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Details

The Eresburg as a border castle of the Cherusci and fortress of Segestes is considered to be the place where this 15/16 AD. his daughter Thusnelda (the wife of Armenius who inflicted one of their most devastating defeats on the Romans in the Varus Battle in AD 9) is said to have imprisoned.

Towards the end of the year 14 or the beginning of the year 15, Arminius kidnapped the daughter of the Cheruscan count Segestes, who was close to the Romans, and married her. This increased tension between the two families and led to violent clashes. According to his own testimony, Segestes succeeded in bringing Arminius under his control and holding him captive for a while. Arminius was eventually released again (how it is not known), but Thusnelda did not go back to her father. He had her kidnapped in 15 - she was meanwhile in an advanced state of pregnancy - and brought to his fortified Gaugrafensitz, which Eresburg near Obermarsberg. Arminius besieged Segestes there, but without success. Segestes succeeded in sending an embassy to the Romans in Cologne or Xanten, whereupon Germanicus marched into the Cheruscan territory and blew up the siege ring around Segestes. Segestes handed Thusnelda over to Germanicus, who had it brought to Ravenna. In captivity she gave birth to Arminius ’son Thumelicus.

On May 26, 17 Thusnelda and Thumelicus were carried as trophies in the triumphal procession that took place in Rome in honor of Germanicus. Her father Segestes, who had received a secure residence from Germanicus on the left bank of the Rhine, attended this play as a guest of honor.

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