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Queen Julia Drusilla of Emesa is famous for being mentioned in the Book of Acts in the Bible.[1] She has often been criticised for divorcing her husband, King Gaius Julius Azizus of Emesa, and remarrying Antonius Felix (the Roman Procurator of Judea).[2] She was known to exercise her power in Judea.[3] She was also known to be very “corrupt.”[4] Yet, she is most well known for getting her just desserts as she died in Pompeii during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.[5]
Queen Julia Drusilla of Emesa was born in 38 C.E. She was the descendant of the Hasmonean Kings and King Herod the Great. Her father, Herod Agrippa I, became King of Judea two years before she was born. Her mother was Queen Cypros II. She had an older brother named Prince Herod Agrippa II (who would later be King of Chalcis) and two older sisters named Princess Julia Berenice (the future Queen of Chalcis) and Princess Mariamne. She was the niece of Princess Herodias and the cousin of Queen Salome, both of whom would play major roles in the execution of John the Baptist. She was known to be very beautiful.[6]
In 43 C.E., Princess Julia Drusilla was originally engaged to Prince Julius Archelaus Epiphanies of Commagene (the son of King Antiochus IV).[7] In 44 C.E., the engagement was broken off due to King Herod Agrippa I’s death.[8] Princess Julia Drusilla was six years old at the time.[9] In 49 C.E., King Herod Agrippa II arranged for his sister to marry King Gaius Julius Azizus of Emesa.[10] He had converted to Judaism to marry her.[11] Thus, Julia Drusilla became Queen of Emesa. The marriage proved to be unhappy.[12] They had no children.
While visiting Emesa, Antonius Felix (the Roman Procurator of Judea) fell in love with Queen Julia Drusilla because of her beauty.[13] Queen Julia Drusilla reciprocated his feelings.[14] She divorced her husband, King Gaius Julius Azizus of Emesa.[15] She then remarried Antonius Felix.[16] The marriage caused an outrage because she divorced her royal husband.[17] She was also a Jew who married a pagan, which created further outrage.[18] Thus, Queen Julia Drusilla seemed like she had given up her Jewish faith in order to marry a Roman.[19] Princess Julia Drusilla bore a son named Marcus Antonius Agrippa.[20]
Many historians believe that Princess Julia Drusilla shared equal powers with Antonius Felix during his term as the Roman Procurator of Judea.[21] They criticised her rule as being “corrupt.”[22] It was said that she was often tortured by her sister, Queen Julia Berenice of Chalcis. This was because Queen Julia Berenice was jealous of her sister’s beauty.[23] However, many historians believe this story to be false.[24] In 60 C.E., Princess Julia Drusilla witnessed St. Paul’s trial. On 24 August 79 C.E., Princess Julia Drusilla and her son, Marcus Antonius Agrippa, died in Pompeii during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.[25]
Very little information is known about Queen Julia Drusilla of Emesa. The few details we have of her have not been kind.[26] She was a queen who divorced her husband in order to marry a pagan.[27] She ruled corruptly in Judea.[28] Historians believe the most fascinating detail about her was that she died in Pompeii during Mt. Vesuvius’s eruption.[29] Yet, it is clear Queen Julia Drusilla was a powerful and influential woman during the early Roman Empire.[30] Hopefully, with more modern scholarship, a more balanced view of this little-known queen may be brought to light.
Sources:
Bunson, M. (2012). Drusilla (2) (d. after 79 C.E.). In Encyclopedia of Ancient Rome. Facts On File. Retrieved October 14, 2023, from https://search.credoreference.com/articles/Qm9va0FydGljbGU6NDg0NDc2OA==?aid=18566.
“Drusilla”. (2021). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1.
Ilan, Tal. (31 December 1999). “Berenice.” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Jewish Women’s Archive. Retrieved on 14 October 2023 from https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/berenice.
Ilan, T. (2022). Queen Berenice: A Jewish Female Icon of the First Century C.E. Netherlands: Brill.
[1] “Drusilla”, 2021
[2] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[3] Bunson, 2012
[4] Bunson, 2012, para. 1
[5] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[6] Bunson, 2012
[7] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[8] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[9] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[10] Ilan, 2022
[11] Ilan, 2022
[12] Ilan, 2022
[13] Ilan, 2022
[14] Ilan, 2022
[15] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[16] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[17] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[18] Ilan, 2022
[19] Ilan, 2022
[20] Bunson, 2012
[21] Bunson, 2012
[22] Bunson, 2012, para. 1
[23] Bunson, 2012
[24] Ilan, 2022
[25] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[26] Ilan, 2022
[27] Ilan, 2022
[28] Bunson, 2012
[29] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”
[30] Bunson, 2012
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