Captain’s List — Boudicca #9

Corsair’s Profiles in Leadership Series

The captains of fiction and history have much to teach us. They are leaders who often serve in times of great challenge and turmoil. Articles in this series focus on an individual captain and utilizes their quotes, their writings, and their actions to inspire core leadership elements in all of us.

Queen of The Iceni

Like our last female Captain, Boudicca was also a Queen. Although unlike Shih, Boudicca was born into a royal family. She soon found herself married to King Prasutagus of the Iceni.

The Iceni were one of many tribes of Celts that lived in the Roman occupied areas of Britain. At the time of Boudicca, the Romans had returned for a second time to British Isles. This time they had come to stay.

When Boudicca’s husband died, he had no male heirs. In Celtic tradition, he left leadership of his tribe to his wife and daughters. Roman leaders used this opportunity to assert their own control. Or at least they tried… Boudicca was clearly not one to be trifled with.

“She was huge of frame, terrifying of aspect, and with a harsh voice. A great mass of bright red hair fell to her knees: She wore a great twisted golden necklace, and a tunic of many colors, over which was a thick mantle, fastened by a brooch. Now she grasped a spear, to strike fear into all who watched her……” — Dio Cassius

A Women Scorned

After her lands were taken and her daughters accosted, Boudicca organized the Iceni and their neighboring tribes. She had been stripped of her title by the Romans but her countrymen still made her the leader of their revolt.

She brought together both men and women of her tribe. They fell upon the occupying Roman legions with incredible fury. It was a campaign of total destruction and fear, designed to drive the Romans from their lands and Briton entirely. It almost worked…

The Britons were used to the leadership of women, but she came back before them not as a queen of a distinguished line, but as an ordinary woman, her body cut by the lash avenging the loss of her liberty, and the outrages imposed on her daughters. Roman greed spares neither their bodies, the old or the virgins. The gods were on our side in our quest for vengeance, one legion had already perished, the others are cowering in their forts to escape. They could never face the roar of our thousands, least of all our charge and hand to hand fighting. When the Romans realize their small force and the justice of our cause, they will know it is victory or death. This is my resolve, as a woman- follow me or submit to the Roman yoke. — Webster

While ultimately unsuccessful, Boudicca was able to liberate her lands for a time. She utilized an array of tactics, embracing fear most of all. But she also made use of guerilla-style operations, overwhelming force when available, mobile weaponry (such as the chariot), and the immense passion and pride of her people. She was nothing, if not resourceful.

Fear is a terrible tool, but a leader who is feared by their enemies has a powerful weapon, indeed. Leaders can learn from her ability to harness her people’s passion to instill fear in her more powerful opponents. They will also benefit by drawing inspiration from her resourcefulness. Leaders who model Boudicca’s willingness to utilize any tool which provides advantage will be well rewarded. She was a truly exceptional Captain of history.

To read from an original source on Boudicca and other Roman history:

Thanks to Audrey Abbey for the inspiration!