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[[Image:Boudicastatue.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Statue of Boudica near Westminster Pier, London, with her two daughters upon a chariot.]]

[[Image:Boudicastatue.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Statue of Boudica near Westminster Pier, London, with her two daughters upon a chariot.]]

'''Boudica''' (also spelt Boudicea and Boudicca) (25-62) was the queen of the [[Iceni]] tribe of [[East Anglia]] in [[Celts|Celtic]] [[Britain]], in the area now known as East Anglia

'''Boudica''' (also spelled Boadicea and Boudicca) (25-62AD) was a queen of the [[Iceni]] during the reign of the Roman Emperor [[Nero]].  The Iceni were a [[Celts|Celtic]] tribe during the Roman occupation of [[Britain]] that inhabited the northern part of the area now known as East Anglia .  

during [[Nero]]'s reign.

Following the death of her husband Prasutagus, the Iceni ruler, Boudica was flogged on the orders of the new Roman Governor of Britain.  

Prasutagus, king of the Iceni, ruled as a nominally independent ally of Rome following [[Claudius]]'s conquest of Britain in 43 AD. When he died, he left his kingdom jointly to his wife, two daughters and the Roman Emperor. However, unlike the native Britons, Rome did not recognize female inheritance and annexed the kingdom.  Under the orders of the new Roman Governor of Britain, Prasutagus's widow, Boudica was flogged and her daughters [[rape]]d.  

She led a bloody revolt against the Romans, who had annexed her kingdom, disrespected her and [[rape]]d her daughters. Boudica slaughtered four [[Rome|Roman]] legions and razed (burnt) the [[Roman]] cities of Colchester (Camulodunum), St Albans (Verulamium) and [[London|Londinium]], so thoroughly that the thick layer of ash left is still clearly visible today.

While the Roman governor was distracted by a campaign against rebels on the island of [[Anglesey]] in north [[Wales]], Boudica led a revolt of the Iceni along with other native tribes. The [[Roman]] cities of [[Colchester]] (Camulodunum), [[St Albans]] (Verulamium) and [[London|Londinium]] were razed (burnt) so thoroughly that the thick layer of ash left is still clearly visible today. The [[Rome|Roman]] ninth legion was routed and between 70,000 and 80,000 civilians were said to have been killed.   

After her initial successes, routing the Roman ninth legion, the Roman forces rallied against the revolt and Boudica is said to have committed [[suicide]].[http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/boudica/boudicanrevolt.html]

After her initial successes, the Roman forces rallied against the revolt and engaged with the rebels in the Battle of Watling Street. Despite overwhelming numerical supremacy Boudica's disorganised army was defeated by the Roman's superior tactics.  It is said that following the defeat she committed suicide by taking poison<ref> [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/boudica/boudicanrevolt.html] Encyclopaedia Romana: Boudica</ref>.

She is usually depicted riding a [[chariot]] with [[scythe]]s attached to its wheels. [[Tacitus]] describes her sympathetically, stating that she was ''terrifying of mien'' and that she had red hair.

She is usually depicted riding a [[chariot]] with [[scythe]]s attached to its wheels. [[Tacitus]] describes her sympathetically, stating that she was ''terrifying of mien'' and that she had red hair.

[[Category:Women]]

[[Category:Women]]

[[Category:European History]]

[[Category:European History]]

[[Category:Political people]]

[[Category:Political people]]