308. Boudicca and warrior women were not rare with Elodie Harper | Chalke History Festival Special 6

308. Boudicca and warrior women were not rare with Elodie Harper | Chalke History Festival Special 6

June 24, 2026 · 45 min

About this episode

This episode explores the historical significance of Boudicca and the reality of warrior women in ancient Britain through a discussion with Elodie Harper.

Think you know Boudicca? Discover the forgotten women who fought beside her. The story of Boudicca is etched into history, but what if the most powerful warrior queen was actually one of three? In this episode of History Rage , regular host Paul Bavill sits down with journalist and bestselling novelist Elodie Harper to shatter modern prejudices and Victorian myths surrounding Iron Age warrior women. If you’ve ever been told that powerful women didn’t exist in ancient Britain, prepare to have that misconception thoroughly dismantled. Inside the Episode Elodie dives deep into the archaeological and written evidence—from warrior style burials to the contemporary Roman records of Tacitus—proving that female authority, status, and military power were very real features of the ancient Celtic world. Discover the hidden history behind Elodie’s latest book, Boudicca’s Daughter . While the Romans recorded the brutal atrocities committed against Boudicca’s two unnamed daughters to humiliate their bloodline, history has long left them in their mother's shadow as mere ciphers. Elodie explains why she chose to give these women their names and voices back, exploring the psychological aftermath…

People in this episode

Host: Paul Bavill

Guest: Elodie Harper

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Boudicca’s Daughter

More episodes of History Rage

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the History Rage podcast page.