Roman Empire, Julia Maesa, +226, AR Denarius
Grandmother of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander
Obv. Drap. bust r.
Rev. Felicitas standing l. holding long caduceus and sacrificing over lighted altar, in field l. star
Historical
Julia Maesa († probably around 224/225 in Rome)
She was the sister-in-law of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus and grandmother of the Emperors Elagabal and Severus Alexander.
After the extinction of the descendants of Septimius Severus in 217, she helped her two grandsons in turn to the imperial dignity and thus ensured the continuation of the Severan dynasty.
Since Elagabal and Severus Alexander were still teenagers when she took office, she exercised considerable influence. In the violent change of rule in 222, when Elagabal was overthrown and murdered and replaced by his cousin Severus Alexander, Julia Maesa played a decisive role together with her daughter Julia Mamaea.
In this crisis, she succeeded in stabilising her family's rule under difficult circumstances.