Boudica

Created by: alijen
Created on: 31-05-18 20:08

their wealth under the pretence of religious observants. And it seemed that it would not be difficult to destroy the colony, which was not protected by any fortifications; this fact had been considered too little, by our leaders since they had given

thought to its attractive appearance before considering its need. Now Suetonius had the fourteenth legion with detachments of the twentieth and auxiliaries from neighbouring areas, about ten thousand armed men. He prepared to make haste and join

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battle. And he chose a place with narrow defiles and shut off from the rear by woods. For he knew that there was nothing of the enemy except in front of him and the plain was open without fear of ambush. Therefore, the legionaries were drawn up in

close formation, with lightly-armed troops stationed around; the massed cavalry stood by on the wings. But the forces of the Britons were rushing about wildly everywhere in groups of infantry and troops of cavalry, as great a crowd as at no other

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time and in such ferocious spirit that they brought with them their wives also as witnesses of their victory, and they put them in wagons which they had placed at the edge of the plain. And first the legion, unmoved from its position and defended by

the narrowness of the place, after it had used up its javelins on the approaching enemy with sure aim, charged as a wedge-formation. The auxiliaries also made an attack, and the cavalry, with spears at full stretch, broke through whatever was in the

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way and strong. The rest turned tail in a difficult escape, because the surrounding wagons had closed off the way out. And our soldiers spared not even the women, and pierced by javelins even the baggage animals had increased the heap of bodies. On

that day the soldiers won glory which was distinguished and equal to ancient victories. Indeed, there are those who report that a little fewer than eighty thousand Britons died and that about four hundred of our soldiers were killed and not much more

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than four hundred were wounded. Boudica ended her life with poison.

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