Julia Domna













































Julia Domna
Empress consort of the Roman Empire

Giulia domna, moglie di settimio severo, con busto non pertinente, inv. 2210.JPG
Bust of Julia Domna, Vatican Museums


Empress consort of the Roman Empire
Tenure 193 AD - 211 AD
Born c. 160 AD
Emesa, Syria
Died 217 AD (aged 57)
Rome, Italy
Burial
Mausoleum of Hadrian
Spouse Septimius Severus
Issue


  • Caracalla

  • Geta



Full name
Julia Domna
Dynasty Severan
Father Julius Bassianus









































Roman imperial dynasties

@media all and (max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .tmulti>.thumbinner{width:100%!important;max-width:none!important}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{float:none!important;max-width:none!important;width:100%!important;text-align:center}}




Antoninianus of Julia Maesa




Coin featuring Julia Domna





Severan dynasty

Chronology

Septimius Severus
193–211

—with Caracalla
198–211

—with Geta
209–211


Caracalla and Geta
211

Caracalla
211–217

Interlude: Macrinus
217–218

Elagabalus
218–222

Severus Alexander
222–235

Dynasty

Severan dynasty family tree

All biographies

Succession

Julia Domna (AD 160–217) was a Roman empress of Arab[1] origin, the second wife of Septimius Severus (reigned 193–211). She was born in Emesa in the Roman province of Syria, into a family of priests of the deity Elagabalus.


As a powerful political figure and member of the imperial family, Julia received titles such as "mother of the army camps". She was famous for her political influence.


After Severus' death in 211, his two sons with Julia, Geta and Caracalla, ruled jointly over Rome. Caracalla had Geta assassinated later that year. Julia continued to have a powerful role during the reign of Caracalla. Julia is thought to have committed suicide in 217 upon hearing of the assassination of Caracalla. After her death, her older sister Julia Maesa successfully contended for political power.




Contents






  • 1 Family background


    • 1.1 Marriage




  • 2 Civil war


    • 2.1 Power and influence




  • 3 Transition of power


    • 3.1 Death




  • 4 Legacy


  • 5 Gallery


  • 6 Ancestry


  • 7 References


  • 8 Further reading





Family background


Julia Domna was born in Emesa (modern day Homs) in Syria around 160 AD[2] to a family of Arab descent.[3][4] Her name, Domna, is an archaic Arabic word that means black. She was the youngest daughter of the high-priest of Ba'al Gaius Julius Bassianus and sister to Julia Maesa. Through her sister and Maesa's husband Julius Avitus, Julia Domna had two nieces: Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, the respective mothers of future Roman emperors Elagabalus and Severus Alexander.[5]


Julia's ancestors were priest kings of the famous temple of Elagabalus. The family had enormous wealth and was promoted to Roman senatorial aristocracy. Before her marriage, Julia inherited the estate of her paternal great-uncle Julius Agrippa, a former leading centurion.[5]



Marriage


In the late 180s, Julia married the Libyan Roman general Septimius Severus. The marriage proved happy, and Severus cherished Julia and her political opinions, since she was very well-read and a student of philosophy. They had two sons, Caracalla (Lucius Septimius Bassianus) in 188 and Geta (Publius Septimius Geta) in 189.[6]



Civil war


Main article: Year of the Five Emperors

After the Roman emperor Commodus was murdered without an heir in 192, many contenders rushed for the throne, including Julia's husband, Septimius Severus. An elder senator, Pertinax, was appointed by the praetorian guard as the new emperor of Rome. But when Pertinax would not meet the guard's demands, he too was murdered.[7] Another politician, Didius Julianus, was called to Rome and appointed emperor. Severus, coming from the north into Rome, overthrew Julianus and had him executed. Severus claimed the title of emperor in 193. By offering Clodius Albinus, a powerful governor of Britannia, the rank of Caesar (successor), Severus could focus on his other rival to the throne, Pescennius Niger, whom he defeated at the Battle of Issus in 194.[8] When afterwards Severus declared openly his son Caracalla as successor, Clodius Albinus was hailed emperor by his troops. At the Battle of Lugdunum in 197, Severus defeated and killed Albinus, establishing himself as Emperor. Thus Julia Domna became Empress consort.[9]



Power and influence


Unlike most imperial wives, Julia remarkably accompanied her husband on his military campaigns and stayed in camp with the army.[10] During this time, honorary titles were granted to Julia similar to those given to Faustina the Younger, including mater castorum, mother of the camp,[11]mater Augustus, mother of Augustus, and mater patriae, mother of the fatherland.[12]


The empress was involved in building projects, most notably the aedes Vestae after the fire of Commodus in 192 destroyed areas of the temple and the home, or Atrium, of the Vestal Virgins; based on numismatic evidence, historical authors, and a laconic inscription found in situ, some scholars agree that Julia funded restorations to the site during Septimius Severus's reign.[13]


Julia was respected and viewed positively for most of her tenure, as indicators and evidence include the coins minted with her portrait, mentioning her with several honorary titles and also simply as "Julia Augusta". Julia is said to have exceeded all other Roman empresses in titles and honours.[11] The hairstyle that she used would later be worn by Roman empress Cornelia Salonina and Palmyran queen Zenobia.[14]



