Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus

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

Background

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

Family and Issue

Marcianus married the Roman Syrian noblewoman Julia Avita Mamaea, as her second husband. 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.

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

• Possible son, Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus
• Daughter, Theoclia
• Son, Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus Alexianus, who became the Severan Roman emperor Alexander Severus who ruled from 222 until 235

Sources

• Augustan History, The Two Maximini
• A.R. Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, Routledge, 2002
• Julia Avita Mamaea’s article at Livius.org
• Alexander Severus (A.D. 222–235) - De Imperatoribus Romanis by H.W. Benario