User:Obfuscatiion/Boudica

Hi Dr. Austen,

I am not sure if I was supposed to create a new page for the additional edits but I can do so before publishing if needed. I changed all the suggestions to a subscript so I could differentiate between what I added (in bold), and what was already there (normal text), I added quite a bit to certain sections but I am worried it is not enough. Also - when you copy and paste from the original article, the citations do not transfer over, there are citations in places where it looks like there is not from the original article (I have double checked). I left the "citation needed" code where there is still one needed and added a citation from my sources if I could verify the information.

1855 Bronze statue of Boadicea (Boudica) and her daughters at Captains Walk, Brecon. Statue by John Thomas of England.

[Feedback from Dr Austen - a great job on your first draft here Paige! I agree with the feedback given in your peer review: a couple of citations to add, and a few sentences need clarification, but I really like the additions you have chosen to make here. I wonder if in the next stage you may be able to find some artistic depictions of Boudica that may complement the contents of the article?]

Name

Boudica has been known by several versions of her name. In the 16th century, Raphael Holinshed called her Voadicia, while Edmund Spenser called her Bunduca, a variation of which was used in the popular Jacobean play Bonduca of 1612. In the 18th century, William Cowper's poem Boadicea, an ode (1782) popularised an alternative version of the name. From the 19th century until the late 20th century, Boadicea was the most common version of the name which is probably derived from a mistranscription when a manuscript of Tacitus was copied in the Middle Ages.

_{*The Introduction is really good here, and I like that you are discussing Boudica's name. I would suggest adding a couple of formal citations for the facts you present in the second and third sentences.}

Her name was clearly spelled Boudicca in the best most complete manuscripts of Tacitus, which through investigation of the language of the Celts was also proven to be misspelled with the addition of the second 'c.' The misspelling by Tacitus was copied, and further deviations of her name began to appear. Along with the second 'c' becoming an 'e,' in place of the 'u' appeared an 'a;' this is where the medieval (and most common) spelling 'Boadicea' is derived from.

_{*This a great walkthrough of the etymological history of Boudica's name and provides great context while sticking to the facts. My primary suggestion for this paragraph would be to change up some of the wording in the first clause of the paragraph. The words 'clearly' and 'best' have a hint of your personal view in its connotation. I would suggest omitting 'clearly' and replacing 'best' with something like 'most complete' to keep that neutral wording.}

In the later, and probably secondary, epitome of Cassius Dio in Greek she was Βουδουικα, Βουνδουικα, and Βοδουικα. {{Citation needed}}

^{*I would just add a citation here, but good job with including her appearances in the ancient literature beyond Tacitus.}

Kenneth Jackson concludes, based on the later development in Welsh (Buddug) and Irish (Buaidheach), that the name derives from the Proto-Celtic feminine adjective *boudīkā 'victorious', that in turn is derived from the Celtic word *boudā 'victory' (cf. Irish bua (Classical Irish buadh) 'victory', Scottish Gaelic buaidheach 'victorious; effective', Welsh buddug, buddugol 'victorious', buddugoliaeth 'victory'), and that the correct spelling of the name in Common Brittonic (the British Celtic language) is Boudica, pronounced [bɒʊˈdiːkaː]. The Gaulish version is attested in inscriptions as Boudiga in Bordeaux, Boudica in Lusitania, and Bodicca in Algeria.

_{*Again, this is good stuff and I think you have done a good job on summarizing what some literature says on how the name has been transmitted. I would just recommend more formal citations for Jackson and Bordeaux.}

The closest English equivalent to the vowel in the first syllable is the ow in "bow-and-arrow". John Rhys suggested that the most comparable Latin name, in meaning only, would be "Victorina".{{Citation needed}} Alternatively, Graham Webster claims the name can be directly translated as "Victoria."

