What is "flavus"

Flavus is the Latin word for yellow or blond and has given the name to many, more or less yellow, objects:

• Subrius Flavus, a failed Roman conspirator against the Emperor Nero
• Flavus, brother of Arminius

Flavus ( Latin: the blond) was a son of a Cheruscan chief called Segimerus and a younger brother to Arminius.

Flavus' real germanic name is unknown, Flavus in Latin means the blonde certainly relating to the colour of his hair. Like his elder brother (Arminius) Flavus was given Roman citizenship and served as an auxiliary specifically in the Equites. He lost one of his eyes while fighting in the Illyrian Revolt at the siege of Andetrium in 9 AD.

Unlike his brother Arminius, who was the leading figure of the uprising against the Romans in Germania who also orchestrated Rome's devastating defeat at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Flavus remained loyal to Rome and served as an officer in the army.

Flavus had a son called Italicus who was for a time leader of the Cherusci.