Boudica facts for kids

Boudica (born about 25 AD, died 60/61 AD) was the queen of the Celtic Iceni people in Norfolk in the eastern part of Roman Britain.

A statue of Boudica was put up in the Westminster area of London in 1902.

 

Her husband Prasutagus ruled as an independent ally of Rome. When he died, he left his kingdom jointly to his daughters and the Roman Emperor.

 

Statue of Boudica

Boudica Facts

1. Her Name Is Prophetic

Boudica is an ancient Celtic name which is derived from the word “boud,” meaning victory. Historians don’t know much about our girl’s childhood, but clearly Boudica’s parents knew their daughter would make waves.

2. Her Early Days Are Mysterious

Even though she’s one of the most legendary women in history, we don’t know too much about Boudica’s early days. Scholars think she was born around 30 AD in Camulodunum (now Colchester). Here’s what we know for sure, though: Young Boudica was fancy from day one. She either belonged to a prominent family or had royal blood. And soon, she’d level up even more.

3. Her Society Was Dope

Here’s a big reason behind Boudica’s rise: Celtic societies were actually cool with women holding power. Ladies could rule, participate in politics, make art, choose who they married and even (gasp!) get divorced. If a foolish husband was dumb enough to harm his bride, by law, she could poison the jerk or even cut his head off. I think I like ancient Britain.

4. She Looked Fierce

Another thing that helped Boudica dominate her foes? Her ferocious looks. Based on ancient sources, Boudica was a pretty terrifying figure. She was a statuesque, tall woman with a “piercing gaze” and a deep, commanding voice. She also had, on a less complimentary note, “greater intelligence than often belongs to women.” Um, thanks?

5. She Had An Iconic Feature

Of all Boudica’s physical traits, one is particularly unforgettable: Her incredible hair. With her long, thick, vibrant red hair, Boudica looked like a toughened up version of Merida from Brave. Some sources even say that Boudica’s fiery locks went all the way down to her royal waist. In other words, she was a total catch—and soon enough, all the eligible gentlemen came calling.

6. She Married Up

With her high class background and her smokin’ hot looks, Boudica was always going to make a good match. But dang, did she ever deliver on the hubby front. When she was 18 years old, Boudica married the King of the Iceni Tribe, the handsome and powerful Prasutagus. The royal couple soon welcomed two daughters, but sadly, their happy days wouldn’t last long.

7. Enemies Invaded

Around 43 CE, the Roman Emperor Claudius started to conquer Britain with an iron fist. The Iceni people, who until this point had been left alone, quickly saw the writing on the wall. They knew it would only be a matter of time before the Romans invaded their lands. Boudica and her husband had to figure out how to handle their new threat—and fast.

8. She Played It Smart

At first, Boudica and the King decided to play nice with the Romans. They struck a deal: If the Romans let them continue to live the way they liked, the Iceni wouldn’t make trouble for Britain’s new invaders. For a time, this agreement worked just fine. But after just a few years, everything fell apart in spectacular fashion.

9. Her Husband Was Humiliated

According to some sources, this is the moment when Boudica’s husband became a “client king” (basically, a powerless lackey) for the Romans. Evidently, they didn’t like that his people had tried to revolt, so they punished the Iceni King with a huge demotion. While he had some independence as King, Rome fully expected to take over completely when Prastugas passed. Little did they know, that day was just around the corner.

10 She Lost Her Love

In 60 AD, King Prasutagus breathed his last—and man oh man, with him gone, all hell broke loose. You see, when the King passed, he and Boudica had two daughters, but no sons. The Celts wouldn’t have minded, but the Romans? They had a big problem with powerful women. Desperate, the King attempted to outsmart the Romans with a finicky clause in his will. Let’s see how that works out, shall we?

11 She Had Famous Fans

Boudica had fans in high places. Some historians believe that Queen Elizabeth I’s famous speech at Tilbury was inspired by Boudica’s own “Go forth and kick butt” address back in the Iron Age.

12 Even Her Name Is A Secret

Would a Boudica by any other name kick butt so thoroughly? Maybe—if only because this girl has had a lot of names. From Voadicia to Bunduca, Boadicea to Boudicca, it seems like everyone wanted to re-spell her moniker. For what it’s worth, Kenneth Jackson, a professor of Celtic languages, thinks all these options are wrong. According to him, the right spelling is Boudica (we followed his lead).