Rebellion

Abstract The initial years of the emperor Nero’s reign witnessed the expansion of Roman territory in Britain, as campaigns extended the province into south-western, western, and central Britain. One notable event was a marital dispute between the friendly queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes and her husband, Venutius. Roman troops marched to the north to defend her from the uprising against her rule. The provincial governor, Suetonius Paulinus, was campaigning in north-west Wales to conquer the island of Anglesey in 60 when a serious uprising broke out in eastern Britain as Boudica led the Iceni and the Trinovantes in an attempt to drive the Romans out of Britain. The Britons burnt the newly established colony at Camulodunum and its temple of Claudius and then turned their ire on the populations of the newly established port town of London and the pro-Roman oppidum at Verulamium. For a while it looked as if Rome might have to withdraw from Britain, although Paulinus won a significant battle against far larger numbers of Britons, and Boudica died. Not all the Britons turned against Rome, and the support of the friendly king Togidubnus was a vital factor in Rome’s recovery of the province. Paulinus embarked on severe retribution against the Britons who had rebelled and had to be replaced by a governor who followed a more diplomatic path. By the time Nero committed suicide in Rome in 68, southern Britain was again fully under Roman control.