A queen in old Britain who fought the powerful Roman empire.
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These are the new words for Boudica. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = B (a tribe) · 2 = E (to rule) · 3 = A (a tax) · 4 = C (unfair)
5 = H (angry) · 6 = F (an army) · 7 = D (a town) · 8 = G (brave)
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
Almost two thousand years ago, the Roman empire ruled the south of Britain. But Britain was not one country. It was many small tribes, and each tribe had its own land and its own leader. One tribe was the Iceni. Their king was called Prasutagus, and his wife was Queen Boudica.
The Iceni had a deal with Rome. The king could rule his own people, but he had to obey Rome and pay money to Rome. When the king died, he left a plan: his lands would go partly to Rome and partly to his two daughters. He hoped this would keep his family safe.
But Rome did not keep the promise. Roman soldiers came and took everything. They were very cruel to Boudica and her daughters, and they treated the Iceni like slaves. This was a terrible and unfair act. The Iceni did not forget it. They were very angry, and they wanted to fight back.
1. Who were the Iceni, and who was their queen?
2. What did Rome do after the king died?
1. The Iceni were a tribe in Britain. Their king was Prasutagus, and their queen was Boudica.
2. Rome broke the promise. Roman soldiers took the land, were cruel to Boudica and her daughters, and treated the Iceni like slaves.
Boudica decided to fight. First, she brought the tribes together. Tribes that were not friends before now joined her. Then Boudica stood in front of the army and spoke to them. Thousands of people were ready to follow her.
The Roman leader and most of his soldiers were far away, in another part of Britain. So the south was not well protected. Boudica and her army marched to a town called Camulodunum — today it is Colchester. The town had no strong walls. The army took the town and burned it.
After that, they marched to Londinium — today it is London. The Roman leader came back, but he had only a small army. He knew he could not save the town, so he left it. Then Boudica's army came to a third town, Verulamium — today it is St Albans. This town burned too. In a short time, Boudica's army had destroyed three towns, and Rome had lost control of the south.
1. What did Boudica do first, before she attacked?
2. Which three towns did the army destroy?
1. First she brought the tribes together, and then she spoke to the army. Thousands were ready to follow her.
2. Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans).
The Roman leader had a small army, but his soldiers were very well trained. Boudica had a very big army, but it was not organised. The Roman leader chose a clever place for the battle. He stood in a narrow space, so Boudica's big army could not go around him.
Then the two armies fought. The Roman soldiers stayed together in strong lines, and they won. Boudica lost the battle. She did not want the Romans to catch her, and she died soon after. The great revolt was over. But Rome was afraid now, and after this Rome ruled Britain more carefully.
For a long time, people forgot Boudica. But many years later, people remembered her again. They saw her as a brave queen who fought for her family and her people. Today there is a big statue of Boudica in London, next to the river. She is now a famous symbol of courage — a woman who was not afraid to fight a great empire.
1. Why did the small Roman army win the last battle?
2. How do people remember Boudica today?
1. The Roman soldiers were well trained and stayed in strong lines. The leader chose a narrow place, so Boudica's big army could not go around him.
2. As a brave queen and a symbol of courage. There is a big statue of her in London, next to the river.
This is a story about the past, so we use the past simple. We also use small words that show the order of events: first, then, after that, finally.
Write the past simple form of the verb in brackets.
1. Roman soldiers (take) the land of the Iceni.
2. Boudica (want) to fight back.
3. The army (march) to Colchester and burned it.
4. In the last battle, Boudica (lose).
1. took (irregular: take → took)
2. wanted (regular: want + -ed)
3. marched (regular: march + -ed)
4. lost (irregular: lose → lost)
Complete each gap with first, then, after that or finally.
1. Boudica brought the tribes together. (the first thing)
2. she spoke to the big army. (the next thing)
3. , the army destroyed three towns. (a later thing)
4. , Boudica lost the last battle. (the last thing)
1. First (the first action)
2. Then (the next action)
3. After that (a later action)
4. Finally (the last action)
Fill each gap. Use the past simple of the verb, or a sequence word. Read it aloud when you finish.
First, Rome (take) the land of the Iceni. Boudica brought the tribes together. After that, the army (burn) three towns. , the Romans won the last battle.
took (irregular) · Then (sequence word) · burned / burnt (past simple) · Finally (sequence word)
Use the past simple for what happened, and first / then / after that / finally to show the order.
There is a real podcast about Boudica. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast network. About 50 minutes. It plays on the Noiser site, or search "Short History Of Boudica" on Spotify.
Play on Noiser →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of Boudica in your own words. Use these steps to help you: the Iceni tribe and Queen Boudica → Rome breaks the promise and takes the land → Boudica brings the tribes together → the army burns three towns → the last battle, and Boudica loses → she becomes a famous, brave queen.
Try to use the past simple and the sequence words first, then, after that, finally, and some of the key words (tribe, rule, tax, unfair, angry, army, town, brave).
Rome was cruel and unfair to Boudica and her people. Do you think she was right to fight back? Or is fighting always a bad idea? Say what you think, and why. Use because to give a reason.
Tell me about a brave person — real or from a story. Say what they did, in order. Use the past simple and the words first, then, after that, finally.
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: