Julia Maesa

See also: Julia

Julia Maesa (towards 170 - towards 226), of Syrian origin, Roman empress of 218 with (approx.) 226, sister-in-law of Severe Septime, aunt of Caracalla, grandmother of the emperors Héliogabale and Alexandre Sévère.

Born in second half of the 2nd century (towards 170), Julia Maesa was the girl (elder?) of Julius Bassianus of Emèse (today Homs, in Syria), and the sister of Julia Domna.

She married Julius Avitus, notable of equestrian row , of which she had two girls: Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea. When his/her sister Julia Domna, who had married Septime Sévère, became empress starting from 193, Julia Maesa went to settle in Rome with his/her daughter Julia Soaemias. To died into 217 of his nephew the emperor Caracalla, followed suicide of his sister Julia Domna, it turned over to Emèse where its grandson Varius Avitus Bassianus, wire of Julia Soaemias, had been made high priest of the god Elagabal.

In 218 she got along with Eutychinanos Comazon, prefect of camp of the Legio III Gallica, to reverse the emperor Macrin and to make proclaim Auguste her grandson, 14 years old. She spread the rumor that this last was not the son of the husband of Julia Soaemias, but of Caracalla which would have had a connection with his/her cousin. The mutiny of IIIe Légion succeeds, Macrin was beaten and killed, and Julia Maesa left to settle in Rome with its family: Julia Soaemias, famous the Bassianus young person " Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius" (the emperor Héliogabale), his/her other daughter Julia Mamaea with his/her Alexianus son.

Of 219 with 221 Julia Maesa directed in fact the businesses of the Empire with Comazon, named Préfet of the court. Its grandson the emperor Héliogabale dealt only with religious questions, because its functions of high priest of the god Elagabal passed for him before those of emperor. Enough quickly, Héliogabale went odious to a good part of the senatorial nobility and Praetorian Garde. To prevent a revolt, Julia Maesa persuaded Héliogabale to adopt like César (associate and designated successor) his/her young cousin Alexianus, famous Severus Alexander (the emperor Alexandre Sévère).

In 222 Héliogabale reconsidered this adoption and sought to eliminate its “sons” (makes his/her cousin of it). With the blessing of Julia Maesa, a mutiny of Praetorian burst in favor of Alexandre Sévère. Héliogabale and its mother Julia Soaemias was assassinated, and Julia Maesa made proclaim Auguste his other grandson, applicant who it was him also the son of Caracalla which had had also a connection with his/her other cousin Julia Mamaea.

Julia Maesa remained the leading one in fact of the Empire during the first part of the reign of Alexandre Sévère. She died towards 226, and it is his/her daughter the empress Julia Mamaea, mother of the emperor, who took his succession.

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