Gaius Julius Alexander

Gaius Julius Alexander (Greek: ο Γαίος Ιούλιος Αλέξανδρος) was a prince of Jewish, Armenian, Nabataean and Edomite origin who lived between the 1st century and 2nd century.

Alexander was the son of prince Julius Tigranes by an unknown mother. He had at least one sibling, one sister called Julia. His paternal grandfather was a Judean Prince called Alexander. Through his father and paternal grandfather, Alexander was the great, grandson of Cappadocian Princess Glaphyra and Prince Alexander of Judea. He was the great, great grandson of King Archelaus of Cappadocia, King of Judea Herod the Great and Queen Mariamne I.

Alexander, his father and sister were last the known descendants then of the Kings of Cappadocia. Very little is known on his life prior to 58. In the spring of 58, Alexander’s father was crowned as Armenian King by Roman Emperor Nero in Rome. During this time, an ally to his father and the emperor was King Antiochus IV of Commagene, who was of Armenian, Greek, Persian and Mede descent.

The father of Alexander had arranged with Antiochus IV, for Alexander to marry Antiochus’ daughter and youngest child, princess Julia Iotapa. The marriage between Alexander and Iotapa was mostly a political alliance that occurred between the fathers of Iotapa, Alexander and possibly Nero.

After his father was crowned King of Armenia, Alexander and Iotapa had married in Rome. After their marriage took place, Nero crowned Alexander and Iotapa, King and Queen of Cetis. Cetis was a small distinct in Cilicia that was previously ruled by his father-in-law and his wife’s royal ancestors from Commagene. The Roman city in Cilicia Elaiussa Sebaste was made apart of their Kingdom. Iotapa and Alexander ruled Cetis from 58 until at least 72.

Not much is known on the marriage and the reign of Alexander and Iotapa. During their reign in Cetis, Iotapa bore Alexander two sons who were: Gaius Julius Agrippa and Gaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus. Both of their sons were both born and raised in Cetis. A possible descendant of this marriage, was the usurper Jotapianus, who lived in the 3rd century.

Alexander was an Apostasy to Judaism. However, his name and the names he gave to his sons indicates that the family connections from the Herodian Dynasty were not wholly broken. It is unlikely that Alexander or either of his sons attempted to exert influence on Judean Politics.

In the reign of Roman Emperor Vespasian (69-79) or in the brief reign of Vespasian’s first son Titus (79-81), Alexander had entered the Roman Senate, had reached and served either the consulship or suffect consulship under the Roman Emperor Trajan before 109.

ources

*www.roman-emperors.org/philarab.htm
*http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/1532.html
*http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/1722.html
*www2.ehw.gr/asiaminor/Forms/fLemmaBody.aspx?lemmaid=?7950
* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=N7MfAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA137&lpg=PA137&dq=Josephus+and+Judaeans&source=web&ots=SEyM2xsmUF&sig=cnUmwXLFJReya8TtjcLsGbNoKes&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result]
* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=QHrQoDLNBUIC&pg=PT19&lpg=PT19&dq=Iotape+of+Commagene&source=web&ots=aZ3hKg3uDr&sig=Y_zdZhNP-qNZE6WIDNivPPm-Urg&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result]