Women in the Severan dynasty

Abstract

Imperial women acquired prominent positions under the Severans. Septimius Severus’ Syrian wife Julia Domna, her sister Julia Maesa, and the daughters of the latter, Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, showed a remarkable ability to navigate Roman politics and dynastic intrigues. It is beyond doubt that their strong personalities exercised a good deal of influence on their sons and nephews once these became emperors, though their ambitions ultimately had to reckon with the growing influence of the army and its requests for strong male leaders.