Is it possible for a Syrian woman to be the empress over Rome?
Yes, it is Julia Domna.
You may have heard this name by coincidence somewhere, do you know who she is? She is one of the symbols of women in Syrian history that is no less important than other queens such as Zenobia and an honourable image of Syrian women of all ages.
The Syrian woman has always been creative, inspiring, and perfect in everything she does, whether she is a wife or even a leader. So, how about if one woman performs all these roles?
Julia Domna was born into an ancient and noble family of masters in a city that inherits the priesthood of worship of the deity Elagabalus. Her father, Julius Bassianus, was the high priest of this cult in Homs and in the Roman Empire. The exact date of her birth is unknown. But it is likely to be between 166 and 170, in the city of Emisa, Homs in Syria. [1]
Septimius Severus, who had held many high positions in the Roman Empire, heard of a woman from Homs, whom it had been foretold that she would marry a king. This woman was Julia Domna, and thus she was betrothed to Septimus. While some accounts say that she was on a mission in the current region of Syria, and there he met Julia Domna and admired her, and then married her [2]
They had two sons, Caracalla (Qurat Allah) in 188 and Geta in 189 AD. The family moved between Syria, Lyon, Rome and then Carnuntum between 191-193 AD in Austria, east of Vienna, where the soldiers called for him to become Caesar. On the ninth of June of that year, he entered Rome, and Julia Domna received the title of “Augusta”. [1]
Also read: Woman of History: Asmahan.
Together with her powerful husband, Julia Domna established a dynasty within the Roman Empire that ruled for 42 years. Julia Domna had many titles such as “mother of the army camps”, and many other titles. She was even said to have held more titles than any other empress of Rome. This may be because her husband was not the only one of her immediate relatives who ruled the Roman Empire; her sister, Julia Maesa, was the grandmother of two emperors. [2]
In 208 AD, Julia Domna participated in her husband’s war against Britain, where she remained at the front line for three years, and attended the peace agreement signed in 211 AD. [3]
It is mentioned that she was highly educated and had a great interest in literature and philosophy by holding seminars for writers and philosophers in her palace. Among these writers was the writer Flavius Philostratus, who wrote a book – at the request of Julia Domna – on the life of the Neopythagorean philosopher Apollonius. [1]
In the year 204, the Games, which was taking place only once every hundred and ten years, was held in Rome presided by Julia Domna.[3]
Julia Domna accompanied her husband in his battles in the East and was awarded the title of “Honourable Mother of the Camp” (mater castrorum). Although the commander Plautian tried to prevent her from achieving influence, she was able, with the help of her son Caracalla, to exercise her role as a ruler alongside her husband. But in the following years, the dispute escalated between her two sons, Caracalla and Geta, supposed to rule as joint emperors, according to their father’s wishes expressed in his will. [1]
Caracalla had the final word as he was the eldest. On January 11, 211 CE, Caracalla killed his brother Geta, who had invited him to a meeting of reconciliation. Gita perished in the arms of Julia Domna, who is injured while trying to protect him. For sure this incident left an effect not small on Julia Domna and affected her relationship with her son Caracalla. However, this did not change her position in the empire, as she was treated with the utmost respect and was responsible for the administrative affairs of the empire. As for Caracalla, he focused his efforts on the military battles.[1]
On April 8, 217 AD, her second son, Caracalla, was killed while he was in Edessa in eastern Syria. A guard killed him instigated by the Roman leader Macrinus, who became Caesar after him. [1]
There is not a single analysis regarding the end of Julia Domna, some say that she wanted to commit suicide by starvation. While another account says that the new emperor kept her entourage and her position in the empire, but she wanted to plot against him. So he punished her with death, but it is not known exactly how she died.[2]
The Syrian historian Dr Mahmoud al-Sayed, deputy manager of laboratories at the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, pointed out that he discovered in Syria many artefacts depicting Queen Julia Domna. Including a coin made of silver that dates between the second and third centuries AD. On one side of the coin was a portrait of Empress Julia Domna. The silver archaeological coin is currently preserved in Damascus National Museum. [3]
Our initiative takes great pride in all the pioneering women, in both past and present. We hope that the image of the Syrian woman will remain bright and inspiring, and a symbol that cannot be underestimated, of strength, science and culture.
♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.
References:
[1] Marefa
[2] Arabic Post
[3] SANA