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Hello and welcome to Life of the Week from History Extra, where leading historians delve into the lives of history's most intriguing and

significant figures.

What do we really know about Budica, the Isini warrior leader who rose up against Rome?

How close did she come to success? And can we work out what she looked like?

Speaking to Eleanor Evans, the archaeologist and writer Duncan Mackay traces the story of the

freedom fighter who was the scourge of the Roman Empire.

To guide us through the life of Budica today, I'm joined by archaeologist and writer Duncan Mackay, whose recent book

Echolands traces the story and rebellion of the Icenae Queen, so we're in very safe hands. Duncan,

thank you so much for joining me today. Thank you so much for having me. It's my pleasure.

We're going to start by hearing from you a quick potted biography of this woman. Who was Budica?

Why does she matter?

Budica was a British tribal leader in the first century AD just after the Roman conquest.

And she raised a rebellion against the Romans that very, very nearly saw the end of Roman rule in Britain in AD 60. She was enormously successful.

She destroyed the three main Roman towns in the southeast of Britain, Colchester, London and St.

Albans. She destroyed the part of the 9th Legion that was sent to stop the rebellion, but ultimately

...