The Iceni - East Anglian British tribe who fell foul of the Romans
The Iceni or Eceni were a tribe of eastern Britain during the Iron Age and early Roman era. Their territory included present-day Norfolk and parts of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, in what became East Anglia. They were a significant power in eastern Britain during Claudius' conquest of Britain in AD 43, in which they initially allied with Rome - whose subsequent increasing influence resulted in a revolt in AD 47.
The meaning of the name Iceni is uncertain, although it has been suggested that it came from the Iken (old name for the River Ouse), from whence the Iceni are believed to originate.
Archaeological evidence of the Iceni includes torcs — heavy rings of gold, silver or electrum worn around the neck and shoulders. The Iceni began producing coins (pictured) around 10 BC. Their coins featured a "face/horse" design, and in some early issues, found most numerously near Norwich, the horse was replaced with a boar. Some coins are inscribed ECENI, making them the only coin-producing group to use their tribal name on coins.
After the Roman invasion of Britain, the Iceni retained their territory as a Brittonic client kingdom. However, in AD 47 the Romans attempted to enforce a law forbidding the carrying of weapons and the Iceni rose in revolt. The Romans quashed it, and Prasutagas was established as a client king, and was complaisant to the Romans. He thought it prudent to assign half his personal property to the Roman emperor in his will - as was custom.
When Prasutagas died in 61 AD, Roman officials interpreted his will as the tribe's submission to the Roman state. They moved to appropriate Iceni lands, and to disarm the tribe. Prasatugas' widow Boudicca (previously known as Boadicea) protested, and was publicly flogged. She sought vengeance, and to defend the tribe, and later rallied the Iceni and the neighbouring Trinivantes tribe in revolt against Roman rule.
It was only with some difficulty that the Romans managed to quell the Iceni uprising, and Boudicca took her own life rather than fall into the hands of her enemies. The Romans established a new capital in the Iceni lands at Caistor-by-Norwich. No record of the Iceni exists after this point, though legends suggest that large numbers fled west into Wales and eventually settled in Ireland.
Further reading
Links to external websites are not maintained by Bite Sized Britain. They are provided to give users access to additional information. Bite Sized Britain is not responsible for the content of these external websites.