Interesting, I read somewhere some time ago, that the battle took place at a V shape battlefield, a road ran between woods, the Romans were at the bottom of the V
I was born in St. Alban's but moved to Devon when I was 4 in 1968. At 8:35 you catch the bells of the cathedral. I was christened there (didn't work, staunch atheist, always have been) & my first infant school / kindergarten was in the cathedral too. Verulamium park & the style of those houses on that crescent street tugged at the mists slightly but the sound of those bells brought back a flood of images. Thank you! My parents aren't with me anymore, no one to ask about my first four years there.
As ever, Paul, this film was excellent. I have to say, I am astonished that someone has suggested that the site of the elusive Battle of Watling Street is in Wiltshire! Talk about a diversion. The common view is that it was likely to be somewhere in the Midlands. The story I grew up with was that the Romans were coming down from sacking Mona (Anglesey) when they encountered the Celts. Mind you, given the scale of the slaughter that took place that day, it's odd that nobody has ever found much evidence of the battle. A similar lack of physical evidence also surrounds the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Both of these events are pivotal to our history.
These were my thoughts. However Tacitus does say that Suetonius marched back to London, but decided not to defend it and pulled out. Boudica proceeded to sack both London and St Albans. Then came the decisive battle. The context suggests, this was not very far from St Albans, certainly not as far as Wiltshire. Dunstable seems as likely as anywhere. The crossroads of Watling Street and the Icknield Way is the centre of the town to this day. I've often fancifully speculated, that by selecting this location Suetonius gave the Iceni tribesmen an obvious line of retreat.
I can't see any sign of a river in Dunstable. My guess is the Romans peeled off Watling Street up the road to the Iceni homeland. It would explain the Medbourne hoard and possibly the battlefield under what is now Leicester. The horses were taken to the Lunt at Coventry, so I wouldn't have thought the battle was fought so very far away.
@@julianstanley5036 The battle didn't have to be in Dunstable itself. True, most sources put it farther up Watling Street. However, the quickest way home for the Iceni was certainly the Icknield Way. Also, the westward continuation from Dunstable via Tring (modern B489) is Akeman Street, which would be an approach route for the dilatory Second Legion. Again, sink-hole pools are fairly common in these regions, such as the source of the river Lea in nearby Leagrave, Luton. Just idle speculation!
@@julianstanley5036Tacitus doesn't mention a river that I can see. Yes, Dunstable is near the Chiltern watershed. A little further on and you are into the Great Ouse floodplain with north-flowing streams. Bear in mind the modern hydrography is different, many watercourses have dried up because of abstraction by water companies. So I think the "river" criterion is overdone. Heck, Suetonius might have cunningly retreated 80 miles from St Albans to Mancetter with the Britons on his heels, as many seem to believe. Towcester (40 miles) has its adherents. Who knows?
Thank you the walking talking video this day. Always easy to formulate the conversation with the scene. The conversation makes sense upon analysis of the subject. Hello to Rebecca and see you on the next! Enjoy the week ahead, Paul. 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸
In France there’s kind of an equivalent character who led the fight and lost against the Romans at about the same sort of time. He’s still revered here - Vercingetorix - and we know where his battlefield was, at the plateau de Gergovie, just outside Clermont Ferrand, with extinct volcanoes all around - dramatic landscape!
Mancetter, on the A5 between Tamworth and Hinckley as been touted as a good location for the battle. And just south of Coventry, a Fort called The Lunt was constructed, which included a corral for the breaking of captured Iceni horses.
I live a stones throw from Mancetter & often go walking around there after work. When I was at school, we were told a battle happened there in Roman times, I need to find out more info!
One of my absolute favourite debates in the study of Roman Britain, and this is a really great video. Thanks for the links too. Wherever the site actually is, it must still be littered with so many objects and human remains from the battle. But I tend to agree that we may not live long enough to see it found. But a superb watch all the same. I am busy emailing the link to friends and colleagues! All the best, and thank you. Oh, and yes please: more Roman subjects please!
The wessex location rather than Watling St is very compelling. Put yourself in Paulinus's shoes. Having rushed back from Mona, he didn't feel strong enough to confront the rebels. He abandoned London and StAlbans to their fate. There's little point retracing his steps up Watling St, the northern Legio had already dispatched a flying column and it had been wiped out. He would have gathered up what he could on his march on London and what he could in the south east. It makes total sense to go west, shield the Roman possessions there and hope for the reinforcements sent for from Exeter to arrive. They were never sent. So he made a stand on a battlefield of his choosing. The Britons primarily from the eastern tribes had already sacked Colchester. StAlbans and London. I bet many had slipped away with their booty having had their fun. Others would have been drawn to the party for sure, but probably more looter types than warrior types. Having marched to Anglesey, probably in military order, and then force marched back to London in a hostile countryside, formenting with rebellion, at a pace to stay ahead of the mob, once he knew no help was coming from Isca it made total sense to pick his spot rest his troops amd prepare and await the mob. But would he retire along the Ermine way ? This was a long established british pathway possibly established by the Iceni. Having resupplied in London before setting out a three - or four day speed march with a cavalry screen to the rear and engineers going ahead to find the spot is very logical. Given his obvious competence and forethought, he must of contemplated a defeat, in which case what would his line of retreat been, if only for himself and his officers ? Surely Calleva (Sillchester) would have made sense. It would have been a good point for any Exeter reinforcements to head to.
Excellent work sir, and can I also applaud your placement of the adverts at the end of each part rather than half way through a sentence as so many TH-camrs do! Oh, just one more thing - rivers will have changed over the last 2000 years - surely using this as a search criteria is riddled with issues?
Rivers changed for sure, though in a way that was.... less managed. The broad courses owing to the landscape, by and large much the same depending on perception.
@@pwhitewick - that’s broadly true but if you think about rivers like the Rother in Kent / East Sussex which had its course changed by about 10 miles due to one storm in the 14th century, there are certainly anomalies
Another excellent video Paul! I was in St Albans yesterday and even ran past Windridge Farm on my way home. I didn't realise that could have been the site of Boudica's last stand. Always learning 😀
Having been born and bred in St Albans this brought back many memories of studying the Rpmans. Many thanks Paul for the returned memories after 60 years!
Great video, such an interesting subject. Reading Steve Kaye's paper just demonstrates why the Roman army had no match in those days. I doubt the Iceni even thought about water supply and the fact it meant they would have to base themselves nearer large water supplies and then march to the battle. this would have given Suetonius the upper hand as the Iceni were not used to these types of long distance battles. Very clever the Romans, thanks for the really well put together piece, Paul.
Your attribution of Duncan Mackay & Steve Kaye & their research methods & rationale sparked your interest to investigate for yourself and put us upon, or near, the field of battle. Your presentations bring the depth of historic research methods rarely taught. I always learn something. Well done, Sir.
That was very, very interesting. I heard of Boudica before, of course, but I didn't know that the exact location of the battle was not really known. Of course it reminds me of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. The location of that was only narrowed down a few years ago. Hopefully the exact location of the last Battle of Boudica will reveal itselv one day. It's somehow important for modern nations to know where those, who lived on their modern areas 2k yaers ago, fought against the Romans. ❤ PS: More long videos!
Your voice is so nice to listen to! It’s one of the reasons, besides your enthusiastic and learned walks that we go on with you, that I like watching your videos from all the way over here in Montana. I wish all narrators had such a nice voice.
Two ancient battles changed the course of history for Britain for the worse, one was Boudicca's defeat in Wiltshire and the other was the battle of Hastings. From 1066 on the British people were slaves and have remained so.
