03-09-2015, 06:28 PM
Quote:by the time a Roman got to Alchester
Paulinus could have fallen back on Alchester, left the refugees there, picked up reinforcements and then (after one of his 'delays') advanced again to the headwaters of the Bulbourne and fought the battle somewhere around Tring.
I still like the idea of Alchester being the home of the 20th legion veteran detachment - although they could have marched to join Paulinus at St Albans on his initial advance south.
One problem with the Akeman Str route - the Britons had little in that direction they wanted, and after destroying their main objectives in Colchester and London they might not have been inclined to march in the opposite direction to home! Paulinus could have found himself sitting tight at Alchester or Tring waiting for a battle that never happened...
(edit - I see Renatus has just said much the same as my first point!)
Nathan Ross