Julia Maesa 218-222 AD. AR Denarius. Rome.

The annals of the Roman Empire are often dominated by the names of the men who wore the purple and commanded the legions, but the true architect of the Severan dynasty's survival was a formidable Syrian noblewoman. Julia Maesa did not wield a sword, yet she effectively purchased an empire, orchestrated the ascension of two of her grandsons to the imperial throne, and navigated the treacherous political landscape of third-century Rome with unparalleled cunning. For those fascinated by the brilliant masterminds who shaped history from the shadows, her story is an absolute must-read. next...