BOUDICCA
AND ME
Boudicca was a British queen at the time of the Roman conquest who made quite an impression.
I, who have borrowed her name, choose this as a tribute to this ancient proof of girl-power. Or perhaps it is better to say woman-power.
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The Ancient Boudicca
Boudicca is sometimes called Boadicea, but that is a name that has no foundation in contemporary sources and has therefore to be viewed as an anachronistic invention of later times. She was married to Prasutagus, who by the Romans (who had recently conquered Britain) was appointed king of the Iceni tribe, living in what is today East Anglia. When he died, in 60/61 A.D., he appointed Boudicca as his successor, along with their daughters, but this was not a choice recognised by the Romans. They maltreated them by flogging Boudicca and raping her daughters. This was quite enough to make her start a rebellion against the Romans.
The Iceni, assisted by the Trinovantes, in Essex, started this rebellion at the same time as the governor, Suetonius Paulinus, was in the west, and marched towards, and subsequently sacked, Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans). But when it came to open war against the Romans these British tribes stood no chance and were without mercy slaughtered. Tacitus claim this defeat made Boudicca commit suicide, Cassius Dio claim she got sick and died thereof, but whatever may be the cause Boudicca died before the full scale of the Roman revenge was felt by the British.
Paulinus and his troops destroyed the harvest, which created a famine and cost more lives then the rebellion. A new procurator was sent from Rome and he saw that the British people was maltreated and started a new, softer regime.
Me
I am quite a normal person who just happened to become interested in death and burials, without every really knowing how. I have a M.A. in Medieval Archaeology, with my main focus on the south of Sweden, then Denmark, after the reformation in the 1520’s and the 17th century. I have a B.A. in Ancient history and there I have a twofold focus, both Britain during the Roman conquest and the earliest Christian church and the situation of the women.
I think my interest in burials comes from an interest in the common person, the written records – especially way back in history – mostly deals with the rich and famous. The burial is the key to the ordinary man (or woman), and how they perceived their world. It is just a matter of learning to understand it.
But I am not all death and disaster, even though I cannot pass by an old church without wanting to look at the gravestones. I also like reading – everything from Jane Austen to Minette Walters and Terry Pratchett. I like partying and hanging around with my friends, sewing historical costumes and relaxing with my cat. I do not even dress all in black – but I still believe it is a good colour for clothes!
If you want to contact me, I can be reached here.
