“I am not fighting for my kingdom and wealth now. I am fighting as an ordinary person for my lost freedom.”
— boudica boudica
Recorded by Roman historian Tacitus in 'Annals', describing Boudica's speech before her final battle against the Romans in Britain around 60–61 AD during her legendary uprising.
When my husband Prasutagus died in 60 AD, I thought Roman law would honour his will and protect our daughters. Instead, Roman soldiers seized our lands, flogged me like a slave, and violated my daughters. I, the queen of the Iceni, was stripped of everything. I did not raise my spear for gold or a throne — I raised it because no mother, no woman, no free person should endure what we endured. A hundred thousand rose with me. We burned Camulodunum, Londinium, and Verulamium. We made Rome tremble.