Expert: Malcolm Speechley - 7/27/2008

Question
Hello,
 I hope your well. I appreciate your help with my last question, and hope you can assist me further on a new subject.

 I have been trying to find out more details in regards to the death of Queen Boudicca. I would like to know if the exact location of Boudicca's defeat has been found, some sources say yes, while others disagree. Also if the circumstances surrounding her death are accurate. That is, did she poison her daughters and herself. I read some where that she was given a large funeral, and that the current location of her burial is under an active subway station; is that true. Well thank you for being available to take my question. I look forward to hearing from you, at your convenience.

Cassius

Answer
Hello again Cassius.

Most historians agree that the site of Boudicca final battle was somewhere in the West Midlands though there is no agreement as to exactly where. This supposition is based on the fact that after Boudicca destroyed Londinium she marched West to meet the army of the Roman Governor Suetonius Paulinus who was on his way back from Wales Where he had been subduing a Druid rebellion. The assumption is they met somewhere between the two.

Sites that have been suggested are High cross and Kings Norton, Both in Leicestershire or Atherstone in Warwickshie. Ancient British artifacts have been found at all of these sites.

Those who claim Kings Norton as the site have also stated this as her burial place and have indeed pointed to a specific location. This location is now next to a local McDonalds restaurant. No sign of her body, however has been found by archeologists.

The story that she is buried under Platform 10 at Kings cross railway station is unlikely to be true. This story began circulating many years after her death and no evidence has been found to support it.

I don't think Boudicca body is likely to be found anywhere. There is no contemporary evidence of a funeral. The ancient Britons practice cremation and it is likely that her body was disposed of in this way to stop it falling into the hands of the Romans who would have subjected it to insult and humiliation.

Boudicca and her daughters are commonly believed to have died by poison administered by themselves i.e. by suicide.

Tacitus a Roman historian wrote down her story just a few years after her death. He is well worth reading if you want to learn more about Boudicca.

Again I hope this has been useful.

Malcolm.