Queen Boudicca
of the
AD60-61
What sort of a woman was Boudicca?
As one of the first real people noted in Norfolk history, the girl that would be Queen was most likely to have been born into the Royal house of a powerful neighbouring Iron age tribe.
It is written that she was flame haired, indeed Cassius Dio mentions red hair in his account, this was thought to be a trait of the Iron age tribes at that time. Cassius also describes her as being of "immense stature", and it may have seemed that way compared to the Mediterranean people of that age, though doubtful that she was particularly huge. Iron age Women generally would have been extremely robust as they were expected to help build settlements, cultivate and harvest crops and many other equally hardy tasks.
She had at least two daughters by her husband Prasutagus, though it is unlikely that she had grown up sons, as it would have been the eldest son who would have taken control of the tribe after Prasutagus's death, rather than Boudicca.
Even before her untimely coronation (Prasutagus's death), she would have been heavily involved in the day to day ruling of the tribe, socially, physically and politically. She must have commanded a great deal of respect, we see this in the way she motivated and rallied her troops against the Romans.
Lifestyle of the Iceni Queen
It is commonly thought that the Queen resided in Caister St Edmund, though it is equally possible that it was Thetford. She would almost definitely have lived in a large settlement, her own roundhouse superior and surrounded by her Tribesmen, it would have housed most of the tribes treasure beneath its earthy floors. The interior though dark would have been cosily adorned with animal furs and elaborate bronze carvings that the Iceni were famed for. A large fire both for cooking and heating the dwelling would have been set in the middle and a small whole in the centre of the thatched roof, used to draw the fires smoke out.
The Queen would probably have dressed in brightly coloured wool type material and leather decorated with bronze strips. This vibrantly dyed material may well have been the predecessor of Tartan. Cassius also writes that she wore a "great gold necklace" this would almost definitely have been worn more as a sign of power and authority rather than decoration. The necklace itself may well have been a gold torc in the Snettersham tradition.
Boudicca and Prasutagus
The marriage itself would most certainly been at least a day long affair, a great feast would have been prepared, the tribe excitedly having worked hard to give a great welcome to their new Queen. Boudicca was more than likely the daughter of the House of an influential neighbouring tribe, this marriage possibly allying the Iceni to the Trinovantes Tribe.
The musicians and tribal dancers playing into the night illuminated by huge fires, there would have been much merriment aided by large quantities of local brew (Iceni Brewery), and Roman wine.
Boudicca's final battle
It does seem though that Boudicca had at least two daughters that were famously and brutally raped by Roman soldiers in front of her and her Tribe. It was this event that fired Queen Boudicca’s anger and which gave her the strength to rally her troops and begin a war that would ultimately mean the demise of the Iceni. In fact at the final battle Boudicca and possibly her daughters as well are thought to have taken poison to end their lives rather than fall into the hands of the Romans.
Boudicca Video
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