Living, working in and around StAlbans for almost 35 years, ive had many questions re the Iceni uprising, especially since 96 , when excavations required us to go deeper than most people have since wheeler, maybe Frere We went down to the pre Roman archaeology, when it was the capital settlement of the catuvellauni . It was in the very centre of the Roman city, which gave us an opportunity to look at the earliest Roman layers including the destruction attributed to the time of the Iceni uprising, a thin very thin layer of burnt wood/ plaster and very patchy. I havnt read mr Mckay book, ive never looked into the possibilities of the last battle site . But im surprised that he talks about 100k rebels !! Because i have always wondered Who the other tribes were that supposedly joined the Iceni. Historians say 'the Iceni with the trinovantes attacked colchester' !? As if it was a place unrelated to the trinovantes, when we know it was in fact their main settlement. The temple and new city ( just like verulamium) had most of their inhabitants living outside and around the new city many waiting for work to finish so they could move in, meanwhile the rest continued living in their original homes, roundhouses, The Iceni, as district archaeologist for colchester P.Crummy has proven over the decades that the whole place beyond the Roman , the whole trinovante settlement was destroyed and its people killed, inc women babies children. It was not a focused attack on the new Roman building's but the whole trinovante settlement. Which makes archaeologists, Crummy and others question the historical idea of trinovante involvement, why would a people who have just witnessed their own settlement and people killed maimed etc , join those guilty of killing them? The trinovantes were a much larger tribe than the Iceni, they would've considered each other as outsiders. There's no record or mention of the trinovantes 20 years after the Roman invasion being unhappy with their lives , no minor incidents ( unlike the iceni) nothing at all to suggest they felt oppressed or treated badly , the archaeology shows more land was farmed etc buisness was good. Just like it was for the catuvellauni. Who btw both fought against the invading Roman's . But 20 years after were prospering. Colchester and the lands south to the Thames belonged was occupied by people of the trinovantes. Further west the land from the Thames north to verulamium and into Northamptonshire's Cambridgeshire was occupied by catuvellauni, before and after the Roman invasion the people were the same. From the Midlands to the south the Romans had no forts or garrisons scouring the land, they were further north because they had nothing to worry about, the people fought lost made peace when the realised thet weren't going to be sold as slaves or lose their lands and were given positions of status, they had accepted the new ways and weren't on the verge of rebellion. Ive read, studied archaeological reports and i can't come up with any ideas about who the tribespeople were that would have joined the Iceni ( up to 100.000) I ask where did they come from , considering verulamium had a population of around 3/4000 , the trinovantes about the same. 100k rebels, it's a lot of people, even if it included wives children.. 70k killed ? Again i ask who from where ? When they only attacked trinovante and catuvellauni territory. Recent GPR results ( Kris Lockyear) verulamium and around highlight verulamium, at it height, the largest and many buildings were not inhabited by the public, they were temples, the huge basilica/ forum , theatre and market place, a large portion of the SW was stables and animal enclosures. The remaining insulae, the public buildings were large villas with fancy gardens and not crammed with tenements 3 stories high.. The numbers don't stack up , but there's a lot to the whole story that doesn't make sense. A quick example, StAlbans during the 1800s ( a much larger town than verulamium) only had 3000 inhabitants. Colchester roughly the same. I just think about the Vikings, and what they achieved with just 1000 men .. Took almost half of England.. Or i think of th numbers killed at Waterloo, muskets, rifles, cannons solid and explosive shells , yet only something like 30k were killed. I find it impossible to believe the Iceni killed more than that , A 1000 armed warriors could/ did ( in the case of the Vikings) do a lot of damage especially when nobody is expecting it . 🤔 so many unanswered questions.. Love your video's btw 😊
Wow. Thank you. 😊 ok... so yes... when I read about the towns being taken, I did ponder... who were those killed... it does assume a completely different culture / person, though the iron age people already here. Just under a different rule. So on the assumption, Suetonius had 10k (?) And Boudica.... maybe a 1 to 5k... this really does change things. And why would Tacitus write "Suetonius and his 10k.strong legions successfully defeated 319 iceni"
Great comment for thought. Yes, the Roman in charge would look like a complete incompetent fool for loosing to 500 Icini. It makes sense to yet again adjust the numbers to favor the victors.
Kev (?)....You have produced here a thoroughly enjoyable addition to this discussion, so many thanks! But a small gripe, if you will allow me: there could not or would not have been an 'amount' of casualties at Waterloo (or anywhere)...but a 'number', yes...(cf a number of bricks...but an amount of mortar...etc, etc, etc).
@@bryangallagher4690 I'm pleased you read and enjoyed my post , which goes against the standard accepted version of historical accounts regarding the uprising. Of course you are right ( I've since edited and changed my wording) admittedly my use/ abuse of the English language is sadly not uncommon. But regarding the main topic do you have any thoughts , agreements or disagreements about the main points I make regarding the numbers supposedly involved ? Or ideas about the battle site ? If the Iceni did continue following the watling street after leaving verulamium, I believe it must've ended somewhere between verulamium and before Dunstable, considering the settlement & Roman buildings ( dating to a couple of years afte the main invasion) built up around the main / important crossroads after many excavations over the years have turned up no evidence whatsoever of any destruction, burning etc from the time of the uprising. Which had the Iceni gone through the town would have surely destroyed it as they did with verulamium.. Thats if they did keep to the watling street after leaving verulamium of course. I've driven along the A5 many times and there are several places I would love to field walk and put a few trial trenches in. If I had the money I would happily use my spare time searching. But ,, a lack of ££££ , maybe I'll win the lottery :)
Thanks for this, I knew her name but really didn't know her story, I don't think I could have pronounced it correctly either!! I'll just have to stay in the dunce's corner!! Thoroughly enjoyed watching, and being educated!! One of your best productions, well done!! All the best!!
Ogborne or Ogborne.....Og, Och, Ach....etc... I recommend 'The Key' (but may be out of print) by a man called Cohen.....about repeated instances of a handful of significant elements in place-names especially. (q.v. 'Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war...' in Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar'...Ava plus Og....and so on...)
I really enjoy your show.. you should be picked up and given a team and more funds.. So talented... Your hard work made another great upload! Thank you
This is how Tacitus describes what the battlefield looked like. "He, Suertonius Paulinus, chose a position approached by a narrow defile, closed in at the rear by a forest, having first ascertained that there was not a soldier of the enemy except in his front, where an open plain extended without any danger from ambuscades. The English actually brought with them, to witness the victory, their wives riding in wagons, which they had placed on the extreme border of the plain." The location of the battle seemed to take place in a valley that goes into mountainous area and it didn't seem possible to bypass the valley. Outside the valley was a large open field where the English placed their families in wagons behind their army to view the battle. The wagons appeared to be lined up roughly parallel to the Roman position in the valley. Which place in central England, north of St Albans, Boudicca's last known position, meets these requirements? At the town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire, a valley enters the Chilterns. The valley is bounded on the east by Boddington Hill and on the west by Bacombe Hill. To the east the Chilterns spread out. To the north, a large open plain spreads out. About 6 km north of Wendover runs the A41 road, which is built on an older Roman road, Akeman street. If you think that the Chilterns, 2000 years ago, were a large inaccessible area, then you have your flanks and back protected here. Akeman Street ran southeast towards St Albans and London. So the scenario is as follows: Suertonius Paulinus has decided to bet everything on a decisive blow. He looks for the most suitable place in the immediate area. The Romans drew up their army in a line between Boddington and Bacombe hills, with their front to the north, and awaited the English. Boudicca, with her army, moves from St Albans via Akeman street and takes up a position north of the Roman battle line. The battle begins, the English attack the Romans in the valley but are driven back and crushed against their own wagons which are drawn up behind them on Akeman street somewhere between Aylesbury and Buckland. This location should definitely be investigated for anyone who feels compelled to solve where the Battle of Watling Street is located.
I believe the site to be in the vicinity of Woburn, just north of Leighton Buzzard and just off Watling street, Maybe the Romans utilized an old Iron age fort there too, description of terrain apply as well.
