Maesa
Iulia. The sister-in-law of Septimius Severus, aunt of Caracalla, and grandmother of Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. She was a native of Syria, born at Emesa, and after her sister Iulia Domna had married Septimius Severus, lived at the Roman court until the death of Caracalla. Being a woman of remarkable force and ability, and possessed of great wealth, she conceived and carried out a plot for the overthrow of Macrinus (q.v.), and the enthroning of her grandson Elagabalus. Her courage and pertinacity did much to bring her plan to its successful issue. When the downfall of Elagabalus became certain, she persuaded him to adopt her other grandson, his cousin, Alexander Severus. By the latter, after his accession to the throne, she was treated with great respect and received the title Augusta.