Thusnelda

Who was Thusnelda?

Thusnelda was a Germanic noblewoman who is known to history because she was captured by the prominent Roman general Germanicus during his invasion of Germania.

She 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 AD, eloped with her and married her instead.

The war between the Roman Empire and the northern German tribes continued, and in May 15 AD 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.

During her captivity, Thusnelda gave birth to her and Arminius' only child, Thumelicus.