Love this channel, well presented and interesting content. The idear that Boudicca's last battle was near Marlborough because there is a story that Boudicca is buried on Birdlip hill with her daughter's.
Now I wonder if there's any old local folklore stories of a great battle in the O St. G area. I find it hard to imagine that such a significant event wouldn't leave, at least, an echo. Anything by way of archaeological finds? Presumably the Romans would have erected a marching camp and it would be a big one based on the size of their forces. Likely two, one for each legion and maybe forming the anchor points of a defensive battle line? At a significant numerical disadvantage I would imagine the Romans would look to let the British horde expend itself, at least initially, in attacking defensive positions. Great work, as always, Paul. If not already, you are in danger of becoming an archaeological 'institution', like our beloved, Time Team 😁👍
Another great video from you. Great to see you back in st albans. Fascinating story. I think after Boudicca verulamium was rebuilt and heavily fortified, so the ruins you see today are probably because of Boudicca's revolt.
That was cracking and so well done. It'd be cool to try some simple archaeology just to get a feel for whether they were or weren't the sites of Boudicca's stand.
How about all the evidence of Boudicca's alleged last stand south of Polesworth in south Staffordshire.It's also pretty close to Watling Street.It's also a lot closer to the Iceni homelands.
In 1980 I met a man in a bookshop between Virginia Water and Egham in Surrey. He came in asking questions of Boudicca and local history. He was convinced that she had been at Runnymede and that was the last battle! I wish I knew who was. Very interesting video mate 👍 🍻 🍻
I have to say I still prefer the initial spelling and pronunciation of Boadicea. It has a more assertive and no-nonsense vibe about it! Like the Warrior Queen herself, eh! 🙋👌🏴🇮🇪🙏⚖️
Great video, with computers, GPS and satellite imaging the perfect site can't be found, i'd be inclined to think he knew Boudicca wasn't far behind came across a site he could defend and made his stand.
Great video really enjoyed it, just outside of Aldershot just off the A31 (Hogs Back) of Hampshire which is a ridge is a field that back in the 70s a dog walker found thousands of coins coins. The field was closed to the public whilst a dig was conducted. I was told it was the last battle Boudicca had 30 miles outside of London this video really put my fire out Lol
This possible site needs a metal detector survey doing on it, sling shot will be picked up quite deep with them being made of lead. Other bronze artifacts from 100000 celts would also be there.
@@pwhitewick it's really interesting to find out where you come from, I'm part of an unbroken line of mothers going back 440 generations to a woman who lived about 11,000 years ago in either England or Ireland, I also share the same maternal haplo group as Cheddar man😁
Cornovi, same name as the tribe that gave its name to Cornwall. It's capital was Viroconium, The Viroc part of the name survives in a couple of places such as Wroxeter and Wrekin. Viroconium is thought to mean hound man or similar, even werewolf.
Not so. I visited the real battlesite on the Coventry ring road. I am an archaeologist. The Ninth Legion met her near Stamford in the Midlands. They tried to parley but were met with a raging mob of angry Britons. Prasutagus was poisoned by moneyers.
I’m learning more & more that the traditions and practices that were handed down in my family are quite British, leaning toward the Welsh & Cornish. Things like manners, etiquette, holiday traditions, religion, etc. Cunningham, Murray, Morris, Montgomery, Chase, Miller, Wheeler, Petty are some of the surnames I’ve traced back to the 1400s, according to genealogy research. ❤
I hope some day you can visit the original St Albans. It's a lovely place, there is more to it than Roman remains (though those are interesting). There is the great Abbey (now a cathedral), dedicated to Alban the Christian martyr, built from salvaged Roman bricks. And something I've never seen elsewhere in England, though I have in Italy -- on summer evenings the people of the town "promenade" around the Abbey park.
An interesting subject, have you read Graham Webters book Boudica, it says the last battle site may have been at Fenny Drayton all so along Watling street, a place I have just visited just to see and get a feel, its close to another famous battle site, Bosworth Battlefield, its an interesting read
Not terribly convinced by either of those theories (especially not the second), but they're definitely interesting to think about. Armies in ancient times often didn't have access to good maps, so the sites of battles weren't usually hugely pre-planned, just the best terrain available within a short distance from where the armies bumped into eachother. Also, the modern strength and courses of rivers are not always the same as they were hundreds of years ago. Lots of our rivers have been diverted and drained to supply water for human use. Some have even disappeared completely. It'd still be great to know where Boudica's last battle could have happened, wherever that is!
Ah yes, however Tacitus describes Suetonius as wanted at least 2 days March before a battle. With his knowledge of the road system I guess this is a theory that aimed to support that distance
@@pwhitewick Tacitus was writing years later, based on the best reports that managed to make it back to Rome. He doesn't spend that long talking about the whole rebellion anyway. So there's a lot of guess work involved at every stage. Thanks for showing us these fantastic places, no matter what their historical significance!
That theatre in Saint Albans looks more like a modern theatre because it was a theatre. No blood and guts there (well not as much), it's towards the centre of the City, a later build than the city destroyed by Boudicca, and was for plays rather than fights.
I've read recently she was buried under a MacDonalds ( formerly the Cartland Arms Pubs) on Parsons Hill Kings Norton Birmingham, how true this I have no idea.
John Peggs investigations of the Church Stowe location are for me pretty convincing and very plausible. They do match up nicely with Tacitus’ description…Another good video but this issue will rumble on for another few millennia in all probability…
@@pwhitewick I can't see a mention of the fort. He mentions hoarding, which is the most likely considering the volume of shot that has come from a single hectare. Slung shot would have a far wider distribution and not all be concentred within the confines of the fort as the Windridge finds are. Duncan discusses Shepherd Frere's work but omits his view that Mancetter or a site North West of Towcester (Church Stowe) were the leading candidates for the battle site. I'm never likely to be fair to Duncan to be fair....
Maybe cause It has been created and built by the romans Who tought them a language today forgotten that gave you all more than 50.000 words in your current dictionary, the basement of your law system and brought to the island the best of the science and culture available those centuries, letting evolving from shepards to something better as society.
@@piersp38 what a load of rubbish. There was a culture before the Romans appeared, you neglect to mention the brutality they enriched other people with. Cherry picking like that very much weakens any argument.
@@leejames1792 The only rubbish Here Is you mixing a 21st century mindset with quite 90 generations ago men that were all but " democratic" as your way of thinking today . By abusing more of the Classic " whataboutism" think to and till only last century, did your empire shine of the light of the freedom, kindness and democracy wherever in Africa , America , SEA and Australia It went? No brutalities there I suppose ...Maybe Is better you frequent more the National gallery or the British Museum to understand how useless your comment was .
Really well done with this production. I know a lot of time and effort has gone into this so a really good and polished video was the result. Excellent stuff.
I'm always amazed at how small England is. 80 miles and you practically cross half the country. 80 miles is hardly outside my front garden here in Australia.
There is a current Welsh girl's name "Buddig" (pronounced "Bithig" with the i's pronounced as in 'tin') which is the equivalent of the Latinised "Boudica" and can be roughly translated into modern English as "Victoria" (Latin again!)
I didn't realise that a bust of Suetonius Paulinus was in existence. I thought he disappeared from history after the civil wars that followed Nero's death.😊 great presentation thank you.
I was always of the opinion that the battle took place further north, on the track back towards Wroxeter but given that Seutonius had already reached Londinium he could have departed in any direction, perhaps dangling the potential prizes of Calleva and Corinium before the rebels. Makes sense as it’s also towards (although a long way from) Isca and the 2nd Augusta legion, especially if he thought that they were marching east to join him. One minor point, Boudicca’s revolt took place within Tacitus’ lifetime. He could have met men who were there.
Thanks Mike. Yes, I had Tacitus down as something like AD160, no clue why. I wish the account would have been more detailed, especially considering it was in living memory.
