Sneha Girap (Editor)

Sextus Julius Major

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Reign
  
141–142


Name
  
Sextus Major

Sextus Julius Major was a Roman senator active during the first half of the second century, and who held several positions in the service of the emperor. Major was suffect consul around 126. Major's origins were with the "high aristocracy" of Asia. Ronald Syme notes his ancestors included Polemon I of Pontus the king of Pontus and Antonia Pythodoris.

No cursus honorum for Julius Major has yet been recovered, but evidence for a number of offices he held have recovered. The earliest office he held was legatus or commander of Legio III Augusta stationed at Lambaesis in Numidia (which Syme notes "normally carried designation to a consulship") in 125 and 126. Following his consulship, Major was governor of Moesia Inferior between 131 and 135, then governor of the important imperial province of Syria from 137 to 139.

Julius Major concluded his career by holding a proconsulate in 141/142, but opinion is divided whether he was proconsul of Africa or Asia: Syme notes the evidence supports either province, although he believes it is likely Julius was proconsul of Asia, an opinion Géza Alföldy concurs with. Our knowledge of his life ends at this point.

References

Sextus Julius Major Wikipedia