In a show of brutal arrogance, the local governor, had East Anglia declared a slave province.
To make the point about exactly who owned whom
Boudicca was then treated to a public flogging while her two daughters were raped in front of her.
In 60 AD,Boudicca rose up in furious revolt, quickly gathering an army bent on vengeance.
With the cream of the Roman troops tied down suppressing an insurgency in north Wales
Boudicca's army marched towards the place which most symbolised the now-hated Rom
An colonisation of Britain, Colchester.
It helped that it was lightly garrisoned.
After a firestorm march through eastern England
Burning Roman settlements one by one
It was the city's turn.
The frightened Roman colonists then had to fall back to the one place
They were sure that they were going to be protected by their emperor and their gods
the great temple of Claudius.
If the terrified Romans, thought they were going to escape the implacable anger of Boudicca
They were seriously out of luck.
With thousands of them huddled terrified, in the temple above these foundations
She began to set light to it.
They must have been able to smell the scorch and smoke and fire coming towards them,
as the whole of their spanking new imperial city burned down with themselves and everything else here buried in smoke and ash.
Thousands died in this place. Boudicca had her revenge.