Something I'm intrigued by is the fact that the Iceni would have be tramping through various other tribal lands and I wonder how this would have gone down, were they pro Roman or not, etc.? Or were they the spearhead of a far wider rebellion against the Romans?
One common error is the presumption of some kind of bridge over the River Lee. There's no sign of straight roads between London and Colchester, but there is if you turn inland, Chelmsford-Epping-Waltham and pick up the ridgeway behind Trent Park, And then you start picking up old palaces, Elsynge, Camlet Moat, until you get to St Albans. Ermine Street hugs the west bank of the Lee up to Waltham. Is there hard evidence of roads in the marshlands? That then puts a different complexion on the pivotal positioning of St Albans.
I was under the impression from the description of the historical texts that the most likely site of the battle was near the roman settlement of Mancetter on the A5 in North Warwickshire as you have the steep wooded ridge of Baddesley on one side and the marshland of Witherley and River Avon on the other
Often thought the Ridgeway being the Romans M4 of the day was clearly in contention for being near this decisive battle. They would have been aquatinted with the surrounding areas and what suited them best for battle. Boudicca could also have underestimated the link of the local tribes of the area( Belgae, Atrebates and Durotriges) to the Romans thinking they would be anti Roman and perhaps swell the Iceni numbers whereas they could have just decided not to join with the Iceni and let them be decimated. Wiltshire has always been a site of many decisive battles since so perhaps it came from some ancient race memory from this time passed down. Keep up the great work.
This is an astonishing edit, Paul. A lot of work and attention to detail. Flabbergasted by Kay’s work - what a star he is. Surprised to see a Wiltshire location suggested, but he’s making a strong case. Only digging will settle it, I guess. Whilst the site near St. Albans feels right, the slingshot finds seem small in number for a battle of this size. I hope you enjoyed your visit to St. Albans - I’m very fond of the Roman remains there and they’re probably responsible for my interest in Roman Britain.
Great research, very informative, would love to learn more. But one point; Water flow would have been different in Roman Times because the weather was different. The battle area needs to be covered many times by a group dig by metal detectorists which would show if any battle had taken place there! Arrow heads, sling shots, spear heads etc could be found to give a good indication. Also the Roman camp would leave traces metal detectorists could find.
She was part of a giant riot in which became a huge blood bath to local civilians . It never had a chance of kicking out the Romans once the Legions proper reached her.
Brilliant vid! Haven't got time to read all the book and paper, but have they taken into account the current theory the battle occured on Watling Street near Atherstone Warwickshire? This was mentioned in the documentary "Celts Blood Iron and Sacrifice" by Neil Oliver and Prof Alice Roberts
Tacitus was writing only about fifty years after the Iceni revolt and his father in law Agricola had been governor of Britain a few years after it, so Tacitus's information is likely to be fairly accurate, albeit from a Roman point of view.
I think you need to look at where Boudicca went or would have gone after her successes at London and St.Albans. Suetonius would have tried to cut off her escape. She would certainly have known that the legions were coming for her. Maybe try to get back to familiar territory in Norfolk?
@@pwhitewickAlthough she was supposed to have had good support and outnumber the Romans, I don't think that she would have wanted a direct confrontation with the legions if she could avoid it.
Really excellent video! It would have been interesting if you could have said how closely (or not!) Steve Kaye's principles would have applied to Duncan Mackay's choice of Windridge Farm for the site of the battle (which I assume that Boudica lost?!)...
Enjoyed the video. I think a factor of consideration would be the miles per day a roman army could make from Anglesey to whichever location for battle and how quick boudicca and her army moved from colchester to St Albans? That may be a good way of listing possible locations for battle?
Brilliant vid as always. Im only 9minutes in, and i have a question. The Roman road Watling Street heading N.W, did it go for hundreds of miles all the way through to the Northen towns?
Duncan Mackay's book: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1399714147/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Steve Kaye's Paper: www.bandaarcgeophysics.co.uk/arch/boudica-template/Boudica_template.xhtml
Fantastic piece of work by Steve Kaye, thanks for link!!
Interesting, I read somewhere some time ago, that the battle took place at a V shape battlefield, a road ran between woods, the Romans were at the bottom of the V
I was born in St. Alban's but moved to Devon when I was 4 in 1968.
At 8:35 you catch the bells of the cathedral. I was christened there (didn't work, staunch atheist, always have been) & my first infant school / kindergarten was in the cathedral too.
Verulamium park & the style of those houses on that crescent street tugged at the mists slightly but the sound of those bells brought back a flood of images.
Thank you! My parents aren't with me anymore, no one to ask about my first four years there.
Never tire of hearing the storys of Boudica, but youv smashed this one paul, very very well done 💪
As ever, Paul, this film was excellent.
I have to say, I am astonished that someone has suggested that the site of the elusive Battle of Watling Street is in Wiltshire! Talk about a diversion. The common view is that it was likely to be somewhere in the Midlands. The story I grew up with was that the Romans were coming down from sacking Mona (Anglesey) when they encountered the Celts. Mind you, given the scale of the slaughter that took place that day, it's odd that nobody has ever found much evidence of the battle. A similar lack of physical evidence also surrounds the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Both of these events are pivotal to our history.
These were my thoughts. However Tacitus does say that Suetonius marched back to London, but decided not to defend it and pulled out. Boudica proceeded to sack both London and St Albans. Then came the decisive battle. The context suggests, this was not very far from St Albans, certainly not as far as Wiltshire. Dunstable seems as likely as anywhere. The crossroads of Watling Street and the Icknield Way is the centre of the town to this day. I've often fancifully speculated, that by selecting this location Suetonius gave the Iceni tribesmen an obvious line of retreat.
I can't see any sign of a river in Dunstable. My guess is the Romans peeled off Watling Street up the road to the Iceni homeland. It would explain the Medbourne hoard and possibly the battlefield under what is now Leicester. The horses were taken to the Lunt at Coventry, so I wouldn't have thought the battle was fought so very far away.
@@julianstanley5036 The battle didn't have to be in Dunstable itself. True, most sources put it farther up Watling Street. However, the quickest way home for the Iceni was certainly the Icknield Way. Also, the westward continuation from Dunstable via Tring (modern B489) is Akeman Street, which would be an approach route for the dilatory Second Legion. Again, sink-hole pools are fairly common in these regions, such as the source of the river Lea in nearby Leagrave, Luton. Just idle speculation!
@@pwmiles56 The Britons were backed up against a substantial river that couldn't be forded. Dunstable looks like more of a watershed area.
@@julianstanley5036Tacitus doesn't mention a river that I can see. Yes, Dunstable is near the Chiltern watershed. A little further on and you are into the Great Ouse floodplain with north-flowing streams. Bear in mind the modern hydrography is different, many watercourses have dried up because of abstraction by water companies. So I think the "river" criterion is overdone. Heck, Suetonius might have cunningly retreated 80 miles from St Albans to Mancetter with the Britons on his heels, as many seem to believe. Towcester (40 miles) has its adherents. Who knows?
Thank you the walking talking video this day. Always easy to formulate the conversation with the scene. The conversation makes sense upon analysis of the subject. Hello to Rebecca and see you on the next! Enjoy the week ahead, Paul. 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸
That glorious valley is where Boudicca fought her last fight. Absolutely stunning location!!
Hugely professional production, enjoyed this
In France there’s kind of an equivalent character who led the fight and lost against the Romans at about the same sort of time. He’s still revered here - Vercingetorix - and we know where his battlefield was, at the plateau de Gergovie, just outside Clermont Ferrand, with extinct volcanoes all around - dramatic landscape!
His name is known and respected in Britain too.
About 100 years earlier.
Any relation to Astorix?
Alesia.
Is death was shown in HBOs Rome tv show.
