Creative Writing

Setting

This is at the point when Suetonius Paulinus, the Roman governor of Britain, is talking to a small group of advisors and soldiers about the news of Boudicca's revolt. He is currently planning how he will go about stopping the destruction and violence.

My Thoughts Before Battle

Suetonius Paulinus

I just returned from a campaign in Mona, where there was a lot of fighting. I thought that I could rest. But to my surprise and dismay, as soon as I got back, I was notified by my assistant that the queen of the Iceni tribe, Boudicca, had instigated a revolt against Rome.

I have heard a lot about her before. I think her revolt may have been caused by the emperor Nero's unseemly behavior. (Truthfully, between you and me, Nero is a most worthless and wicked ruler, but since he is the emperor, I follow his commands faithfully.) Boudicca's husband, Prasutagus, died and Nero took her share of his estate. This may seem unfair, but with the expansion of our empire into Britain we will need as much money as possible from taxes, and in Boudicca's case, from wills.

Most of the Britons have also most likely been cheated out of their property and possessions by the Romans. Another tribe located nearby the Iceni, the Trinobantes, has just recently joined Boudicca's army along with almost all of Britain. It is almost as if this were a blood feud.

Many cities, temples, and landmarks in Britain have already been destroyed in Boudicca's path, including London and Verulamium, two of the most important cities that we held. London was especially important since it was a center of commerce for Roman trade. Overall Boudicca has caused a lot of destruction in the Roman Empire's new addition.

Boudicca has already defeated many armies, including our ninth legion. Almost 70,000 Romans and our allies have already been killed. I am afraid that it will be difficult to stop Boudicca for she is a strong and determined leader and won't rest until she gets her revenge on Rome.

I am not so sure I blame her. I heard that not only did Boudicca lose her land and possessions, but that she was ridiculed, tortured, and humiliated. Her daughters were also ridiculed and tortured. Now, I don't think women are all that important, but with such pain who wouldn't rebel?

Ever since Claudius conquered Britain we have tried to be very kind to our subjects if they follow our commands. We don't deserve this kind of treatment. But the Britons all have expressed their tremendous hate for Rome.

Although giving up our hold on Britain is an option, we have worked hard to gain control of many places and to become a strong and well governed empire. We must defeat Boudicca once and for all.

Obviously we need to counterattack. We will need to replenish our supply of javelins and shields. Not only that, but we don't have enough troops. We will also need to send to Rome for reinforcements. Still, reinforcements won't be nearly enough compared to the army she has gathered.

We will probably need close to ten thousand troops. Each legion has somewhere around six thousand foot soldiers and about a hundred and twenty horsemen. With two legions we will surely have enough. I am going to call on the generals in charge of the fourteenth legion, the veterans from the twentieth, and the auxiliaries. They will certainly join our army.

I have heard that the Britons are undisciplined and will not fight in an orderly fashion. My army, on the other hand, will have a plan. The legions will position themselves around the center of the field. The cavalry will be at the sides with the light armed troops close by.

Wait...what if we could push the Britons back into a small and thin valley and attack there? We will all fit but not all of the opposing side will fit. I know just the battlefield. It is a valley with a narrow entrance, and the back is sheltered with a forest so they won't approach us from behind and attack. It won't matter that we don't have as many troops as they do. I am brilliant! We will win! We will win! Off. We must inform the others.

By Steph S. 03 Germantown Academy

Bibliography

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