{"id":7974,"date":"2019-10-27T11:53:54","date_gmt":"2019-10-27T11:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolshistory.org.uk\/topics\/?page_id=7974"},"modified":"2026-06-23T15:34:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T15:34:49","slug":"rebellion-of-the-iceni-by-tacitus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schoolshistory.org.uk\/topics\/primary-history\/celts\/rebellion-of-the-iceni-by-tacitus\/","title":{"rendered":"Rebellion of the Iceni, by Tacitus"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Rebellion of the Iceni was described by the Roman historian Tacitus. The Iceni, led by Queen Boudicca, had rebelled in 60 or 61AD. When Boudicca’s husband, King Prasutagus, died, the Romans confiscated property and, it is said, raped the daughters of the Queen. Insulted by both of these actions and the Romans breaking their word over the manner of rule in the client kingdom, Boudicca rose up in rebellion. The rebellion of the Iceni was well-orchestrated, as noted by Tacitus below. Boudicca knew that the main body of Roman military forces in Britain was engaging the Druids far to the west in North Wales and Anglesey. This meant that the South East, close to the homelands of the Iceni, was garrisoned not by the might of full legions but a much smaller force. Her tribe was joined by others and they marched through Southern England wreaking havoc. The Romans were forced to recall the legions from the west, leading eventually to the rebellion being suppressed and the death of Queen Boudicca.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Source: Tacitus on the Rebellion of the Iceni<\/h2>\n

The natives enjoyed plundering and thought of nothing else. By-passing forts and garrisons, they made for where loot was richest and protection weakest. Roman and provincial deaths at the places mentioned are estimated at seventy thousand. For the Britons did not take or sell prisoners, or practice\u00a0war<\/a>-time exchanges. They could not wait to cut throats, hang, burn, and crucify–as though avenging, in advance, the retribution that was on its way (Annals, Book XIV, 33)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Primary History<\/a><\/p>\n

Knowledge Rich History Resources<\/a><\/p>\n

The Celts<\/a><\/p>\n

The Romans<\/a><\/p>\n

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Related Links<\/h2>\n

Boudica and the Iceni Rebellion<\/a><\/p>\n

The Romans in Britain (Resource)<\/a><\/p>\n

Development and Growth of Rome<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Rebellion of the Iceni was described by the Roman historian Tacitus. The Iceni, led by Queen Boudicca, had rebelled in 60 or 61AD. When Boudicca’s husband, King Prasutagus, died, the Romans confiscated property and, it is said, raped the daughters of the Queen. Insulted by both of these actions and the Romans breaking their… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":6079,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7974","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t