for decades.
https://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/be...e_General_

Don't worry, Stephen.  There are those in this world who can't resist scoring a cheap point.

You make a good point.  David Breeze make a similar point at the Roman Army School at Durham a few years ago.  I don't remember how the question arose but recall that he took the Jewish revolt as an example.  In our case, there would seem to be a tension between Cerialis' characteristic urge for action and Suetonius' natural caution.  However, with the fate of the colony at stake, it is possible that even Suetonius would regard it necessary to follow traditional Roman practice.  I can see a message being sent along the lines of, ' You try to nip it in the bud.  I won't be far behind you.'  It may be that, although Tacitus criticised his temeritas , Cerialis avoided censure because he did exactly what was expected of him.