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Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.
Quote:A characteristic of Paulinus throughout his career.

I've long considered, and several times mentioned here, that Tacitus's account of the reputation and character of Suetonius Paulinus during the civil war of AD69 provides vital evidence for any assessment of his strategy during the British campaign of AD61. Tacitus tells us that Paulinus... by his distinguished service had won fame and reputation in his British campaigns (Histories, 2,37), and that in 69 he was still regarded as the most skilful general of the time (ibid, 2,32).

I won't expand too much here what I've already said - a few quotes will suffice:

(Histories, 2,25): Suetonius Paulinus ... was naturally inclined to delay, and a man who preferred cautious and well-reasoned plans to chance success. So he kept issuing orders to fill up the ditches, clear the fields, and extend the line, thinking that it was soon enough to begin to conquer when they had made provision against defeat...

Following the battle, Paulinus maintained (ibid 2,32) that the enemy's advantage lay in haste, their own in delay... Many wars, formidable in their first onset, have shrunk to nothing through the tedium caused by inaction...Your policy therefore is to prolong the war.

So we have a portrait of a very cautious, slow-moving strategist and tactician, inclined to delay whenever possible. I think this suggests a Fabian policy of slow and careful maneuvering, staying close to the enemy and waiting to trap them when they are disadvantaged.

It does not suggest rapid movement up or down Watling Street, or long-distance retreats into the Midlands or the west country. I still believe, therefore, that the final battle was fought somewhere close to the last-known British position in London or St Albans, on defensible high ground.

However, I've made all these points before, so perhaps I'd better leave it there! ;-)
Nathan Ross
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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
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Nathan Ross - 02-28-2014, 08:15 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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