Thusnelda

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Thusnelda (c. 10 BC - 17 AD in Rome?) was the daughter of the Cheruscan prince Segestes. Her father had intended her for someone else, but Arminius, who subsequently led a coalition of Germanic tribes to victory over Publius Quinctilius Varus and his legions in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D., eloped with her and married her instead.

The war between the Roman Empire and the northern German tribes continued, and in May 15 A.D. Thusnelda became the prisoner of Germanicus, the nephew of Emperor Tiberius, who commanded the invasion of Germany. She was pregnant and staying with her father, who was a Roman client and bitterly opposed to Arminius, and it was her father who delivered her to Germanicus, after the latter saved him by driving off Arminius forces, who had besieged him. Her husband much grieved over her loss and did not marry again. He used the fact of her capture to drum up support among the German tribes, with the result that he had enough forces to deliver two crushing defeats to the Roman army in August and September of that year.

During her captivity, Thusnelda gave birth to her and Arminius' only child, Thumelicus. On May 26, 17 A.D., Thusnelda and her son were displayed as prized trophies in Germanicus' triumphant parade in Rome — with her father watching from the stands. The next year, just prior to the Battle of the Weser River, Arminius engaged in a famous disputation with his brother Flavus, who was still serving in the Roman army. Flavus informed Arminius that Thusnelda was being well-treated — as, he claimed, was typical of Rome, which was a firm but fair ruler.

Thumelicus was trained at the gladiator school in Ravenna and is believed to have died in a gladiator show at a fairly young age. Tacitus tells us that he will report on Thumelicus' fate "at the proper time" — i.e., when he discusses the year in question in his chronicle. The main gap in his text is for 30 and 31 AD — so it could be that Thumelicus died then, aged 15 or 16.