Back to News
Historians say King Verica persuaded Rome to invade Britain. But could Verica actually have been a queen?
UK NewsTechnology•November 5, 2026 at 5:00 AMNational

Historians say King Verica persuaded Rome to invade Britain. But could Verica actually have been a queen?

By Nicola Davis Science correspondent•The Guardian - UK News

Controversial theory that Verica, who incited Emperor Claudius’s AD43 landing, was a woman could put a new spin on British history if trueIt was a moment that changed the course of British history: in AD43, Roman troops under the emperor Claudius landed in Kent. Now, an archaeologist has claimed the British ruler who persuaded Claudius to invade was not a king but a queen.The controversial conclusion, made by Dr Miles Russell, the director of archaeological fieldwork at Bournemouth University, could throw new light on Britain’s history. Continue reading...

Controversial theory that Verica, who incited Emperor Claudius’s AD43 landing, was a woman could put a new spin on British history if true

It was a moment that changed the course of British history: in AD43, Roman troops under the emperor Claudius landed in Kent. Now, an archaeologist has claimed the British ruler who persuaded Claudius to invade was not a king but a queen.

The controversial conclusion, made by Dr Miles Russell, the director of archaeological fieldwork at Bournemouth University, could throw new light on Britain’s history.

Continue reading...

More From These Categories