Massacre of the Ninth Legion

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Massacre of the Ninth Legion
Date 60 or 61 Location unknown site, near Camulodunum Result Decisive British victory
Belligerents
Roman Empire	Iceni, Trinovantes, and other British tribes
Commanders
Quintus Petillius Cerialis	Boudica ?
Strength
2,500	Unknown, possibly 10,000 +
Casualties and losses
c. 2,000	Unknown

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The Massacre of the Ninth Legion was an event during the revolt against Roman rule in Britain launched by Boudica, queen of the Iceni of Norfolk. Attempting to relieve the besieged colonia of Camulodunum (Colchester, Essex), the Legio VIIII Hispana, led by Quintus Petillius Cerialis, suffered an overwhelming defeat. The event is recorded by the historian Tacitus in his Annals.^[1]

Contents 1 Background 2 Defeat of the Ninth Legion 3 Aftermath 4 References

[edit] Background

In AD 60 or 61, the south-east of the island rose in revolt under Boudica, while the governor, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, was campaigning in Wales. The Iceni were joined by the Trinovantes, and their first target was Camulodunum, formerly the Trinovantian capital, now a colonia or settlement of discharged Roman soldiers. Tacitus reports it was poorly defended, and archaeology confirms its former military fortifications had been levelled by this time.^[2] The colonists appealed for aid to the procurator, Catus Decianus, who sent only two hundred auxiliaries. Camulodunum was burned, and the temple, where the last of the defenders took refuge, fell after a two-day siege.

[edit] Defeat of the Ninth Legion

The Ninth Legion, commanded by Quintus Petillius Cerialis, attempted to relieve the siege. It is unlikely that the entire legionary strength of some 5,000 men was involved in the battle: at this time detachments of the legion were spread out across a network of small forts. At short notice Cerialis was likely only able to call on the first cohort, possibly two others, auxiliary infantry, and a unit of some 500 cavalry - a total of perhaps 2,500 men. They may have taken the Roman road to Camulodunum from Durovigtum (Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire), a march of some 75 miles which would have taken three days.^[3] However, they arrived too late to relieve the colonia. They met the Britons and were routed. Tacitus says their entire infantry strength was wiped out, with only Cerialis and his cavalry escaping to their fortified camp.

[edit] Aftermath

While the Romans regrouped, the rebels destroyed two more cities, Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans, Hertfordshire). Ultimately, Suetonius Paulinus was able to force the Britons into a pitched battle, probably somewhere in the Midlands, and despite being heavily outnumbered, defeated them. The army in Britain was reinforced to the tune of two thousand legionaries, eight cohorts of auxiliaries (about 4,000 men) and a thousand cavalry.^[4] Quintus Petillius Cerialis went on to aid his brother-in-law Vespasian's campaign for the empire in 69, and successfully suppressed the rebellion of Civilis in Gaul later the same year. He was appointed governor of Britain from 71 to 74, and was consul in 74 and 83.

[edit] References