Julia Soaemias

Who was Julia Soaemias?

Julia Soaemias Bassiana was a Syrian noblewoman and the mother of Roman emperor Elagabalus who ruled over the Roman Empire during her son's reign.

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. Julia's younger sister was Julia Avita Mamaea. She was born and raised in Emesa, Syria and through her mother was related to the Royal family of Emesa. Her maternal aunt was the Roman empress Julia Domna and her maternal uncle-in-marriage was the Roman emperor Lucius Septimius Severus.

Julia’s husband was the Syrian Roman Equestrian and Politician Sextus Varius Marcellus. As members of the imperial Roman family of the Severan dynasty, they lived in Rome. Julia bore Marcellus two children: one son whose name is unknown and another son called Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus, who became the Roman emperor Elagabalus. Her husband died in c.215, during his time as Roman governor in Numidia.

In 217, her maternal cousin the Roman emperor Caracalla was killed and Macrinus ascended to the imperial throne.