Boudica, the fearless female leader of the Iceni in 60 AD, is a historical figure whose image has encompassed British history and identity for millennia and is still relevant today, but where does this image come from and is it pure history or simply a legend. The first writings and history of Boudica come from Classic accounts whose purpose in writing these accounts was not due to an interest in the Celts, but rather to serve Roman interests. The physical image of Boudica that is known today emerged from these Classical writings, but the intention behind her as a symbol has changed from the Classical stereotype used by the Roman writers. Over time different leaders and groups in British society have drawn on the image of Boudica to stand
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In Roman culture women had no power and were seen as unequal to their male counterparts. It was not uncommon for the women of the Celts to act as leaders; there are other examples of female leaders, including Onomaris who led her people to new land during a time of famine and Cartimanduã who ruled the Brigantes as a Roman client queen . A female leader would be seen as odd by the Classical writers and their audience and Dio had to qualify her leadership with a remark on her intelligence as a woman, he also attributes a bigger build and lower voice to Boudica, almost giving her a masculine …show more content…
In the speech Boudica states that she is ‘avenging lost freedom’ and the unjust acts done onto the Celts by the corrupt Romans. The speech is significant as it is unlikely that these words were ever Boudica’s. The atmosphere of the Celts before battle has been described by other sources as a loud and chaotic atmosphere in which any speech would be ‘disturbed by the ornaments and battle noise of the Celts’ . The general consensus is that Tacitus created this speech to voice his political agenda; specifically he points out the imperial injustices of the Roman system and the suffering that it caused. Notably Tacitus ‘turns Boudica into a wronged Roman matron’ rather then being seen as a Celtic queen when he has Boudica denounce her leadership to be seen as a wronged woman. Tacitus effectively creates sympathy for Boudica in his audience and allows them to better relate to her and thus his
In Roman culture women had no power and were seen as unequal to their male counterparts. It was not uncommon for the women of the Celts to act as leaders; there are other examples of female leaders, including Onomaris who led her people to new land during a time of famine and Cartimanduã who ruled the Brigantes as a Roman client queen . A female leader would be seen as odd by the Classical writers and their audience and Dio had to qualify her leadership with a remark on her intelligence as a woman, he also attributes a bigger build and lower voice to Boudica, almost giving her a masculine …show more content…
In the speech Boudica states that she is ‘avenging lost freedom’ and the unjust acts done onto the Celts by the corrupt Romans. The speech is significant as it is unlikely that these words were ever Boudica’s. The atmosphere of the Celts before battle has been described by other sources as a loud and chaotic atmosphere in which any speech would be ‘disturbed by the ornaments and battle noise of the Celts’ . The general consensus is that Tacitus created this speech to voice his political agenda; specifically he points out the imperial injustices of the Roman system and the suffering that it caused. Notably Tacitus ‘turns Boudica into a wronged Roman matron’ rather then being seen as a Celtic queen when he has Boudica denounce her leadership to be seen as a wronged woman. Tacitus effectively creates sympathy for Boudica in his audience and allows them to better relate to her and thus his