62 HISTORY OF THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN. 



and an expedition for this purpose was conducted by 

 Flautius and other commanders with great success. 



Caractacus, a brave and warlike hero, was resolv- 

 ed to make every effort he could to repel the inva- 

 ders, and continued with inferior forces to oppose 

 and harrass the Romans for upwards of nine years, 

 till he was subdued by Ostorius Scapula. 



After this the Britons revolted again, in conse- 

 quence of the cruel treatment which Boadicea, 

 Queen of the Iceni, received from the Roman pro- 

 curators. They attacked the Romans with fury, 

 and in the contest reduced London to ashes ; such 

 of the inhabitants as remained in it were massacred, 

 and the Romans, with all other strangers, to the 

 number of 70,000, were cruelly put to the sword. 

 Encouraged by this advantage, the Britons fought 

 with renewed bravery, and did all they could to force 

 the Romans under Paulinus to a general battle. 

 Boadicea, and her two daughters attended the ar- 

 my, and Boadicea harangued her soldiers from her 

 chariot, but the Romans prevailed, and this beauti- 

 ful and accomplished woman destroyed herself by 

 poison. 



The Brigantes inhabited the northern part of this 

 island ; they were a warlike people, and appear to 

 have excelled all the other tribes in martial exploits, 

 and made terrible and successful attacks upon their 

 neighbours. They made every effort to extend 

 their dominions by subduing their own countrymen, 

 and struggled to the very last to retain the territory 

 which they possessed. They dwelt in the middle 

 part of the island, and their possessions were very 



