WI: British Druids on Mona hold out, 60 AD
Hello everyone here is my second British scenario
In 60 AD a Roman force under Suetonius Paulinus stormed the island of Mona, also called Anglesey, in what would be known as the Menai Massacre. The island of Mona was inhabited by fanatical Druids, Ordovices warbands and according to Tacitus also had a “considerable population” of both island inhabitants and refuges. The major problem for the Romans was that they had to cross the Menai Strait, in boats, and then battle the British warriors who occupied the heights above them. In OTL the Roman’s pushed the British back, from the beach, and chased them into their villages and sacred groves where, the defenders, were slaughtered. My question is could the Romans have been defeated and forced to retreat from the island? Here are some factors that I think work in the British’s favor, they have the high ground, they are defending their scared shrines and according to Tacitus some British women carrying flaming brands “ both inspired the British and Terrified the Romans.”, so they do have moral on their side. Let’s assume that that the British are able to drive the Roman’s into retreat what would be the long term results? Would the Romans come back and try to take the island again? Would the Druids resistance continue to insight rebellions throughout Britain? What if Paulinus was killed on Mona, how would that effect Boudicca’s rebellion?
Sources
The Last Stand of the Druids! By Rick Priestley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menai_Massacre
Tacitus: Agricola