Background
The Roman Empire, under Emperor Nero, had conquered much of Britain by the mid-first century AD. The Iceni tribe, located in what is now eastern England, had initially been treated with some respect by the Romans. Their king, Prasutagus, had maintained a tributary relationship with Rome, hoping to protect his people’s interests. However, after his death in AD 60, the situation quickly deteriorated.
Prasutagus had left his kingdom jointly to his daughters and the Roman emperor in his will, hoping to ensure a peaceful transition of power. But the Romans, led by the procurator Catus Decianus, ignored his will. They annexed the kingdom, seized its wealth, and treated the Iceni with extreme brutality. Boudica, Prasutagus’s widow, was flogged, and her daughters were raped by Roman officials. This mistreatment, coupled with the growing resentment against Roman oppression, led Boudica to ignite the revolt.
The Rebellion
In AD 60, Boudica raised an army of tribal warriors, numbering tens of thousands, and launched a series of attacks on Roman settlements. The rebels first targeted the city of Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester), a former capital of Roman Britain. The city was destroyed, and many Roman citizens were killed. The uprising then moved on to Londinium (modern-day London), which was also looted and burned to the ground, with many Roman citizens slaughtered in the process. The final target was Verulamium (now St Albans), which also fell to the rebels.
Boudica’s forces managed to inflict significant damage on Roman Britain. The rebellion posed a serious threat to Roman control over the province, and the empire responded with considerable force. shutdown123