Mancetter, on the A5 between Tamworth and Hinckley as been touted as a good location for the battle. And just south of Coventry, a Fort called The Lunt was constructed, which included a corral for the breaking of captured Iceni horses.
Yup, I think this definitely has merit.
Indeed, her last battle was supposed to be somewhere along Watling Street against the Roman army returning from Anglesey.
I live a stones throw from Mancetter & often go walking around there after work. When I was at school, we were told a battle happened there in Roman times, I need to find out more info!
Yep mancetter in-between atherstone and Nuneaton. They say the battle was by ...The Beehive Cottage..and the land by it.
@@glenndouglas8822 I'd like to see some evidence for any some at all to be honest
Fascinating, well-researched account of these momentus and bloody series of events, when the Roman's nearly lost this part of their empire. Well done!
Absolutely wow Paul. A mini epic. I wish I had popcorn available. Great work. Can't wait for next week
One of my absolute favourite debates in the study of Roman Britain, and this is a really great video. Thanks for the links too. Wherever the site actually is, it must still be littered with so many objects and human remains from the battle. But I tend to agree that we may not live long enough to see it found. But a superb watch all the same. I am busy emailing the link to friends and colleagues! All the best, and thank you. Oh, and yes please: more Roman subjects please!
Thanks Julian. Very kind of you
The wessex location rather than Watling St is very compelling.
Put yourself in Paulinus's shoes.
Having rushed back from Mona, he didn't feel strong enough to confront the rebels. He abandoned London and StAlbans to their fate.
There's little point retracing his steps up Watling St, the northern Legio had already dispatched a flying column and it had been wiped out.
He would have gathered up what he could on his march on London and what he could in the south east.
It makes total sense to go west, shield the Roman possessions there and hope for the reinforcements sent for from Exeter to arrive.
They were never sent.
So he made a stand on a battlefield of his choosing.
The Britons primarily from the eastern tribes had already sacked Colchester. StAlbans and London.
I bet many had slipped away with their booty having had their fun.
Others would have been drawn to the party for sure, but probably more looter types than warrior types.
Having marched to Anglesey, probably in military order, and then force marched back to London in a hostile countryside, formenting with rebellion, at a pace to stay ahead of the mob, once he knew no help was coming from Isca it made total sense to pick his spot rest his troops amd prepare and await the mob.
But would he retire along the Ermine way ?
This was a long established british pathway possibly established by the Iceni.
Having resupplied in London before setting out a three - or four day speed march with a cavalry screen to the rear and engineers going ahead to find the spot is very logical.
Given his obvious competence and forethought, he must of contemplated a defeat, in which case what would his line of retreat been, if only for himself and his officers ?
Surely Calleva (Sillchester) would have made sense. It would have been a good point for any Exeter reinforcements to head to.
sandals tho
@@neatchipops3428 roman calligae are more of a a tough boot with slits and iron pointy hobnails
@@neatchipops3428Ummmm, not exactly
Problem for the Boudica yarn is that the Romans disarmed the population years prior.
Just a Tacitus tale.
@@adamrudling1339they were good enough to barely change in design for almost 400 years.
Bloody amazing work.Its like a professional TV production.I watch lots of your vids 10/10 for effort.
Excellent work sir, and can I also applaud your placement of the adverts at the end of each part rather than half way through a sentence as so many TH-camrs do!
Oh, just one more thing - rivers will have changed over the last 2000 years - surely using this as a search criteria is riddled with issues?
Rivers changed for sure, though in a way that was.... less managed. The broad courses owing to the landscape, by and large much the same depending on perception.
@@pwhitewick - that’s broadly true but if you think about rivers like the Rother in Kent / East Sussex which had its course changed by about 10 miles due to one storm in the 14th century, there are certainly anomalies
Another excellent video Paul! I was in St Albans yesterday and even ran past Windridge Farm on my way home. I didn't realise that could have been the site of Boudica's last stand. Always learning 😀
Very cool!
Running out of superlatives for your videos Paul! Yet another excellent production and I am already looking forward to the follow up! ……Please!
Having been born and bred in St Albans this brought back many memories of studying the Rpmans. Many thanks Paul for the returned memories after 60 years!
A pleasure. Thank you.
Great video, such an interesting subject. Reading Steve Kaye's paper just demonstrates why the Roman army had no match in those days. I doubt the Iceni even thought about water supply and the fact it meant they would have to base themselves nearer large water supplies and then march to the battle. this would have given Suetonius the upper hand as the Iceni were not used to these types of long distance battles. Very clever the Romans, thanks for the really well put together piece, Paul.
Greatly enjoyed again, Paul! I can smell the grass, feel the mud and hear the leaves blowing! Greetings from Melbourne, Australia. 🤠
Your attribution of Duncan Mackay & Steve Kaye & their research methods & rationale sparked your interest to investigate for yourself and put us upon, or near, the field of battle. Your presentations bring the depth of historic research methods rarely taught. I always learn something. Well done, Sir.
That was very, very interesting.
I heard of Boudica before, of course, but I didn't know that the exact location of the battle was not really known.
Of course it reminds me of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. The location of that was only narrowed down a few years ago.
Hopefully the exact location of the last Battle of Boudica will reveal itselv one day. It's somehow important for modern nations to know where those, who lived on their modern areas 2k yaers ago, fought against the Romans.
❤
PS: More long videos!
Your voice is so nice to listen to! It’s one of the reasons, besides your enthusiastic and learned walks that we go on with you, that I like watching your videos from all the way over here in Montana. I wish all narrators had such a nice voice.
Thanks so much 😊
Wow! I learnt a lot tonight. I wish they taught history at school like this when I was a student a few decades ago. Thanks for this video 👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
hello again Paul , yet another great and very interesting video, really enjoyed this , well done and thank you 😊
I feel that the spirit Boudica is rising in many of us right now.
In many? Righto then. Carry on...
Lol. Fuck off with your right wing politics. This channel is A political.
As an Englishman I prefer king Alfred.
It's too late. We have already been assimilated.
In many countries we certainly being legislated into getting into touch with our feminine side. 🙄😉😊
I enjoyed this and have posted on my history group-Thank you Paul !
Thanks James
Two ancient battles changed the course of history for Britain for the worse, one was Boudicca's defeat in Wiltshire and the other was the battle of Hastings. From 1066 on the British people were slaves and have remained so.
What an entertaining way to educate! Fascinating from start to end. Many thanks. 👏👍
Our pleasure!
I give it a thumbs up for using the word "albeit", which I learned in high school and have only seen twice in the ensuing 60 years
Living, working in and around StAlbans for almost 35 years, ive had many questions re the Iceni uprising, especially since 96 , when excavations required us to go deeper than most people have since wheeler, maybe Frere
We went down to the pre Roman archaeology, when it was the capital settlement of the catuvellauni .
It was in the very centre of the Roman city, which gave us an opportunity to look at the earliest Roman layers including the destruction attributed to the time of the Iceni uprising, a thin very thin layer of burnt wood/ plaster and very patchy.
I havnt read mr Mckay book, ive never looked into the possibilities of the last battle site .
But im surprised that he talks about 100k rebels !!
Because i have always wondered Who the other tribes were that supposedly joined the Iceni.
Historians say 'the Iceni with the trinovantes attacked colchester' !?
As if it was a place unrelated to the trinovantes, when we know it was in fact their main settlement.
The temple and new city ( just like verulamium) had most of their inhabitants living outside and around the new city many waiting for work to finish so they could move in, meanwhile the rest continued living in their original homes, roundhouses,
The Iceni, as district archaeologist for colchester P.Crummy has proven over the decades that the whole place beyond the Roman , the whole trinovante settlement
was destroyed and its people killed, inc women babies children.
It was not a focused attack on the new Roman building's but the whole trinovante settlement.