_{*Just some suggestions on how you could continue to edit this paragraph. I think the first sentence could use some of your attention, as it seems to be somewhat vague in terms of whether it is talking about how we are meant to pronounce the vowel sound, and where the idea came from. The second sentence could also use a citation for Rhys' suggestion.}

History

Historical sources

There are two primary sources from the classical period which reported on Boudica specifically, namely Tacitus and Cassius Dio. Tacitus' mention of Boudica appears in only two of his vast number of works: the Annals, c.AD 115-117; and the Agricola, c. AD 98. Both were published many years after Boudica's revolt, but Tacitus had an eyewitness at his disposal for the retelling of some of the events; Tacitus took a particular interest in Britain as his father-in-law Gnaeus Julius Agricola served in Britain three times (and was the subject of his first book). Agricola was as a military tribune under Suetonius Paulinus; it was during Suetonius' absence that Tacitus says the Britons began to congregate under Boudica. almost certainly gave Tacitus an eyewitness source for Boudica's revolt. Cassius Dio's account, published over a century after Boudica's death, is only known from an epitome written by John Xiphilinus. Dio provides a considerable amount of information not found in the work of Tacitus, suggesting that the sources he used were lost long ago., and his sources are uncertain. He is generally agreed to have

There are many who agree that Dio based his account on that of Tacitus, but he simplifies the sequence of events. and adds details, such as the calling in of loans, that Tacitus does not mention. The abuses which Boudica and her daughters suffered at the hands of the Romans is not mentioned in Dio's account, instead he cites three different causes for the rebellion: the recalling of loans that were given to the Britons by Seneca; Decianus Catus' confiscation of money formerly loaned to the Britons by the Emperor Claudius; and Boudica's own entreaties.

Tacitus depicts Boudica as a victim of Roman slavery and licentiousness, her fight against both of which made her a champion of barbarian and British liberty. It is also for this reason that Tacitus' narrative depicts Boudica as the standard of bravery as a freedwoman, rather than just a queen, sparing her the negative connotations associated with queenship in the ancient world.

Both Tacitus and Dio incorporate fictitious speeches of Boudica's in their work. These types of pre-battle speeches were invented by ancient historians as a means to arouse dramatic and rhetorical considerations from the reader. Boudica, being neither Greek or Latin herself, would not have addressed her people in either languages, and it was unlikely Tacitus or Dio would have been able to accurately recount any of her speeches. These speeches, though imaginary, portray an image of patriotism that laid the groundwork for the legend of Boudica to endure as the first real champion of the British people.

Background[edit]

It is agreed that Boudica was of royal descent. Cassius Dio describes her as very tall and the most terrifying in appearance, she had tawny hair hanging down to below her waist, a harsh voice and a piercing glare. He writes that she habitually wore a large golden necklace (perhaps a torc), a colourful tunic, and a thick cloak fastened by a brooch.

Boudica was the wife of King Prasutagus, ruler of the Iceni, a people who inhabited what is now modern Norfolk. When the Roman conquest of southern Britain began in AD 43 under the Emperor Claudius, Prasutagus allied his people with the Romans. During Claudius's conquest of southern Britain in AD 43, the Iceni initially allied with Rome. They were The Iceni were proud of their independence, and had revolted in AD 47 when the then Roman governor Publius Ostorius Scapula planned to disarm all the peoples in the area of Britain under Roman control following a number of local uprisings. Ostorius defeated them and went on to put down other uprisings around Britain. The Iceni remained independent under Prasutagus, suggesting they were not absorbed into the Roman Empire after the first revolt. It is unknown whether he became the king only after Ostorius's defeat of the Iceni; but his status as a friendly king suggests he was a pro-Roman ruler, supporting the invasion of AD 43 and helping the Romans during the revolts in AD 47 to 48. Further evidence of Prasutagus' alliance with the Romans can be found in his will. Upon his death in AD 60/61, he left half of his fortune to his two daughters and the other half to the Roman Emperor Nero. Tacitus does not date the start of Prasutagus's reign and first mentioned him, as a long-reigning king who had died, when he wrote about Boudica's rebellion.

Tacitus mentions longstanding reasons for the Trinovantes (a tribe of people from what is now modern Essex) to hate Rome and join forces with the Iceni: "It was against the veterans that their hatred was most intense. For these new settlers in the colony of Camulodunum drove people out of their houses, ejected them from their farms, called them captives and slaves ...."

