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The Battle of Watling Street took place in AD 61 between an alliance of Briton tribes and the Romans. Though outnumbered by more than 3 to 1, the Romans held their ground against the Briton hordes and gained victory. This led to the end of effective resistance against the Romans in Britain.
Background
In the year AD 43, Rome had successfully invaded Britain. But Rome's invasion had not put an end to the Briton rebellion. Prasutagus, king of the Iceni, a Briton tribe, had no male heir, so in an attempt to establish a peaceful relationship with the Romans, he bestowed his land to both his wife Boudicca and the Roman Emperor Nero.
In 61, Prasutagus died. When he died, the Romans seized all of his lands, plundered them and committed a number of atrocities. When Boudicca resisted the Romans, she was flogged and her daughters were raped. Boudicca escaped and with her daughters fled to a nearby tribe and raised an army. (History says her army measured over 100,000 men, but it is probably closer to 10,000.)
Boudicca and her army attacked the Roman town of Camulodunum (present day Colchester). The Romans sent a poorly armed force of about 2,000 men to stop Boudicca, but were defeated by her. The 9th Legion, lead by Quintus Petillius Cerialis, was sent against Boudicca, but was defeated.
The Roman governor of Britain, Suetonius Paullinus, was campaigning against the druids of Mona (modern Anglesey) when Boudicca razed Camulodunum, and raced southward. Paullinus commanded the 14th Legion, but, including auxiliaries, numbered only 4,000. When Paullinus reached Londinium, the center of Roman authority in Britain (present day London), he decided to leave the city unguarded to build a larger force.
The Britons attacked and sacked London, and in one day killed over 80,000 civilians loyal to Rome, both Romans and Britons. The Britons then headed north to Verulamium (present day St Albans), and destroyed it. Boudicca then took the great Roman Road of Watling Street and proceed north to conquer the rest of Roman Britain.
By this time, Paullinus had amassed a force of 8,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry, totaling 10,000 men. Though out numbered by more than 3 to 1, Paullinus knew that Boudicca's assault had to be ended. Paullinus took his 10,000 men and advanced toward Watling Street.
Battle
Paullinus engaged Boudicca in a field just south of Watling Street. A forest provided protection for the Roman flanks and rear against attack. This battle field also gave Paullinus one major advantage: the field narrowed at the end Paullinus had deployed his troops. This advantage did not allow Boudicca to use her advantage in troop numbers; she could not out flank the Romans.
As their armies arranged, the commanders sought to motivate their soldiers. The Roman historian Tacitus, who wrote of the battle no more then fifty years later, recorded Boudicca's speech to her followers, "Nothing is safe from Roman pride and arrogance. They will deface the sacred and will deflower our virgins. Win the battle or perish, that is what I, a woman, will do."
Tactitus also wrote of Paullinus addressing his legionaries, "Ignore the racket made by these savages. There are more women than men in their ranks. They are not soldiers - they're not even properly equipped. We've beaten them before and when they see our weapons and feel our spirit, they'll crack. Stick together. Throw the javelins, then push forward: knock them down with your shields and finish them off with your swords. Forget about booty. Just win and you'll have the lot."
The Britons, believing this battle would be an overwhelming victory, placed their wagon train in a crescent at the large end of the field. From this point, Briton women and children would watch their warriors slaughter the Romans.
With one great roar, Boudicca led her army forward across the plain and into the narrowing field in a massive frontal attack. As they advanced, they were channeled into a tightly packed mass. At approximately forty yards, their advance was staggered by a volley of Roman pila, the Roman short spear. The Britons, wearing little to no armor, were massacred by the Roman assault. Unfortunately for the Britons, each Roman legionary carried two pila. This turned the Briton's charge into a slaughter. Boudicca's favored tactic of intimidation was having no effect on the well disciplined legions.
Under Paullinus's order, the cavalry on each of the Roman flanks slammed into the Briton hordes. The Roman infantry then advanced, their superior discipline, tactics and equipment giving them a decisive edge in the close quarters fighting against the tightly packed British. As the British losses quickly mounted, the war bands began to give way, and retreat. But their retreat would be in vain, only to find that their encircling wagons provided an almost impassable barrier. Amidst the turmoil, the legionaries massacred the Britons, killing both warriors as well as women and children.
Fearing capture and humiliation, Boudicca fled. Two stories tell of her death. The first is that she poisoned herself. And the second being that she become ill and soon died.
Aftermath
With the great Iceni revolt brought to a decisive end, and their commander dead, this was the end of effective resistance against the Romans. With this one victory, southern Britain fell under Roman rule for the next 400 years.
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