Julia was the first daughter of the powerful Syrian Roman noblewoman Julia Maesa and her husband, the Syrian noble and Roman politician Gaius Julius Avitus Alexianus. She was born and raised in Emesa, Syria and through her mother was related to the Royal family of Emesa.
Julia"s younger sister was Julia Avita Mamaea. Julia’s husband was the Syrian Roman Equestrian and Politician Sextus Varius Marcellus. Her husband died in c.215, during his time as Roman governor in Numidia.
Her family was allowed to return to Syria with the whole of their financial assets.
They would not allow the usurper to stand unopposed. To legitimise this plot, Julia and her mother spread the rumour that the thirteen-year-old boy was Caracalla"s illegitimate son.
In 218 Macrinus was killed and Bassianus became emperor with the name of Elagabalus. Julia became the de facto ruler of Rome, since the teenaged emperor was concerned mainly with religious matters.
Their rule was not popular, and soon discontent arose, mainly because of the strange sexual behaviour and the Eastern religious practices of Elagabalus.
Julia and Elagabalus were killed by the Praetorian Guard in 222. Julia was later declared a public enemy and her name erased from all records.
As members of the imperial Roman family of the Severan dynasty, they lived in Rome.
