Theoclia (sister of Alexander Severus)

Theoclia[1] (flourished 3rd century, died 218[2]) was a Syrian Roman noblewoman.

Bust of Julia Mamaea

Theoclia was most probably born and raised in Arca Caesarea (modern Arqa, Lebanon). She was a daughter of the Roman Equestrian[3] Promagistrate[4] Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus and his wife, Julia Avita Mamaea.[5] She was a sister of the Roman emperor Alexander Severus,[6] who ruled from 222 until 235. She may have had an elder brother called Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus[7] who served as a Magister (master) in the Arval Brethren during the reign of Roman emperor Caracalla[8] who ruled from 212 until 217. Through her mother, Theoclia was related to the royal family of Emesa and the Severan dynasty of the Roman Empire.[9] The only two Roman historical sources that mention her are the Roman History by Cassius Dio who mentions Theoclia as only the unnamed sister of Alexander Severus and the Historia Augusta (The Two Maximini) which gives her name as Theoclia.

Bust of Severus Alexander

Mamaea intended at one time for Theoclia to marry Gaius Julius Verus Maximus, son of the future Roman emperor Maximinus Thrax.[10] However, Alexander Severus persuaded his mother not to marry Theoclia to Maximus disliking the moroseness of Maximus' father. Instead, Mamaea married Theoclia to a Roman nobleman of illustrious birth called Messalla.[11] The Augustan History describes Theoclia's character as a 'product of Greek culture' and her husband Messalla as a learned man who was a very powerful speaker. Theoclia, along with her husband and father were murdered on the orders of Roman emperor Macrinus in 218[12] in Emesa, Syria.