09-03-2022, 09:13 AM
Meanwhile, in the interests of broad-minded creativity (and rampant procrastination), I've been thinking a bit more about the idea of the campaign shifting west towards the Berkshire Downs area, and how that might have happened.
This does involve granting the Iceni / rebel alliiance a lot more long-distance strategic, intelligence-gathering and logistical ability, besides military cohesion, than I suspect they really possessed, but for the sake of argument let's assume they could do this.
Suetonius Paulinus pulls out of London west with his expeditionary force and the refugees, heading for Silchester (Calleva). He destroys the bridge over the Thames at Staines (Pontes) to slow down the enemy pursuit. The Iceni and Co then sack London, with a side group heading off to attack St Albans. Paulinus remains at Calleva, awaiting reinforcements.
At some point, these reinforcements are going to start approaching down Watling Street from the campaign bases in North Wales and Wroxeter. They could either head straight for London, or divert via the fortress at Alchester to meet Suetonius at Calleva.
The Iceni, hearing of this, know that they are likely to be caught between the two forces, and that once Suetonius is reinforced his army will be too strong for them. So they decide (somehow!) to march north-west, either following the Thames or cutting through the Chilterns, to the fords at Goring or Wallingford and outflank Suetonius, hoping to destroy his smaller force before the larger army from Wroxeter can join him.
Suetonius Paulinus, alerted to the enemy movement and perhaps hoping to meet up with his relief force before they arrive, marches north from Calleva to around Pangbourne and then, finding that the enemy have already crossed the Thames, feints left onto the Berkshire Downs. He draws the Britons up onto the downs, into a suitable 'defile' (thought decent defiles are short supply around there!) and fights his battle.
So - what do people think? I still believe the Chilterns north of St Albans provide much better terrain options, and a less convoluted strategic situation. I do quite like this idea, somewhat far-fetched as it might be, mainly just as it's a bit different!
(map from https://imperium.ahlfeldt.se/)
This does involve granting the Iceni / rebel alliiance a lot more long-distance strategic, intelligence-gathering and logistical ability, besides military cohesion, than I suspect they really possessed, but for the sake of argument let's assume they could do this.
Suetonius Paulinus pulls out of London west with his expeditionary force and the refugees, heading for Silchester (Calleva). He destroys the bridge over the Thames at Staines (Pontes) to slow down the enemy pursuit. The Iceni and Co then sack London, with a side group heading off to attack St Albans. Paulinus remains at Calleva, awaiting reinforcements.
At some point, these reinforcements are going to start approaching down Watling Street from the campaign bases in North Wales and Wroxeter. They could either head straight for London, or divert via the fortress at Alchester to meet Suetonius at Calleva.
The Iceni, hearing of this, know that they are likely to be caught between the two forces, and that once Suetonius is reinforced his army will be too strong for them. So they decide (somehow!) to march north-west, either following the Thames or cutting through the Chilterns, to the fords at Goring or Wallingford and outflank Suetonius, hoping to destroy his smaller force before the larger army from Wroxeter can join him.
Suetonius Paulinus, alerted to the enemy movement and perhaps hoping to meet up with his relief force before they arrive, marches north from Calleva to around Pangbourne and then, finding that the enemy have already crossed the Thames, feints left onto the Berkshire Downs. He draws the Britons up onto the downs, into a suitable 'defile' (thought decent defiles are short supply around there!) and fights his battle.
So - what do people think? I still believe the Chilterns north of St Albans provide much better terrain options, and a less convoluted strategic situation. I do quite like this idea, somewhat far-fetched as it might be, mainly just as it's a bit different!
(map from https://imperium.ahlfeldt.se/)
Nathan Ross