Which makes archaeologists, Crummy and others question the historical idea of trinovante involvement, why would a people who have just witnessed their own settlement and people killed maimed etc , join those guilty of killing them?
The trinovantes were a much larger tribe than the Iceni, they would've considered each other as outsiders.
There's no record or mention of the trinovantes 20 years after the Roman invasion being unhappy with their lives , no minor incidents ( unlike the iceni) nothing at all to suggest they felt oppressed or treated badly , the archaeology shows more land was farmed etc buisness was good.
Just like it was for the catuvellauni.
Who btw both fought against the invading Roman's .
But 20 years after were prospering.
Colchester and the lands south to the Thames belonged was occupied by people of the trinovantes.
Further west the land from the Thames north to verulamium and into Northamptonshire's Cambridgeshire was occupied by catuvellauni, before and after the Roman invasion the people were the same.
From the Midlands to the south the Romans had no forts or garrisons scouring the land, they were further north because they had nothing to worry about, the people fought lost made peace when the realised thet weren't going to be sold as slaves or lose their lands and were given positions of status, they had accepted the new ways and weren't on the verge of rebellion.
Ive read, studied archaeological reports and i can't come up with any ideas about who the tribespeople were that would have joined the Iceni ( up to 100.000)
I ask where did they come from , considering verulamium had a population of around 3/4000 , the trinovantes about the same.
100k rebels, it's a lot of people, even if it included wives children..
70k killed ? Again i ask who from where ?
When they only attacked trinovante and catuvellauni territory.
Recent GPR results ( Kris Lockyear) verulamium and around highlight verulamium, at it height, the largest and many buildings were not inhabited by the public, they were temples, the huge basilica/ forum , theatre and market place, a large portion of the SW was stables and animal enclosures.
The remaining insulae, the public buildings were large villas with fancy gardens and not crammed with tenements 3 stories high..
The numbers don't stack up , but there's a lot to the whole story that doesn't make sense.
A quick example, StAlbans during the 1800s ( a much larger town than verulamium) only had 3000 inhabitants.
Colchester roughly the same.
I just think about the Vikings, and what they achieved with just 1000 men ..
Took almost half of England..
Or i think of th numbers killed at Waterloo, muskets, rifles, cannons solid and explosive shells , yet only something like 30k were killed.
I find it impossible to believe the Iceni killed more than that ,
A 1000 armed warriors could/ did ( in the case of the Vikings) do a lot of damage especially when nobody is expecting it .
🤔 so many unanswered questions..
Love your video's btw 😊
Wow. Thank you. 😊 ok... so yes... when I read about the towns being taken, I did ponder... who were those killed... it does assume a completely different culture / person, though the iron age people already here. Just under a different rule.
So on the assumption, Suetonius had 10k (?) And Boudica.... maybe a 1 to 5k... this really does change things. And why would Tacitus write "Suetonius and his 10k.strong legions successfully defeated 319 iceni"
@@pwhitewick Our Fearless Leader Donald would like to know if someone could adapt the Tacitus spin for his use. 🤔😜🤣🤣
Great comment for thought. Yes, the Roman in charge would look like a complete incompetent fool for loosing to 500 Icini. It makes sense to yet again adjust the numbers to favor the victors.
Kev (?)....You have produced here a thoroughly enjoyable addition to this discussion, so many thanks! But a small gripe, if you will allow me: there could not or would not have been an 'amount' of casualties at Waterloo (or anywhere)...but a 'number', yes...(cf a number of bricks...but an amount of mortar...etc, etc, etc).
@@bryangallagher4690 I'm pleased you read and enjoyed my post , which goes against the standard accepted version of historical accounts regarding the uprising.
Of course you are right ( I've since edited and changed my wording) admittedly my use/ abuse of the English language is sadly not uncommon.
But regarding the main topic do you have any thoughts , agreements or disagreements about the main points I make regarding the numbers supposedly involved ?
Or ideas about the battle site ?
If the Iceni did continue following the watling street after leaving verulamium, I believe it must've ended somewhere between verulamium and before Dunstable, considering the settlement & Roman buildings ( dating to a couple of years afte the main invasion) built up around the main / important crossroads after many excavations over the years have turned up no evidence whatsoever of any destruction, burning etc from the time of the uprising.
Which had the Iceni gone through the town would have surely destroyed it as they did with verulamium..
Thats if they did keep to the watling street after leaving verulamium of course.
I've driven along the A5 many times and there are several places I would love to field walk and put a few trial trenches in.
If I had the money I would happily use my spare time searching.
But ,, a lack of ££££ , maybe I'll win the lottery :)
16:15 - It's amazing what the Romans accomplished, despite always marching in slow motion!
Thanks for this, I knew her name but really didn't know her story, I don't think I could have pronounced it correctly either!! I'll just have to stay in the dunce's corner!!
Thoroughly enjoyed watching, and being educated!!
One of your best productions, well done!!
All the best!!
Brilliant...! Now, time to start digging at Ogbourne...!
Ogborne or Ogborne.....Og, Och, Ach....etc... I recommend 'The Key' (but may be out of print) by a man called Cohen.....about repeated instances of a handful of significant elements in place-names especially. (q.v. 'Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war...' in Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar'...Ava plus Og....and so on...)
I am a hopeless reader and was thrilled to find Duncan Mackays book on Audible. Narrated by himself
Excellent news.
Oh nice! I'm definitely going to get that one
I really enjoy your show.. you should be picked up and given a team and more funds.. So talented... Your hard work made another great upload! Thank you
Thank you, very kind.
Another GREAT video...full of interest facts and thought provoking. Huge thanks as always. She was a very powerful woman! Not to be ignored!😊😊😊😊
😊
A brilliant video presentation thanks. Graphics, background music, editing and yourself narrating combined with a fascinating puzzle.
Many thanks!
This is how Tacitus describes what the battlefield looked like. "He, Suertonius Paulinus, chose a position approached by a narrow defile, closed in at the rear by a forest, having first ascertained that there was not a soldier of the enemy except in his front, where an open plain extended without any danger from ambuscades. The English actually brought with them, to witness the victory, their wives riding in wagons, which they had placed on the extreme border of the plain."
The location of the battle seemed to take place in a valley that goes into mountainous area and it didn't seem possible to bypass the valley. Outside the valley was a large open field where the English placed their families in wagons behind their army to view the battle. The wagons appeared to be lined up roughly parallel to the Roman position in the valley.
Which place in central England, north of St Albans, Boudicca's last known position, meets these requirements? At the town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire, a valley enters the Chilterns. The valley is bounded on the east by Boddington Hill and on the west by Bacombe Hill. To the east the Chilterns spread out. To the north, a large open plain spreads out. About 6 km north of Wendover runs the A41 road, which is built on an older Roman road, Akeman street. If you think that the Chilterns, 2000 years ago, were a large inaccessible area, then you have your flanks and back protected here. Akeman Street ran southeast towards St Albans and London.
So the scenario is as follows: Suertonius Paulinus has decided to bet everything on a decisive blow. He looks for the most suitable place in the immediate area. The Romans drew up their army in a line between Boddington and Bacombe hills, with their front to the north, and awaited the English. Boudicca, with her army, moves from St Albans via Akeman street and takes up a position north of the Roman battle line. The battle begins, the English attack the Romans in the valley but are driven back and crushed against their own wagons which are drawn up behind them on Akeman street somewhere between Aylesbury and Buckland.
This location should definitely be investigated for anyone who feels compelled to solve where the Battle of Watling Street is located.
Worth remembering the romans were metal amored, we were not. They simply had better technology.
Fascinating story, Paul. Well done and thank you again.
I believe the site to be in the vicinity of Woburn, just north of Leighton Buzzard and just off Watling street, Maybe the Romans utilized an old Iron age fort there too, description of terrain apply as well.
Love this channel, well presented and interesting content. The idear that Boudicca's last battle was near Marlborough because there is a story that Boudicca is buried on Birdlip hill with her daughter's.
