Bonduca is the British warrior-queen. She is known in history as the Iceni (East Anglia) queen Boudicca, now popularly called Boadicea (a linguistic reformulation without authority or meaning). Bonduca has defeated the Romans in battle, and revels in her triumph. But she is wild and tempestuous, and her kinsman Caratach continually reminds her that female indiscipline is no substitute for the manly fortitude and control that the Romans possess. Before the second battle, Bonduca and her daughters pray to the gods, but the altar does not catch fire until Caratach prays to the god of war. In the ensuing battle, Bonduca ruins everything by charging full-tilt at the Romans. The Britons are defeated, and Bonduca retreats with her Daughters to a fort, where the Romans besiege them. Rather than submit to capture, Bonduca drinks poison and dies.
BONVICA
The Second Daughter of Bonduca is named Bonvica, but the name is used only once in the text (when she signs a letter).
CARATACH
Caratach is a British warrior, the uncle of young Hengo. He is known in Roman history as Caratacus (the popular formulation, Caractacus, is found in only one inferior historical manuscript) in British history he is better known as Caradoc. Although he fights alongside his queen, Bonduca, he admires the Romans, and repeatedly argues that Britons should treat them with respect. He is disgusted by Bonduca's undisciplined generalship, and continually lectures her on the need for manly fortitude and discipline such as the Romans possess. When Corporal Judas and his soldiers are caught in the act of thieving, Caratach prevents them from being executed. Before the second battle, Bonduca and her daughters pray to the gods, but the altar does not catch fire until Caratach prays to the god of war. When the Daughters of Bonduca try to kill Junius, Curius and Decius, Caratach rescues them; the daughters explain that they want revenge because they were raped by Roman soldiers, but Caratach tells them, "you should have kept your legs close then." He fights several Romans, and exhausts them all. Caratach is furious when Bonduca's rash charge loses them the battle, and he protects Hengo during the retreat. When Judas and his soldiers try to capture Hengo, Caratach kills and beheads a soldier. He and Hengo hide out on a rock in the forest. Penius's body is taken past the rock, and his bearers permit Caratach to mourn for him. When Judas kills Hengo, Caratach kills him with a stone. He fights off Petillius and Junius, who have been sent to assassinate him. Finally, the entire Roman army captures him, but he is not displeased because he admires Rome so much. Suetonius eulogizes Caratach, and they all march off to Rome together. [Historically, he fled to Cartimandus, queen of the Yorkshire Brigantes, and she surrendered him to Rome where, according to Tacitus, Claudius spared his life to honor his valor.]
CORPORAL JUDAS
Corporal Judas commands four starving soldiers. They sneak off to the British camp and steal food, but they are captured. Caratach, an admirer of Romans, prevents them from being executed. Judas then lets slip that a Roman officer, Junius, is in love with the Second Daughter of Bonduca. He and the soldiers return to camp with a letter for Junius from the Second Daughter. After the battle, Judas and the soldiers try to capture young Hengo, but Caratach prevents them and beheads a soldier. Later, when Caratach and Hengo are hiding in the forest, Judas and Macer tempt Hengo with some food, and Judas shoots Hengo dead. Caratach then kills Judas with a stone.
CURIUS
Curius is a Roman officer. Penius describes to him his fears about the ensuing battle. Curius is a friend of Junius, who confides in him about his love-letter from the Second Daughter of Bonduca. Curius, Junius and Decius steal from the battle to meet her, but the Daughters of Bonduca capture them, and try to kill them. Caratach rescues the three Romans. Curius celebrates Junius's rejection of love, and teases Petillius about his love for the First Daughter.
DAUGHTER of BONDUCA, FIRST and SECOND
The Daughters of Bonduca were raped by Romans and thirst for revenge.
The First Daughter prays to the gods for revenge, but no flame rises from the altar. She assists her sister in the capture of Junius and his friends, and the Daughters prepare to kill them in order to revenge their rapes. But Caratach rescues the Romans and tells the Daughters that they are to blame for their rapes because they failed to keep their legs closed. When Bonduca and her daughters are besieged in the fort, the First Daughter taunts the Romans, and is enthusiastic in committing suicide with a sword.
Bonduca's Second Daughter is named Bonvica, but the name is only used once in the text. When she learns from Corporal Judas that Junius is in love with her, she sends him a letter inviting him to meet her. During the battle Junius and two friends come to find her, but she and the First Daughter capture them and prepare to kill them in order to revenge their rapes. But Caratach rescues the Romans and tells the Daughters that they are to blame for their rapes because they failed to keep their legs closed. When Bonduca and her daughters are besieged in the fort, the Second Daughter tries unsuccessfully to persuade Bonduca to act pitiful and soften the hearts of the Romans. She is initially reluctant to commit suicide, but is persuaded by her sister and mother.
DECIUS
Decius is a Roman officer. He is a friend of Junius, who confides in him about his love-letter from the Second Daughter of Bonduca. Decius, Junius and Curius steal from the battle to meet her, but the Daughters of Bonduca capture them, and try to kill them. Caratach rescues the three Romans. Decius celebrates Junius's rejection of love. He is in charge of the breaching troops during the attack on Bonduca's fort. He teases Petillius about his love for the First Daughter. He accompanies Petillius and Junius in their mission to kill Caratach, but he is separated from the other two and so does not fight him.
DEMETRIUS
Demetrius is a Roman officer. Along with the other Romans, he celebrates Junius's rejection of love.
DRUIDS
The Druids sing during the Britons' prayers to the gods.
