page_title: Julia Maesa
section_title: Reaction of Macrinus
hierarchical_section_title: Julia Maesa / Restoration of the Severan dynasty / Reaction of Macrinus
caption_attribution_description: Macrinus. 217-218 AD. AV Aureus (7.51 gm, 6h). Struck 218 AD. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, wearing long beard, seen from behind LIB-ERALITAS AVG, Diadumenian, bare-headed and togate, and Macrinus, laureate and togate, seated left on curule chairs set on low daïs, each extending right hand to small figure climbing stairs holding out fold of toga to receive tessera; Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand and cornucopia in left hand at fore-edge of daïs; lictor standing behind imperial pair, holding fasces. RIC IV 79; Clay Issue 3; BMCRE 71; Calicó 2947; Cohen 43.
context_page_description: Julia Maesa was a member of the Severan dynasty of the Roman Empire who was the major power behind the throne in the reigns of her grandsons, Elagabalus and Severus Alexander, as Augusta of the Empire from 218 to her death. Born in Emesa, Syria, to an Arab family of priests of the deity Elagabalus, she was the daughter Julius Bassianus and the elder sister of Roman empress Julia Domna.
  Through her sister's marriage, Maesa became sister-in-law to Septimius Severus and aunt of Caracalla and Geta, who all became emperors. She herself married fellow Syrian Julius Avitus, who was of consular rank. She bore him two daughters, Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, who became mothers of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander respectively.
  The Severan dynasty was dominated by powerful women, one of which was Maesa. Politically able and ruthless, she contended for political power after her sister's suicide. She is best known for her plotting and scheming which resulted in the restoration of the Severan dynasty to the Roman throne after the assassination of Caracalla and the usurpation of the throne by Macrinus. Afterwards she held power until she died in Rome.
context_section_description: With the support of an entire legion, other legionnaires, prompted by discontent over pay, deserted Macrinus and joined Elagabalus' ranks as well. In response to the growing threat, Macrinus sent out a cavalry force under the command of Ulpius Julianus to try and regain control of the rebel soldiers. Rather than capturing the rebel forces, the cavalry instead killed Ulpius and defected to Elagabalus.
  Following these events, Macrinus traveled to Apamea to ensure the loyalty of Legio II Parthica before setting off to march against Emesa. According to Dio, Macrinus appointed his son Diadumenian to the position of Imperator, and promised the soldiers 20,000 Sesterces each, with 4,000 of these to be paid on the spot. Dio further says that Macrinus hosted a dinner for the residents of Apamea in honour of Diadumenian. At the dinner, Macrinus was supposedly presented with the head of Ulpius Julianus who had been killed by his soldiers. In response, Macrinus left Apamea and headed south.
  Macrinus' and Elagabalus' troops met somewhere near the border of Syria Coele and Syria Phoenice. Despite Macrinus' efforts to quell the rebellion at this engagement, his whole legion defected to Elagabalus forcing Macrinus to retire to Antioch. Elagabus took to the offensive and marched on Antioch.
caption: Macrinus, who usurped the Roman throne in 217 AD
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