Roman Invasion Sparked by Female 'King'

A new analysis has revealed that King Verica, a central figure in early British history, was probably a woman. Verica's name appears on Iron Age coins from southern England, and the Roman historian Cassius Dio wrote about a Briton called Berikos, believed to be Verica, who fled to Emperor Claudius for help, leading to the successful Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43.

Verica was a ruler of the Atrebates, a group that originated in what is now northern France, with some members settling in southern Britain. The name Verica appears on coins from the English counties of Hampshire and West Sussex. According to archaeologist Miles Russell, names that end with 'a' are usually female in Iron Age Britain, while names that end in 'os' or 'us' are typically male.

The Roman conquest of Britain, led by Emperor Claudius, succeeded in AD 43, with much of Britain becoming a Roman province for several centuries. Cassius Dio recorded that Berikos (Verica) fled the island following an uprising and went to Emperor Claudius to ask for help. This event marked a significant turning point in British history, as it led to the Roman Empire's conquest of the island.

The analysis also points to the images on coins bearing Verica's name, which tend to show female warriors on horseback. This, combined with the name pattern, suggests that Verica was likely a woman. In fact, about 95 per cent of Iron Age British names follow the pattern of female names ending in 'a' and male names ending in 'os' or 'us'.

## Why it matters The revelation that Verica was probably a woman has significant implications for our understanding of early British history. It challenges the traditional view of Verica as a male king and highlights the importance of re-examining historical assumptions. The Roman conquest of Britain, which was sparked by Verica's appeal for help, had a profound impact on the island's culture, language, and politics, shaping the course of British history for centuries to come.