Transition of power


When Severus died in 211 in Eboracum (York), Julia became the mediator between their two sons, Caracalla and Geta, who were supposed to rule as joint emperors, according to their father's wishes expressed in his will. The two young men were never fond of each other and quarrelled frequently. Geta was murdered by Caracalla's soldiers in the same year.[15] Geta's name was then removed from inscriptions and his image was erased.[16][17]



Death


During his campaign against the Parthian empire in 217, Caracalla was assassinated by a soldier.[18] Julia chose to commit suicide after hearing about the rebellion,[19][20] perhaps a decision hastened by the fact that she was suffering from breast cancer, as well as a reluctance to return to private life.[21] Her sister Julia Maesa restored the Severan dynasty about a year after Julia Domna's death.[22][23] Julia Domna's body was brought to Rome and placed in the Sepulcrum C. et L. Caesaris (perhaps a separate chamber in the Mausoleum of Augustus). Later, however, both her bones and those of Geta were transferred by Julia Maesa to the Mausoleum of Hadrian.[24]



Legacy


Julia Domna is remembered for encouraging Philostratus to write Life of Apollonius of Tyana.[25] Julia is thought to have died before Philostratus could finish his work of eight volumes.[19]



Gallery






  • Relief of Caracalla with Julia Domna as Victoria, National Museum, Warsaw







  • Bust of Caracalla, National Archaeological Museum, Naples







  • Bust of Septimius Severus







  • Bust of Julia Domna







  • Munich Glyptotek; The Severan Tondo, Julia, Severus, and their sons






Ancestry


.mw-parser-output table.ahnentafel{border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;line-height:130%}.mw-parser-output .ahnentafel tr{text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ahnentafel-t{border-top:#000 solid 1px;border-left:#000 solid 1px}.mw-parser-output .ahnentafel-b{border-bottom:#000 solid 1px;border-left:#000 solid 1px}





References





  1. ^


    • Gagarin, Michael (2010). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome. Oxford University Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-1951-7072-6..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


    • Bowman, Alan; Garnsey, Peter; Cameron, Averil (September 8, 2005). The Cambridge Ancient History: Volume 12, The Crisis of Empire, AD 193-337. Cambridge University Press. p. 502. ISBN 978-0-521-30199-2.


    • Ball, Warwick (June 10, 2016). Rome in the East: The Transformation of an Empire. Taylor & Francis. p. 769. ISBN 978-1-317-29634-8.




  2. ^ Burns, Jasper (2006). Great Women of Imperial Rome: Mothers and Wives of the Caesars. Routledge.
    ISBN 978-1-134-13184-6: "The date of Julia's birth is not known, but coins of her sister Julia Maesa, minted about 220, show a woman nearing 60 (see figures 11.2, 11.17). Thus Julia Domna was probably born around 160."


  3. ^


    • Gagarin, Michael (2010). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome. Oxford University Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-1951-7072-6.


    • Bowman, Alan; Garnsey, Peter; Cameron, Averil (September 8, 2005). The Cambridge Ancient History: Volume 12, The Crisis of Empire, AD 193-337. Cambridge University Press. p. 502. ISBN 978-0-521-30199-2.


    • Ball, Warwick (June 10, 2016). Rome in the East: The Transformation of an Empire. Taylor & Francis. p. 769. ISBN 978-1-317-29634-8.




  4. ^


    • Bowersock, Glen Warren (1994). Roman Arabia. Harvard University Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-674-77756-9.


    • Shahîd, Irfan (1984). Rome and the Arabs : A Prolegomenon to the Study of Byzantium and the Arabs. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. p. 167. ISBN 0-88402-115-7.


    • Bowersock, Glen Warren (1994). Roman Arabia. Harvard University Press. pp. 126–128. ISBN 978-0-6747-7756-9.


    • Rodinson, Maxime (1981). The Arabs. University of Chicago Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-2267-2356-3.




  5. ^ ab Levick, Barbara (10 May 2007). Julia Domna: Syrian Empress. Routledge. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-134-32351-7.


  6. ^ Birley, Anthony (1999). Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, Routledge, p. 76-77.
    ISBN 0-203-02859-7.


  7. ^ Rahman, Abdur (2001). The African Emperor? The Life, Career, and Rise to Power of Septimius Severus, MA thesis. University of Wales Lampeter.


  8. ^ Birley, Anthony (1999). Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, Routledge, p. 89-128.
    ISBN 0-203-02859-7.


  9. ^ 1889–1943., Collingwood, R. G. (Robin George), (1998) [1936]. Roman Britain and the English settlements. Myres, J. N. L. (John Nowell Linton). [New York, N.Y.]: Biblo and Tannen. ISBN 0819611603. OCLC 36750306.


  10. ^ "Julia Domna 170 CE Syria". Women-philosophers. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2014.


  11. ^ ab Levick, Barbara (2007). Julia Domna: Syrian Empress. Routledge. p. 66. ISBN 9781134323517.


