Thusnelda

Thusnelda ( † after 26 May 17) was a daughter of Cheruscan Segestes and the wife of Arminius Cheruscan.

Arminius selected as the winner of the Battle of Varus (9 AD), a crucial turning point in the history of the conflict between the Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire. Already promised to another man by her father, but kidnapped by Arminius, Thusnelda became his wife.

From Thusnelda the now mostly used as an insult term " bimbo " is derived.

Life

Reliable historical information about Thusnelda have survived only by Tacitus, her name only in Strabo. Your year of birth is unknown.

Towards the end of 14 or beginning of the year 15 kidnapped Arminius, the son of Cheruscan Gaugrafen Segimer, probably with their consent, the daughter of the Romans related Cheruscan Gaugrafen Segestes and married her. This exacerbated the tensions between the two families and led to violent clashes. It succeeded Segestes well, according to his own testimony, to bring Arminius in his power to keep him in custody for some time. Reason could be that, no steps were after the abduction Thusnelda been made to secure the marriage according to Germanic law, that is, by subsequent acts and formal bridal purchase and the exchange of gifts and counter-gifts.

Arminius finally came free again ( how is not known ), but Thusnelda did not go back to her father. This had them kidnap in the year 15 - she was now in an advanced state of pregnancy - and its fortified Gaugrafensitz, may bring the Eresburg at Obermarsberg or the Desenberg at Warburg. Arminius besieged Segestes there, but without success. It succeeded Segestes to send an embassy to the Romans in Cologne or Xanten, whereupon Germanicus invaded the territory of the Cherusker and the siege ring around Segestes blew. Segestes handed Thusnelda to Germanicus, who had her brought to Ravenna. In captivity, she gave birth to her and Arminius ' son Thumelicus.

On May 26, 17 Thusnelda and Thumelicus were in triumph, which was held in honor of Germanicus in Rome, carried as trophies. Her father Segestes, who had received from Germanicus a secure residence on the left bank of the Rhine, lived at this spectacle as guest of honor. About Thusnelda further life and her death today is nothing more known; also about life and the end of her son. Tacitus speaks in hints: " The boy grew up in Ravenna. From the game that has the fate driven with him later, I will report in due course. "The further life of Thusnelda and Thumelicus is in the darkness of history hidden since the announcement by Tacitus report has been lost (or perhaps not written was ).

Thusnelda as a motif in art

Thusnelda fate has encouraged artists of all eras representations. So is the statue representing the grieving Barbarin in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence Thusnelda. The most famous depiction in art comes from the German historical painter Carl Theodor von Piloty whose monumental painting Thusnelda is shown from 1873 in the Neue Pinakothek in Munich in triumph of Germanicus.

From the Cheruskerfürstin a dirty word

Thusnelda name, which was occupied still positive in the 19th century, was reinterpreted in the 20th century. Also responsible was certainly Kleist Hermannsschlacht, school reading of several generations. Thusnelda was the name given to annoying wives and female servants. This resulted in the Tusnelda, the endearment Tusschen and finally the chick, as an epithet for women or even more than a cliché superficial, vain Dummchens.