There was a very interesting program on the History Channel recently detailing the defeat of Boadicea's forces by the Romans around the first century a.d. The Romans were vastly outnumbered by Boadiceas forces by about ten to one, but discipline and better weapons and equipment won out in the end. At the onset of the final battle it looked like curtains for the Romans due to the immense size of the Celtic hordes. And the Celts had the Romans on the run after achieving a few victories over them.
But the Roman fighting machine attacked Boadicea's men and slaughtered them. The program showed how the Roman army lit into the Celtic horde like a buzzsaw. Using disciplined techniques and superior protection and weapons (especially put to good use in close quarter fighting was the Roman short sword) the Romans were able to cut a large swathe in the Celts.
In the end only a very small number of Roman soldiers were killed while the Celtic horde were almost totally slaughtered. Boadicea was forced to commit suicide rather than being taken prisoner. The battle proved that superior discipline, training, and strategy can enable small forces to defeat much larger opponents.
Saw that. Good show.
A few comments. Nero pulled Suetonius Paulinus out because he was too harsh with the Britons. The Romans wanted a peaceful province that paid taxes, not a desolation with no people.
I don’t hink Paulinus was responsible for the attack on Boadicea and her daughters originally.
Read about the Battle of Cannae. Hannibal did pretty much the same thing to the Romans that they did to the Celts.
You have to remember that the Celts were warriors, not professional soldiers. Under the right commander, professional soldiers always beat warriors. Sort of like comparing the Spartans to the Athenians.
If you are interested in the Roman Army and its organization, read some books By Adrian Goldsworthy. They are great.