Boudicca – Her Place in History and the Fortunes of Her Tribe

This book, through extensive research and analysis, endeavours to reveal what actually happened when in 60 AD Boudicca was elected to lead the united British tribes in their war against Roman rule. Despite the brutal punishment she had suffered at the hands of the Roman officials, Boudicca recovered to command a brilliantly effective military campaign against the pre-eminent super power of the ancient world.

This is the story of the momentous events that culminated in the great British uprising against the Roman occupiers and their army, and challenges the credibility of the traditional ‘histories’ of Boudicca. So, while it is about Boudicca, her life and achievements, it also seeks to follow the fate of her tribal people – the Iceni. In the aftermath of the war, many migrated through Ireland to the Scottish Highlands.

Regardless of a short lived ‘golden age’, the descendants of the Iceni have suffered a succession of ethnic cleansings over 2000 years through war, famine, migration, plague, forced emigration and invading armies. Today the remnants – represented by the McEachrans, Cochrans and the many variants of these names – are scattered throughout the world and have lost the identity of their origins.

Mark Cochrane was born in Australia but has resided in New Zealand since 1949 except for twelve years working in Australia. He lives in the Far North with his partner of thirty years, Diane, and their Fox Terrier, Fuji. Mark has worked in many fields as a merchant seaman, motor mechanic, printer and building and construction worker.

Extensive involvement with community-based and Scottish heritage organisations has proved invaluable for Mark to gain skills in writing and research, and to pursue his overriding interest in ancient history and his Scottish origins. It was these combined with interests and research into ancestry that resulted in this book, a decade-long project.