Boadicea, also known as Boudica, was a queen of the Iceni tribe, a Celtic tribe that lived in what is now Eastern England.
Category: Tribes
Jun 23
Iceni
The Iceni tribe, known in Latin as Icēnī, was a powerful and significant group during the Iron Age and early Roman era in what is now eastern Britain.
The Brigantes of Lancashire
An interesting heading in Robert Morden’s map of Lancashire (1695) places “The Brigantes” in Lancashire. Worth investigating to try to understand exactly what Robert Morden was trying to portray here.
Sep 24
Demetae
The Demetae Location of the tribe The south eaat coast of Wales Principal towns and settlements in Demetae territory Moridunum – (Carmarthen, Dyfed) – Possibly the site of a Flavian fort. The only polis attributed to the tribe by Ptolemy, the location of this settlement was also known as Muridunum. The civitas capital may have …
Sep 24
The Celts in Battle
CELTS IN BATTLE Polybius, who lived between about 202 and 120 BC, gives a full account of how the Celts fought at the battle of Telamon in 225 BC; it is worth quoting at length because it highlights several recurring characteristics: ‘The Celts had drawn up the Gaesatae from the Alps to face their enemies …
Sep 24
Establishment of the Tribes
The establishment of the tribes Introduction Tacitus Who the first inhabitants of Britain were, whether natives or immigrants, remains obscure; one must remember we are dealing with barbarians. The way in which the individual tribes developed is not known. The Celtic langauge and its dialects did not have a written form, so the recording o …
Sep 24
The Celts and Celtic Life
The Celts and Celtic life Introduction Before looking at the Roman invasions, it is important to set the scene and get a picture of life in Britain in the first century BC, which was a time when the country was divided into regions, each occupied by a tribe. Britain was well into the Iron Age. …
Sep 24
Background – The Celts
The Celts (Greek ‘Keltoi’) were an Indo-European people originating in the Alps. Their first known territory was in Central Europe around 1200 BC in the upper Danube, the Alps and parts of France and southern Germany.
Sep 23
Trinovantes
The Trinovantes Background to the Trinovantes Location of the tribe Essex and part of Suffolk. Background information It is possible that the Trinovantes were one of only two British tribes knew of Caesar’s intentions to cross the channel to Britain and so sent out ambassadors to the Romans in Gaul in an attempt to ensure …
Sep 23
Silures
Silures Tacitus describes the Silures as a strong and warlike tribe, stubborn, with swarthy faces and curly hair. They inhabited the wooded uplands of southeastern Wales, living in hillforts and fortified settlements, and were Rome’s most determined opponents. That resistance was led by Caratacus, a British chieftan who had sought refuge with the Silures after …
