Segestes

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Segestes was a prince of the Germanic tribe of the Cherusci and a close ally of the Romans, who appears in ancient tradition in connection with his relationship with Arminius and the revolt against Rome.

Segestes maintained good relations with the Romans and had even received Roman citizenship, acting as a rival to the Arminius family. In the year 9 AD he warned the Roman governor Varus of the plans for uprising and even offered him to take him prisoner together with the other leading Germanic tribes, but was not heard. After the Roman defeat ( Varus Battle ) he was forced to take part in the uprising. However, he soon turned himself into open combat against Arminius, who had taken his daughter Thusnelda as his wife against his will, and was besieged by his tribesmen in 15, but liberated by the Roman general Germanicus . Segestes delivered his daughter Thusnelda, who was pregnant at the time, as a prisoner to Germanicus. Nothing is known about the further fate of Thusnelda; also the report announced by Tacitus about the fate of her son Thumelicus , who was born in captivity and raised in Ravenna, has not survived.

The ancient sources still report that Segestes was a spectator at the triumph of Germanicus in the year 17 , whereby his children Segimundus and Thusnelda as well as his grandson Thumelicus were presented as prisoners. Germanicus then assigned him a residence "in the old province" (probably Gaul ).

The most extensive mention of Segestes can be found in the Annals of Tacitus, 1, 55–59. There are other mentions in Velleius Paterculus , Florus and Cassius Dio .

literature

personal data
SURNAME Segestes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Germanic prince
DATE OF BIRTH 1st century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 1st century