REVOLUTIONARY WOMEN

Discover some of history's most extraordinary female rebels and freedom fighters

- Emily Staniforth

Revolt and rebellion have been a catalyst for change in nations and cultures for thousands of years, and studying these seismic events is a vital part of exploring the societies that have come before us. When? Where? Why? These are all essential questions to ask when studying rebellions. But much of the time, the most interesting and often most important question to ask is who? Who were the people who felt so moved by their circumstances that they felt they had to revolt, often violently, against authority? 'Who?' is certainly the most important question to keep in mind as we delve into the details of some of history's female revolutionaries, many of whom have been forgotten or remain largely unknown despite the extraordinary actions they took to fight for what they believed in.

BOUDICCA C.30 CE - C.61 CE ROMAN BRITAIN

Boudicca was a Celtic queen living in East Anglia from around 30 CE. She presided over the Iceni tribe alongside her husband King Prasutagus who, despite the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 CE, had been allowed to continue ruling his kingdom. Historians know little about Boudicca's life prior to the death of Prasutagus, which is believed to have occurred some time between 60 CE and 61 CE. Upon his demise, the Iceni people were plunged into chaos when the Romans laid waste to their land. During his lifetime, Prasutagus had appointed Emperor Nero as his heir, along with his own daughters, in the hope of preserving his kingdom from Roman attack. However, the Romans had other ideas and decided to claim the land as their own.