Why did Boudicca's revolt fail?

Question

If possible, give three brief reasons for an essay

Answer 1

Suetonius regrouped with the XIV Gemina, some vexillationes (detachments) of the XX Valeria Victrix, and any available auxiliaries. The prefect of Legio II Augusta, Poenius Postumus, ignored the call, but nonetheless the governor was able to call on almost ten thousand men. He took a stand at an unidentified location, probably in the West Midlands somewhere along the Roman road now known as Watling Street, in a defile with a wood behind him. But his men were heavily outnumbered. Dio says that, even if they were lined up one deep, they would not have extended the length of Boudica's line: by now the rebel forces numbered 230,000. However, this number should be treated with scepticism: Dio's account is known only from a late epitome, and ancient sources commonly exaggerate enemy numbers.

Boudica exhorted her troops from her chariot, her daughters beside her. Tacitus gives her a short speech in which she presents herself not as an aristocrat avenging her lost wealth, but as an ordinary person, avenging her lost freedom, her battered body and the abused chastity of her daughters. Their cause was just, and the gods were on their side; the one legion that had dared to face them had been destroyed. She, a woman, was resolved to win or die; if the men wanted to live in slavery, that was their choice.

However, the lack of maneuverability of the British forces, combined with lack of open-field tactics to command these numbers, put them at a disadvantage to the Romans, who were skilled at open combat due to their superior equipment and discipline, and the narrowness of the field meant that Boudica could only put forth as many troops as the Romans could at a given time. First, the Romans stood their ground and used volleys of pila to kill thousands of Britons who were rushing toward the Roman lines. The Roman soldiers, who had now used up their pila, were then able to engage Boudica's second wave in the open. As the Romans advanced in a wedge formation, the Britons attempted to flee, but were impeded by the presence of their own families, whom they had stationed in a ring of wagons at the edge of the battlefield, and were slaughtered. Tacitus reports that "according to one report almost eighty thousand Britons fell" compared with only four hundred Romans. According to Tacitus, Boudica poisoned herself; Dio says she fell sick and died, and was given a lavish burial.

Answer 2

Boudiccas Revolt

Answer 3

Boudicca definately outnumbered the Romans.

Boudicca's army was made up of farmers with very crude weapons.
No armor.
No organization when attacking the Romans.

The Romans had superior armor and weaponry.
The Romans held their lines because of their discipline and training. The Romans pushed Boudicca's army back into their own supply lines. Supply lines in those days were family and wives. Boudicca's army was caught between the Romans and the supply lines.

Hope this helps

Answer 4

Essentially it was a question of numbers. When she revolted she revolted against lightly defended Roman outposts, usually at garrison stregth (about 100 - 200).

The Romans then brought over several armies from the continent, 50,000 to 100,000 Roman soldiers.

Romans had a very disciplined army that trained for years, her army used untrained soldiers.

The Roman army had the best weapons in the world and more of them than her army. Good quality shields and swords were a lot harder for her to get.

Answer 5

Boudicca was actually the icing on the cake, the Silures of South Wales were actually defeating the Romans in the field a decade prior. Their leader Arviragus was actually mentioned by Juvenal in a satire. After defeating Boudicca, the Romans actually investigated the officials they had sent over there because heavy taxation was also a factor. One senator was forced to commit suicide. It forced the Romans to take the British more seriously.

Answer 6

The Celts didn't have the disciplined formations of the Romans. Their armor was vastly inferior & their weaponry couldn't compete with the Roman short sword.

Answer 7

because her forces fought individually and the Romans stuck together and formed a zig zag barrier that sliced up her forces, and remember her forces would usually get drunk before they fought. Which isn't very good for discipline

Answer 8

Poor discipline in her army,lack of communication,Superior Roman weapons and tactics.

Answer 9

No reason why her revolt failed need be sought; it was impossible for her to win it.

Answer 10

You should listen in class instead of eating chewing gum and spitting it at people in class.