Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus


Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus also known as Gessius Marcianus was a Syrian Roman aristocrat.

Background

Little is known about the origins of Marcianus. He originally came from Arca Caesarea. He was an Equestrian officer who became a Promagistrate. No further details are known of the political career of Marcianus. 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: