Twenty years after the Romans had overcome the Iceni Celts on the island of Britain in 43 A.D., the Celtic king died and Queen Boudicca (from the Celtic word for “victory”) -- described by one Roman writer as very tall with fierce eyes and red hair to her knees -- got into an argument with her captors. Ill advisedly, some Roman soldiers, thinking they could teach her a lesson, beat her up and raped her two daughters. So Boudicca (who the Romans called “Boadicea," from which we get the word "bodacious" for brazen) returned the favor.
Amassing a force of warriors to attack and very nearly defeat the Roman army, Boudicca and her troops razed London to the ground and held the Romans at bay for six months -- longer than any other military leader ever -- pillaging the Roman settlements mercilessly for the duration, and leaving, it is said, as many as 70,000 bodies in their wake.
Celtic women always fought side by side with their men anyway, using swords and axes and renowned for their terrifying battle-cries. But in this case, the force was led by a woman, making the whole thing particularly embarrassing for the Romans, who were supposed to be the greatest fighting force in the world at that time. Somebody should have warned them she was an in-your-face woman.
This is my absolute favorite most badass woman to date. I love this blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks, MidnightAutumn. I think of these accounts as psychological vitamins. They strengthen my soul. (And increase the likelihood of my acting this way myself? Well...hey...sometimes a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do, right?) ;^)
DeletePsh, real cute. I think we are missing a crucial part of the revolt, the battle of watling street, where Gaius Seutonius Paulinus annihilated the Iceni force of about 90 or 10000 give or take a few. And Paulinus defeated her with only 10000 men, outnumbered about 8 to 1. Women have their moments in the sun for a brief time, but men are always in the sun, because men are born to be conquerors and soldiers.
DeleteAnd I don't see any women in history who can match Alexander the great, Caesar, Hannibal, Patton, Bohemond, Kahn, Ashoka, or Napoleon.
DeleteBut I must hand it to Boudicca, she has guts, but nobody can challenge the Romans and last very long. Much less a non-professional tribal rebel force.
DeleteI love this woman. Always have. And I didn't know that's where the word "bodacious" comes from!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the neighborhood, Momma Mary. She's one of my favorites, too.
Delete