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So Manda Scott thinks that the Celts were 'peaceful until the Romans came along'? Dreeeeaaaaaaaam on, girl, try reading history books? We well know that there are myths to be expounded, but at least the rest of us don't make idiotic claims like the above? Her name may well indeed simply be an epithet rather than a personal one- perhaps even a posthumous title award her by erstwhile followers, or later Roman historians for dramatic purposes? Even if it was contemporary, it may have only been a name coined in the revolt, either by Boudicca herself or her followers. Boud- and Bod- are well known as components of place names and mean, roughly,

A retired FBI Agent from Summit County is making claims regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy that go beyond conspiracy theories. Don Adams speaks clearly and concisely when describing the events of November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was killed, and he doesn't waiver from his position that Lee Harvey Oswald did not kill President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. "It is a fact," says Adams, and he says he has the FBI documents to prove it. http://www.kwgn.com/...0,3644102.story I have always believed the same, not because of films or the many feverish websites that are knee-jerk reactions to wider fantasies, etc, but by reasoned thought as an intelligent individual (which is impossible for anyone who deviates from official 'fact' apparently?). But what do you think?

Aside from Brythonic Celtic and Romano-British history, which i have a smattering of, my comfort zone 'speciality' is latter Anglo-Saxon history (Ecgbert to Harold II), involving the Vikings and Normans in the 1066 era, and the campaigns and Politicking that made it so fascinating. Yet I also love the Crusades, Wars of the Roses and WWII

Thanks, Primus. As a non-Roman expert, I thought that, seeing as Pontius Pilate- whom we can assume was a tough army veteran- was in charge at the time of Christ (33ad), there had to be Roman Legions and not just auxilliaries, which in any case would defy the meaning of the word?

Possibly, though Rome herself was the greatest culprit in terms of 'biased' propaganda? Maybe Terry was merely trying to unpick some of those entrenched myths?

You haven't got eBay? Or dvd rental places?

Has anyone mentioned Suetonius Paulinus' brutal punitive campaigns against the post-Boudica Iceni and Trinovantes people? He seemed to relish an almost personal vendetta against them, as his eventual successor, Classicianus, put it in his letters to Nero.

Yes, good suggestions, guys. I think the ultimate, predictable choice would be World Wars I & II, which is why I omitted them. But wasn't there a WWI battle that featured three Generals, one german, one French and one British- each with "odd nationality" sounding surnames? From vague memory, the British were led by Sir John French, the Germans by Hermann Francois and the French by Ferdinand Foch

Thanks, Melvadius, I knew of the possibility of Severus, but didn't realise about much more involved black African presence. I can only muse why this isn't taught in our education system, or depicted in more Hollywood films (other than Centurion), if there is evidence?

My Roman knowledge is patchy, I admit, but over the years I think I remember seeing mention of black Roman soldiers/auxilliaries in Britain? Did they serve seperately from non-black soldiers? Are there any sources that mention which Legion they would have been part of, where stationed and from which era in this land? Did they distinguish themselves and was their experience a bad one in comparison with their white/latin comrades? Were there also black slaves brought to Brittania with the Romans? Sorry for all the questions, still absorbing as much of this fascinating era as possible. Thanks.

I believe that you get one 'phone call?

I also watched it today and was pleasantly surprised and impressed. I can't comment on the accuracy of the uniforms, salutes and tactics etc (testudo), but the action and script were intelligent and aimed at an adult audience - not the usual Hollywood treatment of dumb audiences! I did wonder about the veracity of the sea people's appearance (Picts?), and (SPOILER!) I thought that the way is clear for a follow up

A Daily Mail reader? It's actually historical fact, not fiction or revisionism, that the muslims/saracens were far more advanced than the often brutish 'Frankish' Crusading nations in many respects- street lighting, medicine/surgery, maths, architecture, social refinement and etiquette, etc. http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/effects-of-crusades.htm

Possibly he is, though I don't really always believe Wiki for such statements. Anyway, I can' t remember which of the two men uttered the connection.

The Greeks were seen by the Romans as 'barbarian' enemies (ie. Syracuse, etc?), Jones is supposing? I enjoyed his series, and did indeed raise fascinating points.

It opened in the UK today- has anyone seen it yet?

I guess so. I knew that Richard and Saladin never physically met, although they had contact via ambassadors- and Richard was good friends with Saladin's brother, even proposing the marriage of his younger sister, Joan, to him (she wasn't impressed and refused)

Thanks Melvadius, yes that's what i thought- and thanks for correcting my mention of which legions were available! My Roman history is a tad patchy, but I love the subject anyway!

I can't remember now, it was on the internet however , and challenged my understanding that the II Legion didn't fight with Paulinus? Just posting to ask those more knowledgeable.

Also, the Caesar episode made mention of at least two revolts against caesar's authority? One in Gaul and one in Spain- is this right? Altogether, Caesar dealt with a few Roman army rebellions- wasn't the first one the 'revolt' at the Northern French shores before invading Brittania, 55bc?

We are told by Roman sources that Paulinus fought Boudica's vast hoarde in pitched battle with no more than 15,000 troops, at Mancetter(?), and that the acting commander of II Gemina Legion, Postumus (based in Exeter?) refused to follow Paulinus' orders and march to his aid, for whatever reason, and later committed suicide in shame (presumably after hearing of the stunning victory?). But I read one source that stated that the II legion DID fight with paulinus at that last Celtic vs Roman pitched battle? If this is true, did the Gemina undergo a very fast march from Exeter to Paulinus after Postumus' death but leaving enough time to still join the fight? Or, is the source wrong and that II legion stayed in the S.West, suffering the shame of inertia?

We know that the Romans delved into their own sacred Temples for treasures- Julius Caesar did this after crossing the Rubicon (?) and also Nero ordered them looted, but how many other times were they plundered? And how was this viewed by Romans when their own kinsmen did it, as opposed to 'barbarians' stealing their treasure ( which was probably looted from barbarians quite often in the first place?)? Were Roman Temple 'plunderers' ever cursed?

Thanks, Vibius, good example- I only posted it for fun, really. Richard cared little for England, alright, and famously stated that he would have sold London had he found a buyer, so legend goes. Ironically, that Frenchman's proud statue stands outside the British Houses of Parliament, founded largely by other Frenchmen, Henry II and Simon de Montfort.

Thanks Melvadius and Maty, that all sounds feasible.

That's what i found frustrating- no source was given. Maybe it was just their professional intuition?