Drusilla of Mauretania (born 38)
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Drusilla of Mauretania (Drusilla in Greek: η Δρουσìλλη) was a princess of Mauretania, daughter and only child of king Ptolemy of Mauretania and queen Julia Urania.
[edit] Life
Drusilla was most probably born in Caesaria, the capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania (modern Cherchell, Algeria) in the Roman Empire. She was born about 38 and was probably named in honor of Roman Emperor Caligula’s sister Julia Drusilla, who died at that time.
Her father was executed in Rome in 40. Mauretania was annexed by Rome and later became two Roman provinces. Drusilla was probably raised in the Imperial family in Rome. Around 53 Roman Emperor Claudius, arranged for her to marry former Greek freedman and Roman Governor of Judea Antonius Felix. Between 54-56, Felix divorced her to marry a Judean princess.
Drusilla married king Sohaemus of Emesa (modern Homs, Syria). They had at least two children, a son Gaius Julius Alexio (a future king of Emesa) and a daughter Iotapi. For more information, about the Emesan Royal Family, see article Royal Family of Emesa. Syrian queen, Zenobia of Palmyra, is descended from her.
[edit] Ancestry
Drusilla is of Berber, Greek, Roman and possibly Assyrian ancestry. Her paternal grandparents were queen Cleopatra Selene II and king Juba II of Mauretania. Her great grandparents, were Greek Ptolemaic queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt, Roman Triumvir Mark Antony and African king Juba I of Numidia.
