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Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.
OK strategic reasoning for Church Stowe (word limit switched to “off” position)

1)Paulinus is coming down Watling Street from the North West, apparently leaving a garrison or garrisons behind him (parts of the XX). Would he have abandoned these troops by heading west? I think not, instead they are guarding his rear and covering newly subdued territory. He never looses touch with this resource by going walkabout.

2)The Iceni forces are to the south and east of his position, south because of destroyed settlements, east because this is their home land and he has lost the eastern cover provided by the IX. If he goes too far south the Iceni, or a secondary Iceni force could get behind him. The potential Iceni route of approach from the east will be no further north than Peterborough due to the extent of the Wash at this time.

3)The loss of the junction of Watling St and Fosse Way at High Cross would be a disaster for his communications so he must seek to block an approach to High Cross.

4)He assumes the II are going to come to join him by approaching up Fosse Way, (they were supposed to join him, hence the suicide, he was not heading to them). The route up Akeman Street or the Icknield Way leaves the II column open to potential attack from the south. Fosseway is by far the most secure approach and is only 10 miles due west of CS on the Droitwich Saltway.

5)CS provides a position that is central to all forces at the confluence of the Avon, Cherwell, Nene and Ouse. So he can pick up the remnants of the IX and the whole of the II.

6)CS at the head of the Nene and Ouse holds position where a strike into Iceni territory is clearly a threat to the enemy. Credit the guy with an eye for an offensive opportunity.

7)Nowhere does Tacitus say the Iceni are sticking to the Roman Road network. The Romans are using it, but there are very few reasons for an Ox cart bound horde to follow that new fangled routes when all the former routes (probably in valleys and on ridges) are still know and used. So the rivers point to CS.

8)CS has an all round defence in terms of topography. This position is so strong it may have been a known strategic location since the conquest, possibly even garrisoned or stock piled.

9)It is conceivable that the slower moving elements of the column from Mona were left to prepare a position at CS and only more mobile troops did the up and down to London. As the ground of his choosing was on the route anyway, this would massively reduce the mileage compared to the western option, but is only days march north of Dunstable so inconsequential. This provides for a static RV for messengers to direct the II and remains of the IX to, and a week to prepare the ground. Was the round trip to London a PR exercise?

So highly defendable. Well connected. Provides a threat to the enemy. Defends the road network. Can cope with the Brits NOT using the Roman Roads. On the route down from Mona.

We know, almost as a fact, the Roman column passed CS on it's way to and from Mona, those individuals were on Watling Street at that point twice during the campaign, the same goes for Dunstable. We have no idea whether they went west of London at any point.

somewhere between St. Albans and Dunstable. Any site further north makes little sense. well we'll have to differ there I think the strategic elements can only provide a strategic "bubble" of sites. From there we have to switch to topography and archaeology.
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Messages In This Thread
Re: Calling all armchair generals! - by Ensifer - 03-11-2010, 03:13 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-18-2012, 06:26 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 12:02 AM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 02:50 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 05:40 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 11:26 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 05:11 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 09:42 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 10:10 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 03:11 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 03:25 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 08:36 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-26-2012, 02:57 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-27-2012, 01:50 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 08-05-2012, 02:24 PM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by John1 - 09-17-2012, 02:42 PM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-07-2014, 02:18 PM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-08-2014, 01:50 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-11-2014, 02:03 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-18-2014, 07:54 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-20-2014, 02:37 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-25-2014, 08:29 AM

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