Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.

[MonsGraupius]

The only plausible reason to move to London is because the Thames is a defensible barrier

If Suetonius was sheltering behind the Thames barrier, why did he feel compelled to give battle, when he had only 10,000 men and was vastly outnumbered? 

Suetonius was doing what any sensible general would do, which is to select a seat for war that was easily defended ... so he was not wasting his resources attempting to defend the indefensible.

He then spent the next months, perhaps a whole year, preparing for war ... that is why a general selects a "seat for war" ... to prepare. Then, when he was ready, at a time of his choosing, he drew Boudica into battle at a site of his choosing.

Why not bring the legions down from north Wales, draw in reinforcements from the Continent and march out when he was sufficiently reinforced?

Did he need to leave these other areas undefended?

Unlike the ninth who rushed into battle without preparation, we are told Suetonius did not rush into battle, so he spent his time preparing for battle. That is why a much smaller force was able to defeat a larger one.

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