(mishmashed from other sources) In April of 217 AD, the emperor Caracalla was assassinated by Marcellus Opellius Macrinus - who became emperor. Caracalla’s aunt, Julia Maesa, began a revolt in order to have her grandson Elagabalus named emperor instead. Although Elagabalus was named emperor on May 16 of 218 CE, Macrinus wasn’t officially defeated until June 8. As emperor, Elagabalus took the name Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. He was 14 years old. Despite Rome’s best efforts to make it so that no one remembered his reign at all, it is remembered — mostly for sex scandals and a total disregard for Roman tradition. The sweet and seemingly innocent young lady depicted on the coin shown below played a not-inconsequential role in one of the most bizarre reigns in Roman history. The daughter of Rome’s Praetorian prefect, Julia Cornelia Paula was betrothed and married to the newly installed emperor Elagabalus in the summer of AD 219. The marriage was arranged by the emperor’s powerful grandmother, Julia Maesa, who wished to make the reign of a 15-year-old Syrian youth of ambiguous sexuality palatable to the Roman populace. The wedding was accompanied by extravagant public spectacles and Julia Paula was immediately granted the title of Augusta, making her one of three women bearing the title in the female-dominated regime, the other two being Julia Maesa and the emperor’s mother, Julia Soaemias. Elagabalus also gave his mother and grandmother very important positions in the government, including Senate seats. (making them the first women allowed in the Senate — imagine how well that went over). They probably were responsible for a number of the decisions Elagabalus made — because, like, what 14 year old (who had nothing to do with government until his grandmother installed him in power) is going to be doing things with money -- like reducing the purity of the silver used in the denarius and demonetizing the antoninianus? Which, of course, ticked a lot of people off as well, because that was their money he was making worthless. The marriage soon foundered as Elagabalus found his new bride’s sexual mores too conventional for his liking. Elagabalus, you see, was a cross-dressing, sun-worshipping exotic dancer who chose his counselors based on the size of their, um, male sexual equipment. He took little interest in actual governing, leaving this to his ferocious grandmother. Julia Paula, to all appearances, was a very traditional Roman virgin from a good family; nothing could be more dull to a young man of Elagabalus‘ tastes. He summarily divorced her late in AD 220 or early in 221, only to turn around and marry the Vestal Virgin Aquilia Severa, a move which scandalized the Roman world all the more. Elagabalus would also divorce Aquilia Severa a few months later and take one more crack at conventional matrimony with Annia Faustina, a descendant of Marcus Aurelius. This match also foundered quickly and the never-satisfied emperor returned briefly to Aquilia Severa before being murdered along with his mother by the Praetorians. Elagabalus did have some stable relationships in his life but pretty much exclusively with men. He married an athlete named Zoticus in a very public ceremony and he gave Zoticus a high-ranking administrative position within the government. But his most stable, and most famous, relationship was with a charioteer (and slave) named Hierocles. Although there’s no record of an actual marriage ceremony, Elagabalus referred to Hierocles as his husband and reportedly delighted in being called Hierocles’ wife or mistress or queen. He attempted to get Hierocles the title of Caesar, but couldn’t manage to get the Senate on board with that. Elagabalus also developed a reputation for wearing cosmetics, painting his eyes, and plucking his body hair. He would put on wigs and then prostitute himself in taverns, brothels, and even in the imperial palace. He was said to have agents who were hired to act as his lovers and leave him payments — and he is also said to have bragged to other prostitutes that he was more beautiful, had more lovers, and made more money. Reportedly, he was also offering tons of money to any doctor or surgeon who could equip him with female genitals. Anyways, by 221 CE the Praetorian Guard — the Roman soldiers who personally saw to the emperor’s security — had basically had it with Elagabalus, largely because of his doting on the slave Hierocles. Julia Maesa, his grandmother, finally realized that he wasn’t the best choice to be emperor and decided to replace him with her other daughter’s son — Severus Alexander. She convinced