Now I wonder if there's any old local folklore stories of a great battle in the O St. G area. I find it hard to imagine that such a significant event wouldn't leave, at least, an echo.
Anything by way of archaeological finds? Presumably the Romans would have erected a marching camp and it would be a big one based on the size of their forces. Likely two, one for each legion and maybe forming the anchor points of a defensive battle line? At a significant numerical disadvantage I would imagine the Romans would look to let the British horde expend itself, at least initially, in attacking defensive positions.
Great work, as always, Paul. If not already, you are in danger of becoming an archaeological 'institution', like our beloved, Time Team 😁👍
Thank you David.
Another great video from you. Great to see you back in st albans. Fascinating story. I think after Boudicca verulamium was rebuilt and heavily fortified, so the ruins you see today are probably because of Boudicca's revolt.
Ah that makes sense. I think a lot of additional fortifications came later in the Roman period.
Yes, the main walls were finished towards the end of the 3rd century .
That was cracking and so well done. It'd be cool to try some simple archaeology just to get a feel for whether they were or weren't the sites of Boudicca's stand.
You’ve set your personal bar pretty darned high with this one! Production, editing, graphics, all brilliant imo.
Thank you. Very kind.
How about all the evidence of Boudicca's alleged last stand south of Polesworth in south Staffordshire.It's also pretty close to Watling Street.It's also a lot closer to the Iceni homelands.
Perhaps a reason why it wasn't there. Suetonius might have seen that as a bad idea.
Wow just read this I live in Polesworth legend does say this was the battlefield
In 1980 I met a man in a bookshop between Virginia Water and Egham in Surrey. He came in asking questions of Boudicca and local history. He was convinced that she had been at Runnymede and that was the last battle!
I wish I knew who was.
Very interesting video mate 👍 🍻 🍻
Wow what an amazing history lesson. That was so interesting. Thank you for all your deep research. Enjoyed that journey. Thank you.
Our pleasure!
I have to say I still prefer the initial spelling and pronunciation of Boadicea. It has a more assertive and no-nonsense vibe about it! Like the Warrior Queen herself, eh! 🙋👌🏴🇮🇪🙏⚖️
Great video, with computers, GPS and satellite imaging the perfect site can't be found, i'd be inclined to think he knew Boudicca wasn't far behind came across a site he could defend and made his stand.
Great video really enjoyed it, just outside of Aldershot just off the A31 (Hogs Back) of Hampshire which is a ridge is a field that back in the 70s a dog walker found thousands of coins coins. The field was closed to the public whilst a dig was conducted. I was told it was the last battle Boudicca had 30 miles outside of London this video really put my fire out Lol
Appreciate the effort and the research that’s gone into these videos! Delightful to watch. Thanks, Paul!
Many thanks!
Really enjoy the locations and your research🎉
as a Towcester resident, I watch this with great interest and an open mind.
That's really interesting 🤔 as I'm sure we will find it at sometime in the future we seam to be getting closer to finding the place
Very good Paul. Excellent research and engaging presentation as usual.
Many thanks!
This possible site needs a metal detector survey doing on it, sling shot will be picked up quite deep with them being made of lead. Other bronze artifacts from 100000 celts would also be there.
I did a ancestry dna test apparently my ancestors were the Corvoni tribe of North west Midlands, which is where I still live😁 love our history.
I really need to try one of those!
@@pwhitewick it's really interesting to find out where you come from, I'm part of an unbroken line of mothers going back 440 generations to a woman who lived about 11,000 years ago in either England or Ireland, I also share the same maternal haplo group as Cheddar man😁
@@kathleenswift7979I certainly hope you have an unbroken line of mothers. If not, you would be a true biological oddity.
I'm sure her real name was Karen.
At least that's what the Romans thought.
Cornovi, same name as the tribe that gave its name to Cornwall. It's capital was Viroconium, The Viroc part of the name survives in a couple of places such as Wroxeter and Wrekin. Viroconium is thought to mean hound man or similar, even werewolf.
Not so. I visited the real battlesite on the Coventry ring road. I am an archaeologist. The Ninth Legion met her near Stamford in the Midlands. They tried to parley but were met with a raging mob of angry Britons. Prasutagus was poisoned by moneyers.
I live in a town named St. Albans! It’s in the Kanawha River Valley at the mouth of the Coal (originally Cole) River in West Virginia, USA 🇺🇸✌️❤️
I’m learning more & more that the traditions and practices that were handed down in my family are quite British, leaning toward the Welsh & Cornish. Things like manners, etiquette, holiday traditions, religion, etc. Cunningham, Murray, Morris, Montgomery, Chase, Miller, Wheeler, Petty are some of the surnames I’ve traced back to the 1400s, according to genealogy research. ❤
I hope some day you can visit the original St Albans. It's a lovely place, there is more to it than Roman remains (though those are interesting). There is the great Abbey (now a cathedral), dedicated to Alban the Christian martyr, built from salvaged Roman bricks. And something I've never seen elsewhere in England, though I have in Italy -- on summer evenings the people of the town "promenade" around the Abbey park.
An interesting subject, have you read Graham Webters book Boudica, it says the last battle site may have been at Fenny Drayton all so along Watling street, a place I have just visited just to see and get a feel, its close to another famous battle site, Bosworth Battlefield, its an interesting read
Well researched, well quoted, intelligently scripted. You create an interesting narrative out of FACTS. Great work!!❤
Thank you. Absolutely the goal.
Not terribly convinced by either of those theories (especially not the second), but they're definitely interesting to think about. Armies in ancient times often didn't have access to good maps, so the sites of battles weren't usually hugely pre-planned, just the best terrain available within a short distance from where the armies bumped into eachother. Also, the modern strength and courses of rivers are not always the same as they were hundreds of years ago. Lots of our rivers have been diverted and drained to supply water for human use. Some have even disappeared completely. It'd still be great to know where Boudica's last battle could have happened, wherever that is!
Ah yes, however Tacitus describes Suetonius as wanted at least 2 days March before a battle. With his knowledge of the road system I guess this is a theory that aimed to support that distance
@@pwhitewick Tacitus was writing years later, based on the best reports that managed to make it back to Rome. He doesn't spend that long talking about the whole rebellion anyway. So there's a lot of guess work involved at every stage.
Thanks for showing us these fantastic places, no matter what their historical significance!
That theatre in Saint Albans looks more like a modern theatre because it was a theatre. No blood and guts there (well not as much), it's towards the centre of the City, a later build than the city destroyed by Boudicca, and was for plays rather than fights.
I've read recently she was buried under a MacDonalds ( formerly the Cartland Arms Pubs) on Parsons Hill Kings Norton Birmingham, how true this I have no idea.
Good name for a hill!
Surely under Platform 10 at Kings Cross in London?…………
Highly unlikely but I wouldn't be surprised if the pub was named after a later legend claiming she was buried there.
Its a huge work to know where every creek was 2000 years ago.
Just superb I could watch your videos 24/7.🤙🏻
Wow how exciting was that. Gotta love history. Thanks for that. Please take care
John Peggs investigations of the Church Stowe location are for me pretty convincing and very plausible. They do match up nicely with Tacitus’ description…Another good video but this issue will rumble on for another few millennia in all probability…
I am sure you are right
the same John Pegg that found a first century Roman Fort at Windridge Farm which would account for the lead shot cache
@@stalkingboudicca7665 and to be fair to Duncan Mackay, he does discuss this.
@@pwhitewick I can't see a mention of the fort. He mentions hoarding, which is the most likely considering the volume of shot that has come from a single hectare. Slung shot would have a far wider distribution and not all be concentred within the confines of the fort as the Windridge finds are. Duncan discusses Shepherd Frere's work but omits his view that Mancetter or a site North West of Towcester (Church Stowe) were the leading candidates for the battle site. I'm never likely to be fair to Duncan to be fair....
