PR-2237IRE Ancient Rome

Romans in Britain – Boudica
The Roman historian Tacitus (circa 55 AD – 120 AD) first wrote about the defiant British queen and
called her Boudicca. When his original manuscripts were copied, her name was written wrongly
and became Boadicea. This name was accepted for hundreds of years until 20th century scholars
discovered the error. Philologists, experts in the authenticity of language in ancient texts, believe
that Tacitus was wrong, too, and, the name should only have one ‘c’. Some references still use Boudicca or even
Boadicea.
When the King of the Iceni died in about 60 AD, he left a widow and two daughters. He granted part of his land
to the emperor Nero, but a devious Roman official, a procurator responsible for the administration of a Roman
province, tried to get extra protection money from the tribe and even stole some of their land. Boudica refused to
pay money or allow her land to be confiscated. She was flogged and her daughters reputedly assaulted by
Roman soldiers. Boudica then spent her life seeking revenge. When she attacked Roman towns—now Colchester,
St Albans and London—around 70 000 lives were lost. Paullinus (also Paulinus) suggested harsh reprisals
against the Iceni after he had defeated Boudica, but Nero recalled him to Rome and appointed more understanding
officials.
The savage Iceni tribe once painted themselves with woad, a blue dye made from the flowers and leaves of
plants. Though Roman occupation enriched their lives in many ways, Roman greed and brutality led them to
rebellion.
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