Sohaemus of Emesa

Gaius Julius Sohaemus Philocaesar Philorhomaeus (, Gaius Julius Sohaemus, lover of Caesar, lover of Rome) also known as Sohaemus of Emesa and Sohaemus of Sophene, was a prince and a Roman Client Priest King from Syria who lived in the 1st century. He ruled the Emesan kingdom from 54 until 73. His name may derive from the Arabic root SḤM, which described the color black .

Family and early life Sohaemus was a member of the Royal family of Emesa. He was the second born son and a child to Priest King Sampsiceramus II who ruled the Emesene Kingdom from 14 until 42 and Queen Iotapa. He had an elder brother called Gaius Julius Azizus, who was the first husband of the Herodian Princess Drusilla and had two sisters: Iotapa who married the Herodian Prince Aristobulus Minor and Mamaea. Sohaemus was born and raised in Emesa. His paternal grandfather was the former Emesene Priest King Iamblichus II, (modern Baalbek, Lebanon). In honour of his patronage of Heliopolis, a statue of Sohaemus with an accompanied honorific inscription was dedicated to him in the city.

During Sohaemus’ reign, Emesene's relations with the Roman government grew closer. When Vespasian became Roman emperor in 69, Sohaemus was among the first to swear allegiance to him. Under him, Emesa sent the Roman military a regular levy of archers and assisted them in their siege of Jerusalem in 70. In 72, Sohaemus supplied troops to the Roman General Lucius Caesennius Paetus who was the head of the Legio VI Ferrata, in the annexation of the Kingdom of Commagene.

Death and descendants Sohaemus might be married to Drusilla, great-granddaughter of Cleopatra VII. His son, possibly by Drusilla, was Gaius Julius Alexio, also known as Alexio II. When Sohaemus died, he was buried in the tomb of his ancestors at Emesa and was succeeded by his son. Through his son, Sohaemus would have various descendants ruling on the Emesene throne and among those who claimed from his family's ancestry was Queen of Palmyra, Zenobia.