A Queen,
&
Milton Keynes
A Queen has graced what is now Milton Keynes, In 960 AD, Boudicca’s
husband, Prasutagus, was ruler of the Iceni tribe, these were a tribe of
Celtic Britons, living in and around where Norfolk is today,
The Romans had arrived in England in AD 43, and had largely taken over
England by force and ruled from several strongholds namely, Colchester,
(Camulodunm), and London, (Londinium), St Albans, (Verulanium), with
several smaller towns & villages along the old Roman road (Watling Street)
I.E. Fenny Stratford, (Magnavinium) , and Towcester , (Lactodorum).
In AD 60, Prasutagus, dies, and by Celtic law his estate & lands were to
have bequeathed to his wife, but the Romans decreed, that they would
take over his land and his camp. Boudicca, strongly resisted any
attempted to achieve this and as a reprisal, the Romans, had her publicly
flogged and had both of her daughters raped.
Boudicca, took her fighting force and gathered another tribe that had been
displaced by the Romans, the Trinovante’s and marched on Colchester,
looking for the Roman governor, Suetonius, who ,had ordered her flogging,
but he had marched a garrison, to quell, a tribe of rebellious druids in
Anglesea,
So Boudicca, realising that anyone remaining in Colchester were
sympathisers, burned Colchester to the ground and slaughtered everyone
there, about 15,000. And then marched her tribe to London believing
Suetonius was in London once again burned London to the ground and
slaughtered everyone there, and marched on to St Albans and similarly
burned this to the ground and also slaughtered everyone there also, in all
about 80.00 people.
Suetonius, on hearing of the revolt, marched his garrison of approximately
10.000, men, towards London on the A5.
Boudicca, not having achieved her objectives of ridding the country of
Suetonius and the Romans, and hopeful of meeting his army coming down
Watling Street, the opposing armies met at Cuttle Mill just south of
Towcester.
The Romans, although outnumbered, 3 to 1, highly trained in warfare, and
were heavily armed with cannons etc.
(This event is covered extensively in a large room devoted to Boudicca &
the battle in Towcester museum.)
Boudiccas forces (mostly women) were easily repressed and Boudicca was
wounded, not to be taken prisoner, she fled the scene and turned south
down Watling Street towards Magnovinium, (Fenny Stratford). But she
never made it, and died of her injuries at a small group of hamlets near
Newton Longville, and a house named in her honour “Dead Queen
Cottage”, the present day owner had a farm house built nearby and
transferred the name as it is now to, “Dead Queen Farm” on the Bletchley
to Newton Longville Road.