Julius Alexander

2nd century nobleman from the royal family of Emesa

Julius Alexander,[1] also known as Julius Alexander of Emesa,[2] was a prince from the royal family of Emesa[3] who lived in the 2nd century.

Although Alexander was a nobleman from Emesa, Syria,[4] little is known of his origins. He may have been the son of Sohaemus of Armenia also known as Gaius Julius Sohaemus,[5] who served as a Roman client king of Armenia from 144 until 161, then again in 163 perhaps up to 186. He may have been a possible kinsman of the Roman Empress Julia Domna,[6] which could explain him as a possible ancestor of the Roman emperor of the 3rd century Alexander Severus. Alexander and Severus share the same cognomen, Alexander.[7] The name Alexander is a dynastic name in the Emesan dynasty.

Alexander became a Bestiarius, also known as an animal fighter.[8] Alexander became skilled at lion-hunting.[9] He was known to have brought down a lion with his javelin while on horseback.[10] His prowess provoked the jealousy of the Roman emperor Commodus.[11]

Commodus ordered Alexander to be hunted down and killed in Emesa c. 190.[12] Alexander could have escaped from Commodus’ soldiers, but lost time because he didn't want to leave behind his youthful male lover, who was himself an excellent horseman.[13] Alexander tried to escape the assassins together with his lover, but they were overtaken and killed.

Alexander was buried in the Emesan dynastic tomb in Emesa.[14] Julius Alexander is mentioned in the histories of Cassius Dio and in the Historia Augusta, in The Life of Commodus.

## See also

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* Bestiarii

## References

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1. ^ Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p.223
2. ^ Prado, The Emperor Elagabalus: Fact or Fiction?, p.216
3. ^ Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p.223
4. ^ Prado, The Emperor Elagabalus: Fact or Fiction?, p.xxiv
5. ^ Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p.217
6. ^ Levick, Julia Domna: Syrian Empress, p.34
7. ^ Prado, The Emperor Elagabalus: Fact or Fiction?, p.216
8. ^ "Roman Emperors: Commodus". Archived from the original on 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
9. ^ Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p.223
10. ^ Cassius Dio, Roman History, 73.14
11. ^ Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p.223
12. ^ Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p.223
13. ^ Cassius Dio, Roman History, 73.14
14. ^ Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p.223

## Sources

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* A.R. Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, Routledge, 2002
* B. Levick, Julia Domna: Syrian Empress, Routledge, 2007
* L. de Arrizabalaga y Prado, The Emperor Elagabalus: Fact or Fiction?, Cambridge University Press, 2010
* Roman Emperors: Commodus Archived 2017-12-20 at the Wayback Machine