This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Bournemouth University (BU) archaeological research has revealed that Iron Age British ruler "Verica," who was central to the Roman invasion of Britain in A.D. 43, was in fact a woman. This discovery rewrites the history of early Roman Britain.
Verica was a ruler of the Atrebates, a tribe whose territory covered much of modern-day Hampshire and West Sussex. Around A.D. 40, Verica was ousted from power and fled Britain to the emperor Claudius in Rome. Claudius was treated harshly by Roman writers, who portrayed him as weak-minded and ineffective, his policy decisions being dictated by women and freed slaves.
According to Roman historian Cassius Dio, the invasion of Britain only happened because Verica persuaded Claudius to cross the English Channel. The research for Verica, presented in a new book "Caratacus: Great king of Britain," is discussed in Current Archaeology. Miles Russell, director of archaeological fieldwork at BU, who led the research, said, "Verica is assumed to have been male because of the patriarchal mindset of 19th-century classical historians.
Verica was not only critical to the special relationship between Britain and Rome in the early first century A.D. but was indisputably female." One obvious clue that Russell points out is that the name Verica ends with the letter "a," which was common for female names at the time, such as Cartimandua of the Brigantes (in Yorkshire) and Boudica of the Iceni (in Norfolk). All three were from the same time period and, although Boudica is certainly the most famous, leading a revolt against the Roman invaders in A.D. 60, Russell argues that Verica was in fact a more powerful and influential ruler of the period. Russell said, "People also assume she was a 'he' because of the term 'rex' on coins, but rex is a nongender-specific title; both male and female kings were recognized by Rome, Cleopatra of Egypt being the most famous." He continued, "The use of the Latin title rex on coins shows that Verica ruled with the full authorization of the emperor." The theory is strengthened by the imagery used by Verica on her coins, as Russell explained, "While other coin-producing British Iron Age leaders portray obviously male warriors, Verica is depicted as a slender, feminine, bare-breasted figure riding on horseback." Russell continued, "The story of Claudius committing to something only because a woman told him to fits the trope of this emperor as being submissive and henpecked.
In effect, Dio was saying that the campaign was undertaken solely because of the whisperings of a barbarian femme fatale. Verica's role was rather more central to the British expedition. Having her on board ensured the project was a success as she provided tactical information and support on the ground.
"The invasion was Claudius' great triumph—it being the only chance he had to prove he was a successful military leader. Verica provided the excuse for regime change and the emperor seized it." Verica was a major political player in late Iron Age Britain, albeit one whose story has been largely overlooked. "We should take the archaeological evidence at face value," says Russell, "and remember Verica as a female king and one of the earliest and most important of British female leaders.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