@@stalkingboudicca7665 Fair!
Now you've found the battle of Watling street, maybe have a quick nosey into the mythical battles of Arthur, a lot of which are vaguely located
6:05 London is as far as I know the only city to put up a statue in honour of the person that torched it (see the north side of Westminster Bridge).
Maybe cause It has been created and built by the romans Who tought them a language today forgotten that gave you all more than 50.000 words in your current dictionary, the basement of your law system and brought to the island the best of the science and culture available those centuries, letting evolving from shepards to something better as society.
@@piersp38 what a load of rubbish. There was a culture before the Romans appeared, you neglect to mention the brutality they enriched other people with. Cherry picking like that very much weakens any argument.
@@leejames1792 The only rubbish Here Is you mixing a 21st century mindset with quite 90 generations ago men that were all but " democratic" as your way of thinking today . By abusing more of the Classic " whataboutism" think to and till only last century, did your empire shine of the light of the freedom, kindness and democracy wherever in Africa , America , SEA and Australia It went? No brutalities there I suppose ...Maybe Is better you frequent more the National gallery or the British Museum to understand how useless your comment was .
Really well done with this production. I know a lot of time and effort has gone into this so a really good and polished video was the result. Excellent stuff.
I'm always amazed at how small England is. 80 miles and you practically cross half the country. 80 miles is hardly outside my front garden here in Australia.
Aye, but nobody lives there. 😂
I used to walk past some of that wall on the way to the playing fields. I went to St Albans School.
There is a current Welsh girl's name "Buddig" (pronounced "Bithig" with the i's pronounced as in 'tin') which is the equivalent of the Latinised "Boudica" and can be roughly translated into modern English as "Victoria" (Latin again!)
I didn't realise that a bust of Suetonius Paulinus was in existence. I thought he disappeared from history after the civil wars that followed Nero's death.😊 great presentation thank you.
Thank you.
Possibly the best video you have ever done, thus far, Holy cow, awesome.
Btw, bloody Romans what have they ever done for us?
You bloody lefty, love the show Graeme I left a super thanks to go towards the xmas fund , great entertainment
I was always of the opinion that the battle took place further north, on the track back towards Wroxeter but given that Seutonius had already reached Londinium he could have departed in any direction, perhaps dangling the potential prizes of Calleva and Corinium before the rebels. Makes sense as it’s also towards (although a long way from) Isca and the 2nd Augusta legion, especially if he thought that they were marching east to join him.
One minor point, Boudicca’s revolt took place within Tacitus’ lifetime. He could have met men who were there.
Thanks Mike. Yes, I had Tacitus down as something like AD160, no clue why. I wish the account would have been more detailed, especially considering it was in living memory.
Something I'm intrigued by is the fact that the Iceni would have be tramping through various other tribal lands and I wonder how this would have gone down, were they pro Roman or not, etc.? Or were they the spearhead of a far wider rebellion against the Romans?
One common error is the presumption of some kind of bridge over the River Lee. There's no sign of straight roads between London and Colchester, but there is if you turn inland, Chelmsford-Epping-Waltham and pick up the ridgeway behind Trent Park, And then you start picking up old palaces, Elsynge, Camlet Moat, until you get to St Albans. Ermine Street hugs the west bank of the Lee up to Waltham. Is there hard evidence of roads in the marshlands? That then puts a different complexion on the pivotal positioning of St Albans.
I was under the impression from the description of the historical texts that the most likely site of the battle was near the roman settlement of Mancetter on the A5 in North Warwickshire as you have the steep wooded ridge of Baddesley on one side and the marshland of Witherley and River Avon on the other
Thank you Paul for making this happen!
Cheers From California 😎
My pleasure!
Often thought the Ridgeway being the Romans M4 of the day was clearly in contention for being near this decisive battle. They would have been aquatinted with the surrounding areas and what suited them best for battle. Boudicca could also have underestimated the link of the local tribes of the area( Belgae, Atrebates and Durotriges) to the Romans thinking they would be anti Roman and perhaps swell the Iceni numbers whereas they could have just decided not to join with the Iceni and let them be decimated. Wiltshire has always been a site of many decisive battles since so perhaps it came from some ancient race memory from this time passed down.
Keep up the great work.
This is an astonishing edit, Paul. A lot of work and attention to detail.
Flabbergasted by Kay’s work - what a star he is. Surprised to see a Wiltshire location suggested, but he’s making a strong case. Only digging will settle it, I guess.
Whilst the site near St. Albans feels right, the slingshot finds seem small in number for a battle of this size.
I hope you enjoyed your visit to St. Albans - I’m very fond of the Roman remains there and they’re probably responsible for my interest in Roman Britain.
Great research, very informative, would love to learn more.
But one point; Water flow would have been different in Roman Times because the weather was different. The battle area needs to be covered many times by a group dig by metal detectorists which would show if any battle had taken place there! Arrow heads, sling shots, spear heads etc could be found to give a good indication. Also the Roman camp would leave traces metal detectorists could find.
I always understood that she died in a battle at Mancetter.
Yup. Which is the theory for sure. These are just two more. 😊
She was part of a giant riot in which became a huge blood bath to local civilians . It never had a chance of kicking out the Romans once the Legions proper reached her.
Yup. As I said at the start. Perhaps just delaying the inevitable.
She also levelled Chelmsford, then called Caesar Omagus, but people don't seem to bother much about Chelmsford.
Great video Paul. I wonder did Windridge Farm appear in any of Steve Kaye's lists?
That's a great question. I would imagine it did the in the 2015 study which found 2800 potentials.
Brilliant just brilliant well done Paul .🏴
Interesting episode. Off topic, but Paul reminds me, both in voice and looks, of "Nathaniel" in Ripper Street.
Brilliant vid!
Haven't got time to read all the book and paper, but have they taken into account the current theory the battle occured on Watling Street near Atherstone Warwickshire? This was mentioned in the documentary "Celts Blood Iron and Sacrifice" by Neil Oliver and Prof Alice Roberts
Alas nope. Just the two in this one.
Tacitus was writing only about fifty years after the Iceni revolt and his father in law Agricola had been governor of Britain a few years after it, so Tacitus's information is likely to be fairly accurate, albeit from a Roman point of view.
great video, again. Thanks for your rffort doing these.
A pleasure. Thanks Colin
I think you need to look at where Boudicca went or would have gone after her successes at London and St.Albans. Suetonius would have tried to cut off her escape. She would certainly have known that the legions were coming for her. Maybe try to get back to familiar territory in Norfolk?
Would she not have felt that they were fleeing her!? Every town she arrived at. They fled.
@@pwhitewickAlthough she was supposed to have had good support and outnumber the Romans, I don't think that she would have wanted a direct confrontation with the legions if she could avoid it.
@@matthewhaddon599 so she was after the towns and nothing else?
Really excellent video!
It would have been interesting if you could have said how closely (or not!) Steve Kaye's principles would have applied to Duncan Mackay's choice of Windridge Farm for the site of the battle (which I assume that Boudica lost?!)...
I missed a trick there didn't I! A few have asked this and embarrassingly I didn't look.
Enjoyed the video. I think a factor of consideration would be the miles per day a roman army could make from Anglesey to whichever location for battle and how quick boudicca and her army moved from colchester to St Albans? That may be a good way of listing possible locations for battle?
Excellent work, very interesting.
Many thanks!
Brilliant vid as always.
Im only 9minutes in, and i have a question.
The Roman road Watling Street heading N.W,
did it go for hundreds of miles all the way through to the Northen towns?
Ended up near Shrewsbury I think
@@pwhitewick want to send you 3 map pictures,
How can i do that Paul?
F.b messenger maybe?
@@bobjackson6524 email is on the website if that helps.