| “ | You think I'm awful. And that your father is a traitor. But without him, we'd all be hanging out there. Back when I had to marry your father, I hated him. And that was a good thing. We are women, Thusnelda. When you love someone, you give everything away... and you'll be disappointed. It's only when you hate... that you learn how to get what it is you really want. | ” |
| — Irmina to Thusnelda[src] | ||
Irmina is a supporting character on the Netflix original series Barbarians. She is portrayed by Eva Verena Müller.
Irmina is Segestes' wife and a Cheruscan noblewoman.
Early Life[]
Irmina's marriage to her husband, Segestes, was arranged by her family and she hated him for it. The two later went on to have two children, Thusnelda and Ansgar.[1]
Throughout the Series[]
Season 1[]
Attacked by Rome[]
Irmina and her husband, Segestes, intend to sell their daughter, Thusnelda, to Reik Hadgan for the bridal price of five mares. However, Thusnelda is against the idea of being sold. Hadgan remarks that while Thusnelda’s hips are small, she has good teeth and strong muscles.
Irmina runs out to check on her son, Ansgar, after he is left bleeding on the ground after being hit over the head with the handle of a sword by Metellus, who was attacking Thusnelda for disrespecting Rome.
Irmina and Thusnelda take Ansgar to a seeres named Runa. She chants repeatedly while rubbing a white paste on his face. Thusnelda apologizes for her actions, which led to Ansgar’s injuries, but Irmina is overwhelmed with grief and slaps Thusnelda.
Although Ansgar survived his encounter with the Roman guards, he did not fully recover. He’s conscious but remains mostly in an unresponsive state. Irmina finds him sitting in the middle of the village but can’t find it in her to approach him.[2]
Betraying the Tribe[]
Segestes is looked at as a traitor by the other tribe members for going to Varus about the eagle, which resulted in Folkwin Wolfspeer's family being crucifed. Irmina watches helplessly as he is chastised. Segestes claims this is Folkwin’s fault. He betrayed the reik and challenged Rome. Segimer pushes Segestes to the ground and shames everyone for arguing in front of the dead in such a manner and dismisses the tribe.[3]
Putting Ansgar out of his Misery[]
Irmina and Segestes watch as Segimer and Thusnelda takes Folkwin's family down from the cross. Arminius arrives and commands Segestes to help them despite Varus' initial orders to leave them hanging.
Irmina speaks with Thusnelda as she bathes Ansgar. Irmina knows what Thusnelda thinks of them. She thinks that Irmina is awful and that Segestes is a traitor. However, Irmina claims that without him, they would all be hanging. Back when she first met Segestes, she hated him. And that was a good thing. She informs Thusnelda that one day she’ll learn how to use her hate to get what she really wants. Thusnelda is clever. Irmina believes she could marry into a powerful tribe. To a husband she can control. This is why she questions why Thusnelda continues to hang onto Folkwin.
Irmina, Segestes, and Thusnelda attend the funeral of Folkwin's family. Ansgar unexpectedly appears at the funeral and repeats the phrase "They’re burning!" Irmina begs him to stop as his actions are a disgrace, but he continues until Thusnelda takes him home.
Irmina and Segestes lay awake at night as Ansgar repeatedly slamming his head into the support beam. Irmina says that they wouldn’t let an animal suffer so and it would be cruel to allow Ansgar to. Meaning that the boy should be put out of his misery. So, the following morning, Irmina walks Ansgar into the woods and leads him to a cliff. She suggests they play "the wolf is coming." Irmina then ties a blindfold over his eyes and turns him towards the cliff. Ansgar inches closer and closer towards the cliff. He nearly walks off until Thusnelda comes to his rescue, saving him just as he reaches the edge. She then turns her attention towards her mother, grabbing her by the throat and holding her over the edge of the cliff, though she doesn’t have it in her to push Irmina over.
Irmina returns home to find Segestes being attacked by Hadgan and his men. He’s come looking for Thusnelda. Hadgan tells Segestes that he’s owed a bride, but Segestes and Irmina explain that Thusnelda is gone. Hadgan is either owed a bride or five mares, but Segestes refuses to give him anything. So Hadgan promises retribution.[4]
Rising to Power[]
Runa returns from the bog carrying Segimer’s sword, revealing that the reik is dead. She stakes his blade into the ground as Segestes and Irmina look on along with the rest of the Cherusci tribe. Segestes says that their tribe needs a reik, so he grabs Segimer’s sword and claims the position. Irmina is overjoyed, looking at the crowds’ reaction, who don’t appear as enthusiastic. She’s pleased, but she also questions why Segimer went into the bog. Segestes believes he merely gave up.
Segestes assures the tribe that they will never go hungry or dry. He claims that he and Varus are friends, so he can negotiate with the Romans. Segestes and Irmina then invite the tribe to drink with them.
The following morning, Hadgan and the Chatti invade Cherusci. His men have the village surrounded and they aren’t leaving until he receives his bride. Hadgan orders his men to kill a villager. And for every day that goes by that he doesn’t have his bride, he'll kill a female Cheruscan, starting with Irmina. Arminius arrives and declares that Cherusci is under the protection of Rome. Segestes gathers the village on Arminius’ behest. As the son of Segimer, Arminius claims his birthright as Reik of Cherusci.[5]
Thusnelda's Wedding[]
Irmina and Segestes learn that Arminius and Thusnelda are engaged to be married. Not much later, the wedding ceremony commences and the entire tribe is in attendance, as well as the neighboring tribes. After the wedding and the feast, Arminius and Thusnelda are blinded together by Runa in front of the entire village, though Irmina and Segestes leave as they don't approve of the marriage as Arminius didn't even ask for his approval.
Irmina and Segestes swear their loyalty to Arminius and Thusnelda. The two intend to leave soon and are putting the village in the care of Segestes. Before parting ways, Segestes tells Thusnelda that they’re more alike than she’s willing to admit.
Irmina and Segestes get a message from a merchant that was intended for Thusnelda; she saw an old friend of Thusnelda's from the eye hut in the Roman camp. The merchant reveals that the slave didn’t look much like a dyer, and he had blond hair. They believe that the slave is actually Folkwin and that Arminius never killed him. With this knowledge, they can take down Arminius.[6]
Appearances[]
Season 1[]
Trivia[]
- Irmina is not a historical figure. She was created specifically for the series.