BOUDICA-WARRIOR WOMAN by Angie Skelhorn

BOUDICA-WARRIOR WOMAN by Angie Skelhorn

Boudica, also spelled Boudicca, formerly known as Boadiccea and known in Welsh as "Buddug" (60-61 CE) was a true woman warrior. Her name means “victory”. Boudica was a tall woman with long fiery red hair that hung down to her hips, a harsh voice, and a piercing glare. She was known to wear a large twisted gold necklace, a many-colored tunic and thick cloak fastened by a brooch. Boudica was of royal descent. She was queen of the Iceni tribe of what is now known as East Anglia. Boudica led an uprising of the tribes against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire. She and her supporters destroyed Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamiuym (St. Alban's). An estimated 70,000-80,000 people were killed.

The Iceni community farmed the land for centuries. The people could trace their ancestry to the area back for many centuries. They grew their own food, made their clothes and taught their children. They had plenty. They were well fed and stored what was needed. There was peace and comfort to the Iceni people's existence. Boudica's husband, King Prasutaqus, made a deal with Romans for independence for his nation. Iceni became a Clinet Kingdom to the Romans. King Prasutaqus lived well on borrowed money. When the King died peace was lost. Boudica's husband bequeathed his kingdom to his two daughters and his wife. The King's will was ignored. The Romans had no respect for Boudica as a leader or a conqueror. Romans gave no rights to women. Men owned them from birth to death. Roman law only allowed inheritance through the male bloodline. Boudica found herself alone in a man's world.

On a day unlike any other the Roman troops marched into Boudica's village and claimed everything for the Roman king. The soldiers searched out Boudica and her two daughters. Boudica was tied to a post and whipped mercilessly. The Queen's two daughters were captured by the Romans who had their way with them in the most wicked of manners. Boudica vowed revenge on the Romans for the brutal deeds done to her, her family and clan. The Queen was determined to destroy her enemies. Boudica found support from neighboring tribes. In her chariot overwhelmed revenge, she set in motion a revolt that will forever be remembered.

Boudica was equal to any man when it came to war. She and her army slaughtered their enemies as they headed from one target to the next. Not a single Roman defense stood in her path. Populations were wiped out and buildings burned to the ground to erase what the Romans had built in the name of progress. Earth magic was visible in her strategy. Boudica employed a form of divination as she continued forward. She invoked Andraste, a British goddess of victory, then released a hare from the folds of her dress and interpreted the direction in which the hare ran.

Many Neopagan sources describe the hare as sacred to Andraste. Queen Boudica would address Andraste, then give thanks for the omen of victory. "Let us, therefore, go against (the Romans), trusting boldly to good fortune. Let us show them that there are hares and foxes trying to rule over dogs and wolves." When Boudica finished speaking she let a hare escape from the folds of her dress; and since it ran to what was considered the auspicious side (left side, the auspicious; the right side, inauspicious), the whole multitude shouted with pleasure and Boudica, raising her arms toward the heavens, said, “I thank thee, Andraste, and call upon thee as woman speaking to woman, those over whom I rule are Britons, men that know not how to till the soil or ply a trade, but are thoroughly versed in the art of war and hold all things in common, even children and wives, so that the latter possess the same valor as the men. As the queen, then, of such men and such women, I supplicate and pray thee, victory, preservation of life, and liberty against men insolent, unjust, insatiable, impious."

The Roman governor, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, led the campaign to defeat Boudica. The very same Roman governor in 60 or 61 CE, also attacked the Druids on the island of Anglesy in North Wales. He killed all the men, women and children. The Roman's armor and weapons were perfected for the time. They took the best their enemies fought with and improved on the arms. Boudica's supporters fought with sharpened sticks, farm and household tools. Boudica stood in an open chariot with the reins in her hand led the revolt. She and her supporters made their way to Londinium (London) after defeating Camulodunum (Colchester), and Verulamium (St. Alban's). Gaius Suetonius Paulinus realized he didn't have enough resources to defeat Boudica so he abandoned the people to fend for themselves.

Boudica had no remorse. Everyone who stayed in Londinium (London) was put to the sword. Most Romans were hung from the crucifixes that themselves, had erected. She burnt Londinium (London) to the ground. Today beneath the city, there still lays a 13-foot layer of scorched soil from the fires that raged. After Boudica's victory, her overconfidence brought her downfall. Suetonius regrouped his forces in the West Midlands. Despite being outnumbered, he defeated the mighty Warrior Queen. At the final showdown 100,000-200,000 Britons came to watch. The Roman governor didn't know the person who was destroying his army. Unknown to Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, the feared warrior was a woman.

When it came time to battle, Boudica, tall, proud and prepared to conquer or die with glory, Boudica lifted her hand to the heavens and commanded her people to follow her lead. When a bloodthirsty savage cry came from Boudica's lungs, her followers began the fight for their lives. Men, women and children fought side by side. From the chaos the Romans became a killing machine and set a path that crushed men, women and children alike to death. Bodies mounted up. Boudica's daughters were killed. Some 80,000 Britons died. Boudica stood on the battlefield knowing all was lost. The Romans continued their march and brought down Boudica's culture, her way of life. The Romans wiped out the Earth-centered people. They broke the connection between the people, the land, and the gods. The spiritual way of knowing was lost as the Romans' material way of knowing grew in importance.

Land was profitable. The Celtic tribes' land and property were confiscated and nobles treated like slaves. The people became of little value. No one knows what happened to the mighty Warrior Queen Boudica or where she is buried. Today, a statue of Boudica charging into battle upon a chariot drawn by two horses stands near Westminster Pier, London, sculpted by Thomas Thornycroft in 1902.

Reference: Wikipedia.org, Warrior Women-Lucy Lawless, narrator

Author's bio- Angie is the fifth child born into a farming family. Her website is http://witchskel.weebly.com