Dio's apocryphal speech of Boudica includes an address to the Trinovantes. She stressed to them how much better their life was before Roman occupation, stressing to them that wealth cannot be enjoyed under slavery, and places the blame upon herself for not expelling the Romans as they had done when Julius Caesar previously came for their land. The willingness of the barbarians to sacrifice a higher quality of living under the Romans, in exchange for their freedom and personal liberty, is an important interpretation of what Dio considered as motivation for the rebellions.

Uprising[edit]

Main article: Boudican revolt

Initial actions[edit]

In AD 60 or 61, while the current governor and most senior Roman administrator in the province, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, was leading a campaign against the island of Mona (modern Anglesey) in Wales, where he had previously been participating in earlier campaigns long before this one. in the north of Wales, which was a refuge for British rebels and a stronghold of the druids, Mona had a dense population and doubled as a sanctuary for numerous groups of people, but was conquered by the Roman army who then placed a garrison over the island, ignorant to the fact that their efforts may have been needed elsehwere. Together under the Boudica's lead, the Iceni and the Trinovantes comprised an army of 120,000 strong to fight their common enemy in the Romans. the Iceni conspired with their neighbours the Trinovantes, amongst others, to revolt. Boudica was chosen as their leader. Dio claims that before the initial revolts, Boudica called upon the British goddess of victory, Andraste, to aid them in battle. a British goddess of victory.

The rebels' first target was Camulodunum (modern Colchester), the former Trinovantian capital and, at that time, a Roman colonia for retired soldiers. The Roman veterans who had been settled there had mistreated the locals. The reason for the colony was twofold: to introduce the natives to Roman style of life and government, and protect the land from revolting tribes. A Roman temple was erected to the deified Claudius, which coupled with brutal treatment of the natives by the veterans, made Camulodunum an ideal target. Once the revolt was underway, the only troops available to provide assistance (aside from the few within the colony), were two hundred auxiliaries located in London who were not equipped to quell Boudica's troops, and the colony of Camulodunum was captured. with only two hundred auxiliary troops along with the city's guard, were captured and destroyed. The last defenders were Those who survived the initial revolts found themselves besieged in the temple for two days before the citadel could no longer withstand the attack. before it fell. A bronze statue to the emperor Nero, which probably stood in front of the temple, was decapitated and its head taken as a trophy by Boudica's army. The future governor Quintus Petillius Cerialis, then commanding the Legio IX Hispana, attempted to relieve the city, but suffered an overwhelming defeat. The infantry with him were all killed – only the commander and some of his cavalry escaped. After this defeat, Catus Decianus fled to Gaul.

When news of the rebellion reached Suetonius, he hurried along Watling Street through hostile territory to Londinium. Suetonius considered giving battle there, but considering his lack of numbers and chastened by Petillius's defeat, decided to sacrifice the city to save the province. The wealthy citizens and traders had fled after the news of Catus Decianus defecting to Gaul, the rest of the inhabitants were left to their own fate.

Londinium was abandoned to the rebels, who burnt it down, torturing and killing anyone who had not evacuated with Suetonius. The municipium of Verulamium (modern St Albans) was next to be destroyed, although the full extent of its destruction is unclear.

In the three settlements destroyed, between seventy and eighty thousand people are said to have been killed. Tacitus says that the Britons had no interest in taking or selling prisoners, only in slaughter by gibbet, fire, or cross. Dio's account gives more detail; that the noblest women were impaled on spikes and had their breasts cut off and sewn to their mouths, "to the accompaniment of sacrifices, banquets, and wanton behaviour" in sacred places, particularly the groves of Andraste.

_{*This is a really good draft of this section, and I would just have a couple of suggestions about some potential improvements. There is a separate Wikipedia page for Suetonius Paulinus, so it would be good to just add a link for that. A minor formatting suggestion is to maybe start a new paragraph when you start talking about Dio's account, just to separate the information about the respective authors. I would also suggest adding who posits the arguments for Dio being a simplified version of Tacitus' account, it is a really good addition to this section though. The last small point that I will address is in the first clause of the last sentence. I would omit the word 'in' in the phrase 'The abuses in which...' to make it flow into the clause a little bit better.}

_{Overall, this was a great first draft and there were really just little things about which I could comment. I look forward to checking out the full article when it is complete. --Spencer}

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