Elagabalus to name Severus Alexander heir to the throne. This worked well at first, until Elagabalus began to notice that the Praetorian Guard liked Severus Alexander better. Elagabalus responded by trying to have Alexander assassinated — which failed. More than once. So, instead, he stripped Alexander of his titles and power and started a rumor that Alexander was dying. The Praetorian Guard rioted and demanded that both Elagabalus and Severus Alexander make an appearance at their camp. On March 11, 222 CE Heliogabalus gave in to the demands of the Praetorian Guards and showed up at their camp with his mother Julia Soaemias and Severus Alexander. Since Alexander was perfectly healthy, the Praetorian Guard cheered for him. Elagabalus was not happy, so he ordered everyone who cheered to be executed. Instead, the Praetorian Guard attacked him and his mom. They were both killed, beheaded, and then dragged through the streets of Rome. His mother’s body was lost somewhere in the streets, and Elagabalus’ corpse was tossed into the Tiber River. His replacement, the docile and conventional Severus Alexander, was no happier on the matrimonial front, but that is another story… Julia Paula retired from public life and seems to have survived the chaotic and comical reign of her former husband with her virtue and reputation intact. Feel free to post your coins of Julia Paula... Julia Paula AR Denarius (Augusta 219-220 AD) Rome O: IVLIA PAVLA AVG; Draped bust right R: CONCORDIA; Concordia seated left, holding patera in right hand, and resting left elbow on back of throne; star in left field RIC IV 211
Excellent write up and great coin, @Herodotus ! Julia Paula Augusta AD 219-220 AR Denarius 18 mm 3.10g Antioch mint AD 219-220 - Venus Genetrix seated left holding apple scepter RIC IV 222 RSC 21
Since most of this thread pertains to Elagabalus, I'm posting my favorite coin of that emperor . I scored this coin last year at CNG 453. Syria, Antioch, Elagabalus, AD 218 - 222 (struck 219), Billon Tetradrachm: 13.46 gm, 25 mm, 6 h. "Emesan Issues" with the star under the eagle, thought to be a sun symbol. McAlee 762. Rare. Ex Michel Prieur Collection, acquired from CNG 67, September 22, 2004.
Very nice résumé of a very depressing part of the Roman empire history . Since I do not have a Julia Paula, here is my favorite Elagabalus. It's also my only RIC I.
Fun, though salacious, write-up, @Herodotus ! Hey, hey, Paula ... Julia Paula, AD 219-220. Roman AR denarius, 2.83 g, 18.6 mm, 6 h. Rome (some attribute to Antioch), AD 220. Obv: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia enthroned left, holding patera; star in left field. RIC 211; BMCRE 317; Cohen 6; RCV 7655; CRE 449. A different coiffure: Julia Paula, AD 219-220. Roman AR denarius, 2.62 g, 18.5 mm, 1 h. Rome, AD 220. Obv: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia enthroned left, holding patera; star in left field. RIC 211; BMCRE 171-73; Cohen 6; RCV 7655; CRE 450. Julia Paula, AD 219-220. Roman AR denarius, 3.16 g, 18.6 mm, 5 h. Rome (some attribute to Antioch), AD 219. Obv: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: CONCORDIA, emperor and empress standing facing each other, clasping hands. Refs: RIC 214; BMCRE 318-320; Cohen 12; RCV 7656; CRE 454. Julia Paula, AD 218-222. Roman AR denarius, 3.31 g, 19.2 mm, 12 h. Rome (some attribute to Antioch), AD 219. Obv: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: VENVS GENETRIX, Venus enthroned l., holding apple and scepter. RIC 222; Sear 7658; BMC 323-25; Cohen 21.
Scandalous. Just Scandalous. Sounds like a reality show script. Thanks for the interesting write-up. Here's my Antioch tet of the crazy guy. Elagabalus, 218-222 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria AR Tetradrachm, struck 218-220 A.D., 25mm 12.02 grams Obverse: Laureate head of Elagabalus right AVT K M A ANTONEINOC CEB Reverse: Eagle standing left, wreath in beak, star between legs, delta epsilon in field DH MARC EX UPATOC TO B Reference: Prieur 249A; McAlee 760
Thanks for showing the nice coin and for the informative write-up! Here is my Julia Paula: Julia Paula, Roman Empire, denarius, 219–22o AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA Paula AVG; bust of Julia Paula, hair waved and fastened in plait, draped, r. Rev: CONCORDIA AVG; Concordia, draped, seated l., holding patera in extended r. hand; in field l, star. 19.5mm, 3.00g. Ref: RIC IV.2 Elagabalus 211.
Julia Paula. Augusta, 219-220 AD. AR Denarius (19mm; 2.51 gm; 12h). Rome mint. Obv: Draped bust right. Rev: Concordia seated right on curule chair, holding patera and double cornucopia. RIC IV 216; RSC 16a.
