Julius Alexander

Julius Alexander[1] also known as Julius Alexander of Emesa[2] was prince from the Royal family of Emesa[3] who lived in the 2nd century.

Although Alexander was a nobleman from Emesa,[4] little is known of his origins. He may have been the son of Sohaemus of Armenia also known as Gaius Julius Sohaemus,[5] who served as a Roman Client King of Armenia from 144 until 161, then again in 163 perhaps up to 186. He may have been a possible kinsman of the Roman Empress Julia Domna,[6] which could explain him as a possible ancestor of the Roman emperor of the 3rd century Alexander Severus. Alexander and Severus share the same cognomen, Alexander.[7] The name Alexander, is a dynastic name in the Emesani dynasty.

In his career, Alexander became a Bestiarius also known as an animal fighter.[8] Alexander became a prowess at Lion-hunting.[9] He was known to have brought down a Lion with his javelin while on horseback.[10] His prowess of his profession, provoked the jealousy of the Roman emperor Commodus.[11] There is a possibility that Lion hunting was a royal or imperial activity that Alexander may had deliberately participated in because he may had wanted the Roman throne for himself.[12]

Commodus on his orders at night had Alexander hunted down and killed in Emesa c. 190.[13] Alexander could have escaped from Commodus’ soldiers however, he didn't want to leave his youthful male-lover behind whom himself was an excellent horseman, so he died with Alexander.[14] Alexander with his lover, left when the assassins arrived but were overtaken and killed.

After Alexander died, he was buried in the Emesani dynastic tomb in Emesa.[15] Julius Alexander is mentioned in the histories of Cassius Dio and in the Augustan History, in The Life of Commodus.