Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.

[Nathan Ross]

I have studied the subject in great detail... I don't think you will get a better opinion on the subject of fording the Thames.

As you have already said that you do not believe the level of the Thames to have changed considerably since ancient times, and Mortimer Wheeler (and others) claim it has dropped by up to 15 feet, an idea supported by the many details in our sources of people fording the river at various places, you must forgive me if I prefer Wheeler's opinions on the subject to yours!

Anyway, this business of defending the Thames is completely immaterial, it turns out (see below).

The Road to London is overrun by the Iceni. The Welsh tribes would likely have followed the army out. The Brigantes may have started preparing for war, and not on the Roman side.

This is entirely imaginary. The Iceni were in the vicinity of Colchester, possibly moving as far north-west as Godmanchester. The Welsh tribes were defeated and Paulinus was in the process of garrisoning their territories.

The Brigates were ruled by Cartimandua, a Roman client queen who had only a few years previously been restored to her throne by Roman troops. She was not about to revolt, and it took another 8-9 years for anyone to try and overthrow her.

So, where does he choose as his "seat of war" if not London? ... Up Watling street to Deva? Why? Why not St.Albans, of it not, why Deva? Not exactly my favourite choice for a battle against the Iceni.

I don't understand what you're trying to say here. Nobody is suggesting he retreated to Chester (which did not exist at this point anyway). St Albans, on the other hand, would make an excellent place to resupply and wait for reinforcements, and is close to the strategically favourable high ground of the Chilterns.

There must be some reason why Tacitus mentions St Albans, an otherwise undistinguished town of Romanised Britons which archaeology shows to have been at worst only slightly damaged  in the revolt.

making Calleva his seat of war.

Aha! You are, of course, not the first to suggest Silchester or the vicinity in connection with the revolt - the 'western route' has been discussed many many times on this thread.

But why would Paulinus bother crossing south of the Thames or trying to hold it as a barrier? If he's going west then he needs only march... west. Along the Portway, over the river at Staines. Very easy, no controversy.

...we can assume cavalry can do 30 miles a day .... but only with light packs and fresh horses. His infantry might do 15 miles a day on roads, but their luggage train would take 2-3 days to do that... having galloped with "wonderful resolution" ... he presumably exhausted all his horses, and is now in London ... 

Saints Preserve Us!

We have also, of course, discussed marching speeds and routes and supplies and baggage trains and so on over and over again on this thread. Needless to say, Roman baggage (or 'luggage' if you prefer) does not move at 5 miles a day...

However, I am afraid that at this point, after over twelve years of discussion, I am not in the slightest bit willing to debate the inane and ludicrous idea of Paulinus galloping down to London AGAIN!