  12. ^ Bernario, H. W. (1958). "Julia Domna: Mater Senatus et Patriae". Phoenix. 12: 67–70.


  13. ^ Lindner, M. M. (2015). Portraits of the Vestal Virgins: Priestesses of Ancient Rome. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.


  14. ^ Southern, Pat (2 August 2018). Empress Zenobia: Palmyra's Rebel Queen. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-441-17351-5.


  15. ^ Goldsworthy, Adrian (2009). How Rome Fell: death of a superpower. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-0-300-16426-8.


  16. ^ Dunstan, William E. (2011). Ancient Rome. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield. pp. 405–406. ISBN 978-0-7425-6832-7.


  17. ^ Goldsworthy, Adrian (2009). How Rome Fell: death of a superpower. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-0-300-16426-8.


  18. ^ Goldsworthy, Adrian (2009). How Rome Fell: death of a superpower. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-300-16426-8.


  19. ^ ab Jones, Christopher P. (2005). Philostratus, The Life of Apollonius of Tyana. Harvard University Press. p. 2.


  20. ^ Birley, Anthony (1999). Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, Routledge, p. 192.
    ISBN 0-203-02859-7.


  21. ^ Potter, David S (2004). The Roman Empire at Bay AD 180–395, Routledge, p. 148.
    ISBN 0-415-10058-5.


  22. ^ Salisbury, Joyce E. (2001). Encyclopedia of Women in the Ancient World. ABC-CLIO. p. 183. ISBN 9781576070925.


  23. ^ Burns, Jasper (2006). Great Women of Imperial Rome: Mothers and Wives of the Caesars. Routledge. p. 209. ISBN 9781134131853.


  24. ^ "Cassius Dio — Epitome of Book 79". University of Chicago. Archived from the original on 2012-05-26.


  25. ^ Dzielska, Maria; Stucchi, Sandro (1986). Apollonius of Tyana in Legend and History. p. 14. ISBN 88-7062-599-0.




Further reading








  • Minaud, Gérard (2012). Les vies de 12 femmes d'empereur romain: devoirs, intrigues & voluptés (in French). Harmattan. pp. 211–242. ISBN 978-2-3360-0291-0.


  • Fejfer, Jane (2008). Roman Portraits in Context. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-1101-8664-2.






Preceded by
Manlia Scantilla
Empress of Rome
193–211
with Fulvia Plautilla (202–205)
 Succeeded by
Nonia Celsa








-

Popular posts from this blog

Italian cuisine

Image
"Italian restaurant" redirects here. For the television series, see Italian Restaurant. Some typical Italian gastronomic products in a window display in Imola Pizza is one of the world's most popular foods and a common fast food item Part of a series on the Culture of Italy History People Languages Traditions Mythology and folklore Mythology folklore Cuisine Festivals Religion Art Literature Music and performing arts Music Media Television Cinema Sport Monuments World Heritage Sites Symbols Flag Coat of arms Italy portal v t e Italian cuisine History Ancient Roman cuisine Medieval cuisine Early modern cuisine Contemporary cuisine Regional cuisines Apulian cuisine Lombard cuisine Neapolitan cuisine Roman cuisine Sicilian cuisine Venetian cuisine Cuisine of Abruzzo Cuisine of Sardinia Lists Chefs Dishes Pas...
Read more

Bulgarian cuisine

Image
Part of a series on Bulgarians .mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal} българи Culture Literature Music Art Cinema Names Cuisine Dances Costume Sport Public holidays in Bulgaria By country Albania Australia Canada Czechoslovakia Greece New Zealand Romania Serbia South America Turkey Ukraine United States Bulgarian citizens France Germany Hungary Italy Lebanon Lithuania Macedonia Spain United Kingdom Subgroups Anatolian Balkanian Banat Bulgarians Bessarabian Bulgarian Dobrujans Macedonian Ruptsi Balkandzhii Pomaks (Bulgarian Muslims) Thracian Shopi/Torlaks Şchei Religion Bulgarian Orthodox Church Islam Catholic Church Protestant denominations Language Bulgarian Dialects Banat Bulgarian Other List of Bulgarians People of Bulgarian descent v t e Tarator is a cold soup made of yogurt, water, minced cucumber, dill, garlic, and sunflower or olive oil (Chips are...
Read more

Carrot

Image
Root vegetable, usually orange in color This article is about the cultivated vegetable. For other uses, see Carrot (disambiguation). Carrot Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade : Angiosperms Clade : Eudicots Clade : Asterids Order: Apiales Family: Apiaceae Genus: Daucus Species: D. carota Subspecies: D. c. subsp. sativus Trinomial name Daucus carota subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Schübl. & G. Martens The carrot ( Daucus carota subsp. sativus ) is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist. [1] Carrots are a domesticated form of the wild carrot, Daucus carota , native to Europe and southwestern Asia. The plant probably originated in Persia and was originally cultivated for its leaves and seeds. The most commonly eaten part of the plant is the taproot, although the stems and leaves are eaten as well. The domestic carrot ha...
Read more