Date: May 11th
Category: Hidden Histories | Historical Resistance | Ancient Britain
She rode out of the smoke like a goddess of vengeance. Her hair wild, her chariot bristling with blades, her eyes burning with fury. Boudica — Queen of the Iceni, scourge of Roman legions, and eternal icon of resistance — didn’t ask for permission. She took it.
And over 1,900 years later, her spirit still gallops through British history, kicking down the doors of empire and patriarchy alike.
Today, we’re answering the only question that really matters when faced with injustice:
What Would Boudica Do?
🐎 Who Was Boudica?
Boudica (also spelled Boudicca or Boadicea) was the queen of the Iceni, a Celtic tribe in eastern Britain. When her husband, King Prasutagus, died in AD 60, the Romans:
- Seized her lands
- Flogged her publicly
- Assaulted her daughters
So, she did what any fierce mother-warrior would: united the tribes and burned three Roman cities to ash.
🔥 Her Greatest Hits
- Colchester (Camulodunum) – The first to fall, torched almost overnight.
- London (Londinium) – Romans fled. She burnt it to the ground.
- St Albans (Verulamium) – Another Roman stronghold erased in fire.
Her campaign left tens of thousands dead and shook the Roman Empire to its marble foundations.
✍️ Tacitus described her as tall, terrifying, and eloquent — a queen with fire in her eyes and vengeance in her blood.
🤔 What Would Boudica Do… Today?
Need a bit of Boudican spirit? Channel her when:
- You’re underestimated – She wasn’t Rome’s first choice for leader either. Look how that went.
- You’re told to sit down and smile more – She rode into battle. In a chariot. Screaming poetry.
- You’re standing up for your people, your land, or your voice – She’s proof that rage can be righteous.
🗺️ Where to Walk in Her Footsteps
You can trace Boudica’s journey across the UK — though the ash has long since faded.
- 🏛️ Colchester Castle Museum, Essex – Built on the ruins she burned.
- 🏹 Iceni Village, Norfolk – Reconstructed tribal settlement and museum.
- 🚂 King’s Cross Station, London – A (possibly mythical) burial site beneath Platform 9 or 10.
- 🪦 Verulamium Museum, St Albans – Artifacts and accounts from the city she destroyed.
📍 Bonus stop: The bronze statue of Boudica in her war chariot near Westminster Bridge – facing Parliament. Coincidence? We think not.
🛍️ New: The “What Would Boudica Do?” Collection
🏹 Inspired by the queen herself:
- “What Would Boudica Do?”
- Celtic knotwork tote bags
🛒 Join the rebellion – shop now
📚 Want to Know More?
- Boudica: Iron Age Warrior Queen by Richard Hingley & Christina Unwin
- Rebel Queen: The Trial of Boudica (BBC Radio 4 Drama)
- Museum of London: Boudica’s London
- What Would Boudica Do? Everyday Problems Solved by History’s Most Remarkable Women by E. Foley & B. Coates
💬 #WWBD Challenge
Where do you need to unleash your inner warrior queen?
Share your moments of modern resistance using #WWBD or #GuildOfQueens and tag @TimeTravellersGuild on Instagram or Threads — we’ll feature our favourites in this month’s final round-up.