DRUSIUS
Drusius (also called Drusus in the text) is a Roman officer, an associate of Penius. He listens to Penius's fears about the ensuing battle, and watches it with him from a distance. When Penius kills himself, Drusius takes his body back to the camp; on the way, he allows Caratach to mourn over it.
DRUSUS
Alternative spelling of Drusius, often used in the text.
GUIDE
A British guide leads Judas and his soldiers back to the Roman camp. He may or may not be the same Guide who leads Junius, Decius and Petillius to Caratach's hideout.
HENGO
Hengo is the young son of Bonduca, and the heir to the throne. He is small but feisty. Caratach protects him when the Romans defeat the Britons in battle, and they escape together. Corporal Judas and his soldiers try to capture Hengo, but Caratach saves him. Caratach and Hengo hide out on a rock in the forest. Judas tempts the hungry Hengo into the forest with a piece of meat, and then shoots him dead. Caratach avenges the murder by killing Judas with a stone and then laments over Hengo's body.
HENGO'S BROTHER
A "ghost character." Hengo recalls seeing him die.
HERALD
A Roman herald reads out a proclamation against love in the army, directed at the melancholic Junius.
JUNIUS
Junius is a Roman officer. He is melancholy because he loves the Second Daughter of Bonduca, whom he has only seen from a distance. As a result, he has lost his sense of Roman duty, and his regiment is leaderless. The other soldiers, especially Petillius, mock him. Junius then receives a letter from the Second Daughter, inviting him to meet her. He confides in Curius and Decius, and during the battle they sneak off to meet the Daughter. But the two Daughters of Bonduca capture them, intending to kill them in revenge for their rapes by Roman soldiers. Caratach rescues the three Romans because he is an admirer of Rome. The ordeal cures Junius of love, and he becomes a valiant soldier once more. He fights Caratach in the battle until he is exhausted. Later, Petillius falls in love with the First Daughter, and Junius mocks him in a reversal of their previous roles. Junius and Petillius hunt Caratach, and fight him bravely, but they do not kill him.
MACER
Macer is a Roman lieutenant. He has no function in the plot aside from carrying messages and bringing news. He accompanies Judas in his successful mission to kill Hengo.
NENNIUS
Nennius is a British warrior. He is a loyal supporter of Bonduca throughout the play.
PENIUS
Penius is a heroic Roman general, famous for his prowess in battle. He is noble too, and once allowed Caratach to rescue young Hengo during a battle. For five years, he has been the commander of the Roman forces in Britain. But after a recent battle, in which the British forces decimated the Romans, he has become pessimistic, and Suetonius has taken over his role. Penius refuses to fight in the next battle, and his soldiers angrily march into battle against his orders. He watches the battle from a distance. When the Romans win, Penius is ashamed, and Petillius persuades him to commit suicide. Caratach mourns over his body.
PETILLIUS
Petillius mocks Junius's love for the Second Daughter of Bonduca and tries unsuccessfully to get him drunk. In the battle he fights Caratach until he is exhausted. When Junius rejects love, Petillius and the other Romans celebrate. Petillius persuades the shamed Penius to commit suicide and die a Roman death. But then, during the siege of Bonduca's fort, Petillius falls in love with the First Daughter of Bonduca. He sees her commit suicide, and suffers love-melancholia. Junius mocks him, in a reversal of their previous roles. Petillius is so weakened by emotion that Suetonius takes away his command of the regiment. Petillius is then sent with Junius and Decius to hunt for Caratach in the forest. Junius suggests to Petillius that if he performs a noble deed, he will be given back command of the regiment. When they find Caratach, Petillius fights him bravely. Suetonius therefore returns to him his regiment.
PROSUTAGUS
A "ghost character." Prosutagus is the deceased father of Bonduca's daughters. According to Caratach, he was very noble.
REGULUS
Regulus is a Roman officer. He discusses the battle with Penius, and, after Penius's death, accompanies his body back to the Roman camp.
SERVANT
A servant of the Second Daughter of Bonduca gives her letter to Junius via Judas. Later, he identifies Junius to the Second Daughter.
SOLDIERS under JUDAS
Corporal Judas commands four starving soldiers who accompany him on his missions. They try to steal from the Britons, but are caught, and are only saved from execution by the intervention of Caratach. When they try to capture young Hengo, Caratach fights them and beheads one of them.
SOLDIERS under PENIUS
Penius's soldiers are disgusted with his pessimism before the battle with Britons. They march into battle despite his order to stay put. After winning the battle, they demand his death, but Penius has already killed himself. They accompany his body to the camp.
SUETONIUS
Suetonius is a Roman general. In history he was Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. He has taken over command of the Roman forces in Britain from Penius, who has become pessimistic after a defeat in battle. To counter Penius's gloomy pronouncements, Suetonius orders drink to be dispersed, and the size of the threat played down. After the battle, he sends Petillius to talk to Penius. He leads the attack on Bonduca's fort. When he learns that Petillius has succumbed to love-melancholia, he takes away his command of the regiment. He sends Petillius, Decius and Junius to kill Caratach. At the end of the play, Suetonius and the Roman army arrive at the rock where Caratach is hiding. Suetonius restores Petillius's command of his troops in recognition of his valiant fight with Caratach. Then he orders Caratach to come to Rome. Caratach, an admirer of Rome, agrees, and Suetonius eulogizes him. [Historically, Suetonius had to rush back from a campaign on the Irish Sea during which he had subdued Mona (Anglesey). His advance force was insufficient to quell Boudicca's revolt, and he was compelled to retreat along Watling Street, leaving Londinium and Verulamium to be sacked. He regrouped with his main force and put down the rebellion, but his brutality towards the rebels forced his recall to Rome.]