3. The final battle
Suetonius has a much smaller force at his command than Boudicca. He knows that he must find a way of fighting the Britons at a location that will give his soldiers an advantage. This episode suggests a plan he may have used鈥
It is known that the Romans destroyed sacred sites of the Britons and in particular groves of trees where the Britons believed their gods to live. The drama surmises that Suetonius might have used this as a tactic to offend the Britons and draw Boudicca on to fight the Romans in a place of their choosing.
The two armies face each other. First Suetonius addresses his Roman troops, then Boudicca the Britons. She tells them that they have come to fight the Romans not so that she may reclaim her lands or wealth but to right an injustice and to preserve an ancient way of life of the Britons. The battle is long and hard but eventually Boudicca and her army are pushed back and then entirely defeated. Boudicca herself escapes.
The two Roman accounts of the life of Boudicca offer conflicting endings to her story - one that died a short time later of an illness, the other that she committed suicide. The place of her burial is unknown, though there is a popular story that she is buried under King's Cross station in London.
More from this series
2. Boudicca's victories. audio
Boudicca leads the Iceni and the Trinovantes against the Roman forces at Camulodunum - modern-day Colchester - formerly the main city of the Trinovantes but now a Roman stronghold.
1. Romans, Britons and invasion. audio
A whistle-stop tour of the Roman invasion of AD43...including previous failed attempts.
2. Emperor Claudius invades. audio
After Julius Caesar's attempts at invasion the Britons were left in peace...until AD43.
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