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 the 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 16 A.D. Thusnelda became the prisoner of Germanicus. 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 Battle of the Weser River. Arminius much grieved over her loss and did not marry again.

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. Nothing further is known about her -- but it was fairly common for prominent captives to be sacrificed to Jupiter.

Thumelicus was trained at the gladiator school in Ravenna and is believed to have died in a gladiator show at a fairly young age.