Background
She was born and raised in Emesa (modern Homs, Syria).
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Julia Mamaea
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Julia"s first husband was a former consul (whose name is unknown) who died. Perhaps she may have had an elder son called Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus. Alexander thought much of his mother"s advice and followed what she told him to do.
Eventually Elagabalus and his mother Julia Soaemias proved incompetent rulers and favour fell on Alexander, Julia"s son.
He became emperor in 222, following Elagabalus" murder by the Praetorian Guard. Julia and her mother became regents in the name of Alexander, then 14 years old.
He never managed to escape her maternal domination, but at first Julia ruled very effectively. She reversed all Elagabalus" scandalous policies, chose 16 distinguished senators as advisers and relied heavily on the famous Lawyer Ulpian, who was also from Syria.
Ulpian was made head of the Praetorian Guard.
However, he was unable to control the Praetorians and was murdered by them in 228. Upon adulthood, Alexander confirmed his esteem for his mother and named her consors imperii (imperial consort). Julia had Barbia thrown out of the palace and had her father executed.
Julia called on Origen, the Alexandrian Christian leader, to provide her with instruction in Christian doctrine.
Alexander so alienated the Rhine legions by his lack of military prowess and his inflexibility towards pay that the troops proclaimed Maximinus Thrax as emperor in 235. Troops sent to kill Alexander found him clinging to his mother in a tent.
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Born
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Died
235 (aged 55) -
Nationality
Ancient Rome -
Religion
Christian