5Julia Mamaea

Julia Mamaea would prove to be the last of the powerful women of the Severan dynasty. When her son Alexander Severus became emperor he was 14 years old. In need of a regent it was his mother who governed Rome. Julia Mamaea had the reputation of being a traditional Roman matron, but her effective leadership pushed her far beyond that role.

She reversed Elagabalus’ more absurd decrees and stabilised the empire. When Alexander Severus came of age he named his mother as Imperial Consort and relied heavily on her direction. Unable to brook a female rival she had Alexander’s first wife exiled. While campaigning against the German tribes Alexander’s troops rebelled. They found the emperor in his tent clinging to his mother. Both died.

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