| “ | Segimer was always a strong leader. He gave his sons to preserve peace. He gave his life to preserve peace. But I'm afraid he received little for all that he sacrificed. As your reik... I will make sure your stomachs are full, your drinking horns will overflow, and there will always be a meal waiting for you over your fire. | ” |
| — Segestes to his tribe[src] | ||
Segestes is a supporting character on the Netflix original series Barbarians. He is portrayed by Bernhard Schütz.
Segestes is a Cheruscan nobleman who sought to maintain the alliance between the tribes and Rome at all costs, even at the perception of treachery from his own people, who openly referred to him as a Roman lover.[1] Ultimately, Segestes desired most to become reik so that he may lead the Cherusci, and he even obtained this goal for a short period of time before Arminius returned to claim leadership and marry his daughter, Thusnelda.[2] This birthed the deep-seeded hatred Segestes has for Arminius.[3]
Early Life[]
Segestes grew up within the Cherusci tribe, where he was arranged to marry his wife, Irmina. Together, they had two children — Thusnelda and Ansgar.
Throughout the Series[]
Season 1[]
Loyal to Rome[]
Segestes and his wife, Irmina, intend to sell their daughter, Thusnelda, to Reik Hadgan for the bridal price of five mares. However, Thusnelda is very much against the idea of being sold. Hadgan remarks that while Thusnelda’s hips are small, she has good teeth and strong muscles. As he shows Hadgan out, Segestes reminds him that he’s not only buying a wife, he’s buying an ally. Hadgan agrees and promises to return for her in half a moon.
The Romans arrive on horseback with a message. Augustus, the emperor of Rome, has appointed a new governor of Germania, Senator Publius Quinctilius Varus. Moving forward, Rome will no longer waive their tribute. Each tribe is expected to pay tribute with 20 cows or 50 centners of grain, and they have three days.
Segimer questions why Rome has broken their agreement, especially after he gave them his sons. He orders Segestes to send word to every tribe for a meeting, though Segestes feels it’s not worth the effort as the tribes will never unite. Segimer retorts that they don’t have much choice in the matter.
As planned, a meeting of the Germanic tribes convenes. Either they allow the Romans to subjugate them or they fight back. However, the tribes can barely manage to be within feet of each other without a fight ensuing. Segestes advises them against fighting the Romans as they’re outnumbered. He believes that they need peace, though Gernot refuses to pay any tribute and is willing to go to war. They decide to put it to a vote, and Reik Segimer announces that they will keep the peace, though Rurik is not pleased.
The Romans are unimpressed with the tribe’s tribute. As a show of loyalty to Rome, Metellus asks Segimer to kiss their standard; a golden eagle mounted onto a staff. When Segimer refuses, Segestes kneels down to kiss the standard, but Thusnelda intervenes. When Ansgar comes to her rescue, Metellus hits him over the head with the handle of his sword, knocking Ansgar unconscious and splitting his head open. In fear of what may occur next, Segimer bows down to Rome and kisses the standard.
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. So she heads back inside with tears in her eyes. Instead, Segestes joins him in the dirt, holding him close.
Thusnelda and Folkwin return with the standard they stole from Rome. While the Cherusci celebrate, Segestes sneaks off on a horse.[4]
Betraying the Cherusci[]
Segestes arrives at the Romans’ camp. He wishes to speak with Varus about the eagle. Pelagios is Varus’ interpreter and relays Segestes' message to Varus. Segestes has informed Varus that Folkwin was the sole perpetrator in the theft of the standard. So Varus asks for Segestes to show him the way to Cherusci. He warns Segestes that he will be crucified if he’s lying. Segestes informs Varus that the tribes are divided, but he believes that he can influence them in Rome’s interest, but only if he is reik. Varus replies that he didn’t come to Germania to help Segestes in his advancement.
Segestes arrives on horseback along with Varus and a large group of soldiers. Thusnelda asks her father, and he reveals that he told Varus that Folkwin stole the standard. Thusnelda tries to warn Folkwin's family, but she isn't fast enough. Segestes arrives and tells Thusnelda better them than her as Folkwin's family is taken away and crucifed.
After Varus leaves, Hanno and Eigil confront Segestes for his treachery. Irmina watches helplessly as he is chastised. Segestes claims this is Folkwin’s fault. He betrayed the reik and challenged Rome. However, Hanno and Eigil remain true, reminding Segestes how he even rides with the men who made his son a cripple. Segimer pushes Segestes to the ground and shames everyone for arguing in front of the dead in such a manner and dismisses the tribe.[1]
Negating His Deal with Hadgan[]
Segestes watches disgruntledly 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.
After attending the funeral of Folkwin's family, Segestes catches Thusnelda trying to sneak out with a horse and ties her to a support beam. He asks why she is doing this to him. She simply spits in his face and tells him that she hopes the five horses he’s selling her to Hadgan for will make him happy.
Segestes and Irmina lay awake at night at the sound of 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. The following morning, Irmina takes Ansgar out to kill him. Thusnelda pleads with her father to release her so that she may save Ansgar, and he does so.
Shortly after Thusnelda leaves, Hadgan arrives. 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.[5]
Reik of Cherusci[]
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 exclaims that their tribe needs a reik, so he grabs Segimer’s sword and claims the position, wielding Segimer’s sword as if it’s his own. Irmina’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 will 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.[6]
Thusnelda's Wedding[]
Segestes and Irmina 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 Segestes and Irmina leave as they don't approve of the marriage as Arminius didn't even ask for his approval.
Segestes and Irmina 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.
The moon festival has come and the tribes meet. They demand to know the whereabouts of their sons. Arminius explains that they’re all too weak to stand up alone. Not even one single time could they band together to stop Rome from taking their sons. Arminius explains that their sons are safe in his village and protected. He never intended to give them over to Varus. They must come together to defeat Rome. In barely a moon, three Roman legions will return to Vetera from their summer campaign. That will be their chance.
Segestes and Irmina 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.
Segestes arrives at the Romans' camp and demands an audience with the governor. Varus and Pelagios exit the tent and confront Segestes, who reveals that Arminius will betray Rome.[2]
The Battle of Teutoburg Forest[]
Segestes accuses Arminius of attempting to lead Rome into an ambush. Furthermore, he reveals that the rotting head isn’t the head of Folkwin Wolfspeer. Varus is in disbelief. Arminius denies Segestes’ outrageous accusations, reasoning that the warring tribes would never be able to take down three legions and that it would be foolish of anyone to try. Varus is pleased to hear none of these allegations are true and laughs hysterically. He threatens to kill Segestes should he ever make such accusations again and kicks him out.
Segestes crosses paths with Hadgan as he is returning to the Chatti. Segestes and Hadgan arrive just as the tribes have the upper hand against the Romans, claiming that they have to stick together, when in reality they simply chose the winning side. Segestes, being the opportunist that he is, finds Varus’ body on the battlefield and beheads him.[3]
Kill Count[]
- Roman Soldiers — Segestes made a late appearance during the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, during which time he assisted the tribes in defeating Rome. He even beheaded an already dead Varus.
Appearances[]
Season 1[]
Trivia[]
- Segestes is a historical figure. Much like in the series, he was a nobleman from the Germanic tribe of the Cherusci and Thusnelda's father. In 15 AD, Segestes was responsible for handing Thusnelda over to the Romans.
Gallery[]
