The Riddle of Boudica

The Roman occupation of Britain lasted over 350 years. Seventeen years after the Romans arrived in force in AD43, Queen Boudica led an uprising which resulted in the destruction of Colchester, London and St Albans. The rebellion was short lived and resulted in a harsh crackdown. Yet, in later years Roman rule was interrupted by several uprisings and incursions by the ‘natives’. Two hundred years after Boudica’s death part of the occupying Roman Army mutinied. One hundred years later the Roman Commander, Marcus Aurelius Carausius, proclaimed himself Emperor of an independent Britain. However, the insurrections were supressed, the mutiny put down, the usurper overthrown and Roman rule returned to more or less normal. Despite all the upheavals in the British Isles during Rome’s long tenure, we find it is only Boudica who is especially remembered. The Riddle of Boudica explores the ‘facts’ of the rebellion as known and examines the resultant heritage, legacy and mythology grown up around it and poses an intriguing What if? question.