(Picture by Lauren Brevner for National Geographic)
Mavia - The queen who defied Rome
Mavia (r. c. 375-c. 425), warrior queen of the semi-nomadic Tanukhid Arab tribe of Syria and Jordan, was among the women who defied Rome’s military might. However, unlike Iceni queen Boudica or Palmyrene queen Zenobia, she was successful and negotiated peace with the Romans on her own terms.
The primary source for Mavia’s story is Rufinus of Aquileia’s (c. 345-411 CE) Ecclesiastical History. Later authors also told her story or expended it. One them, Sozomen (c. 400-450 CE), mentions the existence of Arab poetry recounting her exploits. There are also several versions of the queen’s name: Mavia, Maowiva, Mu`awiya, Mauia, Mania, and Mawiyya.
Under the rule of Mavia’s husband, whose name is lost to history, the Tanukhids were allies of Rome. They received a subsidy to protect the Roman borders against raids from Persia and other enemy tribes. It is worth noting that the Roman empire was at that time facing many difficulties as invaders threatened both its Eastern and Western border.
After her husband’s death, Mavia chose a different path and revolted against Rome. Her motivations are not clear, it could be linked to the fact that emperor Valens (328-378) tried to impose the nomination of an Arian bishop in her region. Mavia could also have felt offended because the Romans assumed that she would honor her husband’s agreement and did not negotiate directly with her.
Mavia proved to be a deadly adversary, personally leading her armies on the field. The Roman army were not prepared to fight the highly mobile Arabs who used guerilla and hit-and-run tactics. Rufinus thus wrote that Mavia “disturbed” the regions of Palestine and Arabia and laid “waste to neighboring provinces”. Sozomen wrote that: “this war was by no means a contemptible one, although conducted by a woman”.
The Romans finally understood they could not defeat her and were forced to accept her terms. Mavia asked for a monk of her region to be appointed as the new bishop. This could imply that she and her people were Christians, but the ancient accounts do not seem to support this view. Mavia also had her daughter marry a Roman officer named Victor.
As Roman cities were later besieged by the Goths in 378, Mavia sent her cavalry to Constantinople’s help. Theodosius I (379-395) negotiated peace with the Goths around 382, but the Tanukhids felt betrayed by the terms and revolted again in 383. It is not known if Mavia was involved in this revolt. It is nonetheless believed that she still ruled in 425 since an inscription bearing her name has been discovered. Some scholars have argued that it could be a reference to another woman since Mavia was a common name at that time. It is nonetheless more commonly accepted that it refers to the queen.
References:
Mark Joshua D., “Mavia”, Ancient History Encyclopedia
Toler Pamela D., Women warriors, an unexpected history
