
Arnaud Pontin
Image: Encyclopédie de l’Histoire du Monde
Julius Alexander of Emesa was a complex historical figure, a noble Syrian of Jewish and Roman birth, involved in the military and political affairs of the Roman Empire.
His trajectory, characterized by military achievements and political alliances, is also marked by his homosexuality, an aspect often neglected or underestimated in traditional historical accounts.
Julius Alexander was born in Emesa, a prosperous city in Roman Syria, and belonged to an influential family with close ties to the imperial court in Rome. From childhood, he studied political and military aspects as well as the rules of military training.
His talents and education favored his social ascent, but his life was subject to the strict conventions of Roman society, including norms of sexual conduct.
In Roman society, homosexuality was accepted in certain cases but could also be subject to stigmatization, especially if it was seen as an affront to virility or traditional morality. Despite these social constraints, Julius Alexander was famous for being open about his sexual desires. He had romantic relationships with men in intimate circles, which went against the norms of his time.
His private life was marked by his homosexuality, but it also impacted his public career. As he rose in the Roman army, his homosexuality was sometimes used against him by his political or military adversaries. However, Julius Alexander was also known for his military talents and achievements, which allowed him to navigate the intrigues of the imperial court.
During the First Jewish-Roman War, he reached his peak due to his leadership and courage on the battlefield. He enjoyed the admiration of his peers and the attention of Emperor Trajan by participating in the capture of Jotapata, fighting alongside Flavius Josephus.
Despite his military successes, Julius Alexander was not immune to political setbacks. He died after the death of Trajan and the ascension of Hadrian to the imperial throne. He was accused of treason and exiled from Rome.
In any case, his legacy as a competent general and complex figure in Roman history endures, as does his ability to challenge the conventions of his time, including those of sexuality.
However, Emperor Commodus allegedly ordered the hunt and murder of Alexander in Emesa around 190. Alexander could have escaped Commodus’ soldiers but delayed because he did not want to abandon his young male lover, an excellent horseman.
With his lover, Alexander attempted to flee from the murderers but were caught and killed. Alexander was buried in the dynastic tomb of Emesa in Emesa. The details of his death are not clearly established, and the end of his life remains obscure.
Other sources suggest he was executed for his alleged crimes, while others claim he perished in exile.