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Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.
Owein Walker wrote:

Briefly,no very briefly,Gaius Suetonius Paulinus had a good reputation as a miltary commander following his campaign in North Africa and was chosen to continue the conquest of Britain.

Absoloutely and in that context, have we been misled and not given Seutonius Paulinus the credit a general of his standing deserves?

A general that had three successful campaign seasons in conquering the Ordovices and destroying the Druids on Mona as well as his earlier military successes in North Africa.

The translation of Tacitus has given us the impression that he was in the process of withdrawing and was forced to eventually fight to survive.

On the other hand the phrase “breaking off delay” could imply that he had time to regroup and to pick a location that gave him the opportunity to pull in as many forces as possible from other forts, by also choosing in advance a site that could defend his forces but where he could win decisively.

So this puts a different perspective on the battle plan for Seutonius Paulinus as being proactive rather than reactive because now he knew what he had to do to and what he needed to prepare for, including food and water in desert and mountainous conditions.

Owein Walker wrote:

At this time the Roman army built Marching camps ,where they stayed for a few days while suppressing the local tribes.This provided them with a safe base where they could rest and prepare for the following days.

Paulinus was a careful commander, not one for rash behaviour, so we are told.

So surely with a few days to prepare, he would build a camp. He built camps everywhere he went so to think he did not build one for his troops and the civilians before the battle would seem out of character for him and the Roman army.

Absoloutely true or is it? This is not exactly waging war as the Roman Army would do normally and they may have been under canvass which would leave little trace but even if it were the chances of finding a marching camp or battle debris is rare.   

The only site that I have come across that had that type of access (although it being a land bridge joining Aylesbury Plain to the raised area) was at Pitstone Hill near Ivinghoe Beacon. Whilst I was looking at this I also noticed on closer inspection that there was another defile on the other side of the open space and also that the combined entrances and the space in between was in the shape of a gullet.

Could this have been the missing piece that caused confusion? of course it could be co-incidence 

I have come to believe that this is indeed the site as it fits a number of criteria that are mentioned:

1.      It has only one an access point that is narrow for wagons and a large number of fleeing men.

2.      A further defile (800 yards) that can be used as a protection for the Roman Army. 

3.      Surrounding hills that can be used as a trap.

4.      A battlefield that is a third of a mile deep and three quarters of a mile wide

5.      Protected by woods and a step sided valley as described.

6.      Near two major military road (Watling Street and Akeman Street)

7.      Overlooks the Icknield Way

8.      Within one day’s march of St Albans

9.      Water within 1.8 miles

10.     Room for a camp.

[b]Owein Walker wrote:[/b]

[b]Fighting up hill, that is no good ,and the wagons spreading out ,but being unable to move doesn't work either. If they are spread   they can easily move. If they are crammed into a narrow area then there movement is constricted.[/b]

 
This site is all about topography and SP using it. 

If you look at the map of the area you will see that there is only one entrance and exit. Although it would be possible for individuals on foot to clamber away from the battle site, wagons could not due to the precipitous nature of the topography, and would have to leave via the one access point onto the Aylesbury plain, adding to the congestion and chaos as you say.

Owein Walker wrote:

I cant see waiting in a ditch below your enemy has that much going for it, sorry.

To beat the Brythons SP needed them to attack him in a fullscale battle and to do that it had to seem like the place he chose was advantageous to the Boudiccan army but actually was to their detriment without them being aware of that.

He had to set a trap.

The Roman army had never been beaten by the Brythons in a full scale engagement, Brythonic successes had been only when they had superior numbers and surprise on their side and normally when they realised that they were losing they would swiftly withdraw away from Roman retribution.

Typically they would mount a guerrilla war of ambush or siege tactics, towns were a creation of the Roman system which is why it was difficult to bring a Brythonic Army to a formal battle on a large scale.

The key to them being thoroughly defeated was to attract them into the field of battle and then when they were retreating to prevent them from escaping by using the terrain.

The other major issue was that SP had far fewer men than the huge number of Brythons. He needed to use the terrain to not only protect his men but to even up the odds in order that not only could they not be overwhelmed but that they had a realistic chance of beating the Brythons by application of the correct battlefield tactics.

The trick was to ensure that the Brythons didn’t feel that they were enclosed or trapped and were totally in command of the situation in order that they would come onto the battlefield and attack.

In other words Seutonius Paulinus’ challenge was to turn what was normally a disadvantage into an advantage.

The clue may be in the speech that SP gives to his men prior to the battle Only close up the ranks, and having discharged your javelins, then with shields and swords continue the work of bloodshed and destruction, without a thought of plunder. When once the victory has been won, everything will be in your power."

I believe that his intention was to attack so ferociously that the Brythons would turn back on themselves to withdraw swiftly as normal but because they were trying to retreat uphill and they were hemmed in by the terrain they were slaughtered as they turned to flee. 

The siting of the wagons adding to the blockage at the entrance was a bonus for the Roman army. 
 
 
 
Deryk
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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 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
RE: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand. - by Theoderic - 03-18-2021, 10:26 PM

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