Boudicea

   In about 60 AD, in a Roman province that would eventually become England, she and her husband, King Prasutagus, ruled the Celtic tribe of Iceni. Boudicea is described as being huge of frame, terrifying to look at, with a harsh voice and a mass of bright red hair that fell to her knees. The Romans often commented at how large the Celtic men and women were. When the king died, custom dictated that half his kingdom be transferred to Queen Boudicea, and their two daughters, Princesses Camorra and Tasca, since there was no male heir. However, Roman law didn't agree. The Romans flogged the Queen, raped her daughters, plundered her kingdom and household, took the family estates from the Iceni chieftans and made the king's relatives into slaves. Queen Boudicea joined her Iceni tribe with the Trinobantes tribe, and they began attacking Roman colonies. They conquered Camulodunum (Cholchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St. Albans), killing all the Roman citizens they encountered. The Romans sent an entire division against her, but she defeated them. She was finally overthrown when a Roman army, smaller in number than hers, attacked in a narrow valley, which negated the advantage of her superior numbers. Queen Boudicea and her daughters escaped, but later killed themselves with poison so as not to be taken prisoner. If the Romans had not defeated her in this valley, Queen Boudicea would have probably driven the Romans out of England.