This web site is devoted to the East Anglian Tribe called the ICENI.

Find out when, where, and how the

  ICENI tried to stem the Roman invasion of our small but rich Island.

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Dave '2Flutes' account of the ICENI revolt

Robert Ketts rebellion, CND Anti-cruise missile camps and demonstrations, Poll-Tax riots (middle-ages and modern day), Gizza Job marches, Disabled rights protests, OAP "We are Skint" demonstrations, sit-ins, strikes, work to rule and bloody Fuel Blockades, you name it, East Anglia has seen it, done it, got the T-shirt and recorded highlights on DVD. It seems that when we are pushed by unjust or immoral protagonists, we humble East Anglians can't help but get upset and make a bit of a 'song and dance' about it. We 'carrot-crunchers' have a long history of unrest and rebellion. The earliest record of such a reaction to 'Tyranny-in-the-East' dates  back to Roman Britain in the years 60-61 AD.

The Celts-of-the-East, the ICENI, were of a farming and trade culture and were prosperous in their commercial enterprises having secured trading routes with other 'British' tribes and with Celtic relatives on the continent. When the 'Bloody Romans' came to conquer, they met stiff opposition (now, now, no smut please) from the locals all over the land, but eventually, they achieved rule by stealth (just like the Germans). By agreeing treaties and allowing the Celts to rule themselves, the pressure was taken off the army to keep order, which enabled them to concentrate their efforts towards repelling sea-borne raiders and subduing those troublesome 'Wowdy-Webel-Wousing-DWuids-of-the-West'.

It was not difficult for the 'Bloody Romans' to 'make friends' with the British Celts. Fine wines, gems, silks and other fabrics from foreign lands far-away were like 'shiny-things to a Magpie' and allowing them to keep most of the years income was far less costly in labour, equipment and money while still making revenue for Rome.

King Prasutagus ruled the ICENI. When he died in 60 AD with no male heir, he left his private wealth to his wife and Queen Boudicca, his two daughters and to the Roman Emperor (and Pyromaniac) Nero, trusting thereby to win imperial protection for his family after his death. Instead (of course), the Romans annexed his kingdom, raped his daughters, and publicly horsewhipped his Queen and seized land and goods from all of the ICENI nobles.

These events did nothing for Anglo-Romano relations and while the provincial governor Suetonius Paulinus was away slaughtering druids, Boudicca sent out a rallying cry for revenge against the 'Bloody Romans' for the atrocities carried out by them. Well-dressed-and-sparkly-piss-heads came from all over ICENI-LAND and other places for the honour of fighting for the Queen and the two Princesses (you may want to read that bit again but I wouldn’t).

According to a Roman historian called Tacitus, the `well-dressed-and-sparkly-piss-heads` numbered 80,000 strong (which is a much larger crowd than Norwich City football club has ever managed) and in their fury, the insurgents destroyed (raised) Camulodunum (Colchester) completely, killing every living thing. Verulamium (St Albans) and Londinium (London) were next along with several military posts. According to Tacitus, 70,000 Romans and pro-Roman Britons were cut to pieces (Hurrah !!) including the Roman 9th Legion (Double Hurrah !! Bastards!!!).

Unfortunately for the ICENI (and friends), the Roman force led by Suetonius Paulinus had stopped the druid uprising in Anglesey without much trouble, killing everyone. The Roman army was a superior, (sober) well-drilled fighting machine and although heavily outnumbered 8:1 and scared shitless, in one battle, thought to be near present-day Fenny Stratford on Watling Street, they succeeded in almost wiping out the ICENI as a nation. Those ICENI that survived the battle were hunted down and executed or sold as slaves. A few, but only a few escaped with the dead Queen’s body. She was buried in a secret place before her most loyal servants blended into the background. Roman rule tightened and eventually, those ICENI that were left became a very small Tribal community with a capital at Venta Icenorum (modern Caister St.Edmund near Norwich in Norfolk).

But now, after 1,939 years,

ARE BACK !!!

Prasutagus The King of the Iceni

A brief look at to the Romans

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