A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Boadicea
BOADICEA, a British Queen in the Time of Nero.
Prasutagus, king of the Iceni (the inhabitants of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, and Huntingdonshire) in order to secure the friendship and protection of Nero to his wife and family, in his will, left the emperor and his daughters co-heirs. But no sooner was he in the grave, than the emperor's officers seized upon his effects in their master's name. Boadicea, widow of the deceased king, strongly remonstrated against these unjust proceedings; but her complaints were so far from being heard, or her grievances redressed, that she found herself exposed to farther wrongs and injuries. For, being a woman of high spirit, she resented her ill usage in such terms, as provoked the officers to treat her in the most barbarous manner; they caused her to be publicly scourged; and her daughters' innocence fell a sacrifice to their barbarity.
This story soon spread through the island, and the public indignation so generally raised, that all, excepting London, agreed to revolt. The Roman historians themselves acknowledge, that the universal violence and injustice of the emperor's officers, gave the Britons sufficient reason to lay aside their private animosities, aid the queen to revenge her wrongs, and recover their own liberty.
Boadicea, inspired with implacable hatred against the Romans, put herself at their head, and earnestly exhorted them to take advantage of the absence of the Roman general, then in the Isle of Man, by putting these foreign oppressors all to the sword. They readily embraced the proposal, and, on a sudden, flew with the utmost fury upon the Romans wherever they found them dispersed in their colonies, which were more curiously embellished with fine buildings, than strengthened with fortifications, massacring all, without regard to age or sex; and so violent was the rage of the exasperated people, that the most horrible cruelties were practised on this occasion. Not a single Roman that came within their reach escaped their fury, and no less than 70,000 perished.
Paulinus, in the mean time suddenly returning, marched against the revolted Britons, who had an army of 100,000, or, according to Dion Cassius, 230,000 strong, under the conduct of Boadicea, and Venutius her general. The fine person of Boadicea, large, fair, and dignified, with her undaunted courage, persuaded the people that she must have all the qualities of a good general; and, eager for the engagement with Paulinus, whose army consisted of no more than 10,000 men, she expected to satiate her revenge, by the utter destruction of so inconsiderable an enemy.
Mean while, Paulinus was in great trouble; the ninth legion had been just defeated by the enemy. Pænius Posthumus, at the head of a large detachment of the second, refused to join him; so that he had the choice but of two expedients, either to march with his little army into the open field against his numerous enemies, or shut himself up in some town and wait for them. At first he chose the latter, and staid in London, but soon altered his resolution. And, instead of retiring from the Britons, who were now on the march towards him, he resolved to meet them. The field of battle he pitched upon was a narrow tract of ground, facing a large plain, where they encamped, and his rear was secured by a forest. The Britons traversed the plain in large bodies, exulting in their numbers, and secure of victory. They had brought their wives and children in waggons to be spectators of their actions in the battle, and placed them round their entrenchments.
Boadicea, in the mean time, was not idle, but mounting her chariot, with her two daughters, rode up and down through the several squadrons of her army, whom she addressed to the following effect:
"That it was not the first time the Britons had been victorious, under the conduct of their queen. That, for her part, she came not there as one descended of royal blood, to fight for empire or riches, but as one of the common people, to avenge the loss of their liberty, the wrongs of herself and children. That the wickedness of the Romans was come to its height; and that the gods had already begun to punish them; so that, instead of being able to withstand the attack of a victorious army, the very shouts of so many thousands would put them to flight. That if the Britons would but consider the number of their forces, or the motives of the war, they would resolve to vanquish or die. That it was much better to fall honourably in defence of liberty, than be again exposed to the outrages of the Romans. Such at least was her resolution; as for the men, they might, if they pleased, live and be slaves." At the end of her speech she is said to have let loose a hare, which she had concealed, as an omen of victory.
While Boadicea thus laboured to animate her Britons to behave with their wonted bravery, Paulinus was no less assiduous in preparing his troops for the encounter. The Britons expected his soldiers to be daunted at their number; but, when they saw them advance with short steps, sword in hand, without discovering any fear, their hearts began to fail them, and they fell into disorder, which continually increased, it not being in the power of their commanders to lead them back to the charge. The Romans observing their consternation, pushed the advantage with great fury, and threw their army into a confusion past the possibility of recovery. They gave no quarter, and 80,000 of the Britons perished.
Boadicea, indeed, escaped falling into the hands of the conquerors; but, unable to survive the remembrance of this terrible defeat, either fell a victim to despair or poison.