Feminism in History: Boadicea ~ Warrior Princess of the Iceni

[QuietFawn]

...a terrible disaster occurred in Britain. Two cities were sacked, eighty thousand of the Romans and of their allies perished, and the island was lost to Rome. Moreover, all this ruin was brought upon the Romans by a woman, a fact which in itself caused them the greatest shame...

Boadicea (Boudicca, Boudica, Buddug) - born in 30 AD - was a mother, a wife, a queen and a warrior all in one. She led an army of great Celtic warriors against the Roman Empire and won, only to be cut down by the Romans' advanced military technology and weapons. Still, to this day she is known as a heroine of history, a brave voice for all women who look to her in pride. The mark she made on the world won't be forgotten. Boadicea managed to look past the expectancies of women during those times and led an army to war.

In the year 60 AD, when Boadicea was 27 years old, the Roman Empire proceeded to pillage the Iceni lands after the queen's husband attempted to form an alliance with the Legion. The soldiers publicly flogged Boadicea and her two daughters and raped them in front of their mother. Needless to say, this sparked anger with the Iceni people.

Not long after, Boadicea led her army of close to half a million warriors into what is known today as Colchester and demolished the entire city as revenge, killing the Roman troops stationed there. But she wasn't finished yet; Boadicea set her sights on modern-day London and burned it down as well. Any survivors who hadn't managed to escape were killed and beheaded, their heads attached to warriors' belts as warnings.

She was huge of frame, terrifying of aspect, and with a harsh voice. A great mass of bright red hair fell to her knees: She wore a great twisted golden necklace, and a tunic of many colors, over which was a thick mantle, fastened by a brooch. Now she grasped a spear, to strike fear into all who watched her…~ Dio, Roman History (LXII.1-2)

Now, with an army of 230,000, Boadicea moved onto St. Albans. Unfortunately, despite her large forces, the Iceni tribe could not withstand the Romans' advanced weapons and ballistae. Boadicea perished in battle alongside her troops. However, the queen's mark on the Roman Empire was so dismaying that Emperor Nero considered giving up on his British conquest.

Nearly 2,000 years later, Boadicea has become a legend among the Celts and all of modern day Britain as a woman who would not stand down as outsiders attacked and defiled her daughters, and did everything she possibly could to try to save her people. Thank you for your sacrifice Boadicea, lovely warrior queen. You'll not be forgotten <3

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