Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus

Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus also known as Gessius Marcianus[1] (flourished second half of the 2nd century and first half of the 3rd century, died 218[1]) was a Syrian Roman aristocrat.

Background

Little is known about the origins of Marcianus. He originally came from Arca Caesarea[1][2] (modern Arqa, Lebanon). He was an Equestrian officer[2] who became a Promagistrate.[3] No further details are known of the political career of Marcianus.[1] He was murdered on the orders of Roman emperor Macrinus in 218[1] in Emesa, Syria.

Family and Issue

Marcianus married the Roman Syrian noblewoman Julia Avita Mamaea, as her second husband.[2] Mamaea was the second daughter of the powerful Roman Syrian nobles Julia Maesa and Gaius Julius Avitus Alexianus. Her maternal aunt was the Roman empress Julia Domna, her maternal uncle-in-marriage was the Roman emperor Lucius Septimius Severus; her maternal cousins were Roman emperors Caracalla and Publius Septimius Geta and Mamaea was the maternal aunt to Roman emperor Elagabalus.[2]

Marcianus married Mamaea sometime after 200. The marriage of Marcianus and Mamaea may have strengthened Septimius Severus’ power base in the Roman Eastern provinces.[2] Mamaea bore Marcianus the following children:

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References
  1. Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p. 222
  2. Julia Avita Mamaea’s article at Livius.org
  3. Alexander Severus (A.D. 222–235) - De Imperatoribus Romanis by H.W. Benario
  4. Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, pp. 217, 222
  5. Augustan History, The Two Maximini, 29
  6. Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p. 217

Sources
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