Claudius made Colchester the capital of the new roman province of Britannia. But a site on the Thames proved better for merchants. This site, London, grew as the centre for business and trade.

 

Caratacus was still in Wales causing trouble. A few tribes joined him in a big battle against the romans near the river seven in AD 51. The romans won easily, and Caratacus fled north to the Brigantes tribe. But their queen Cartimandua, handed him over to the Romans, who were allies. Caratacus was taken to Rome in chains.

 

The Britons in Wales still fought Roman rule. In AD 60 the governor of Britain, Suetonius Paulinus, attacked Anglesey. This was a druid stronghold, from which the priests inspired the Britons in their battles against the Romans.

 

Paulinus described his enemies like this: "on the shore stood the enemy. Between the ranks dashed women in black, like the Furies, with their hair let down and screaming and brandishing flaming torches. Around the enemy host were Druids, uttering prayers and curses."

 

Paulinus and his men destroyed the Druid base. Then they heard that the Iceni of Norfolk were in revolt, led by their queen Boudicca.

 

Boudicca's husband, Prasutagus, had just died and Romans seized his property. They also treated the queen and her daughters cruelly. The Iceni rose in revolt, and with them the Trinovantes, whose land had been taken by Colchester's new Roman citizens.

 

Boudicca burned Colchester, London, and St Albans. Romans and Britons alike were tortured and killed. The warriors of the red haired queen beat the first army to tackle them but then grew wild with victory. Paulinus brought his troops back from Wales and defeated them in a bloody battle in the Midlands. About 80,000 Britons were killed and Boudicca poisoned herself.