Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.

[Nathan Ross]

If the object of the revolt was to drive the Romans out of the province, Boudica would need to maintain the momentum of her earlier successes

That's certainly true. One of the aspects of the 'return home' idea (my conception of it, at least) rests on the theory about the fall of Colchester happening in late autumn. Boudica's tribal horde would be unlikely to want to spend the winter in the field. Having already dealt some heavy blows against the Romans, they may have expected that they could go to war again in the spring, or defend their lands in a guerilla-style war. All among the many unknowns (along with all notions of large-scale strategy, scouting, intelligence capability, tribal alliances and logistics - and nobody in this whole scenario has a map!)

Besides, we don't really know how 'nationalist' her objectives might have been, whatever words Tacitus and Dio put into her mouth. Any large-scale strategic planning would depend on Boudica - perhaps a tenuous sort of leader, commanding a disparate band of untrained peasant rebels and their families - being able to exercise considerable control over her vast army. No doubt there were many fiery debates, and many splinter factions!

Meanwhile I had a quick look at Echolands. I like the breezy, chatty tone and the 'imaginative' approach, and generally I found the author's thinking pretty sound. About the suggested battle site I'm less than convinced though - quite apart from the rather mild topography, I don't see how the Britons could have sacked St Albans, as Tacitus says they did, when it lies on the lefthand end of the Roman battle line. Unless they sacked it first, and then pulled back?

The main criteria for selection seem to be the slingshot finds. In which case, I can only assume that the author did not read this thread beyond about 2015 or so, as the site at Newground has Roman armour and weapon fragments too!

However, I agree entirely with his comment that, in proposing a site close to St Albans, he has "shifted at least some future scrutiny back to within the known geographical theatre of the war".

I think I just found footage of the actual battle....

I prefer the 1926 version myself!