She was married to Gessius Marcianus had a son, later emperor Alexander Severus. Unlike her sister, Julia Mamaea was reported to be a virtuous woman, never involved in scandals. As a member of the Imperial Roman family, she watched closely the death of her cousin Caracalla and the ascent to power of her nephew Heliogabalus, the oldest grandson of Julia Maesa and her choice to the throne. But eventually Heliogabalus and his mother Julia Soaemias proved incompetent rulers and favour fell on Alexander, Julia's son. He became emperor in 222, following Heliogabalus's murder by the Praetorian Guard. Julia and her mother became regents in the name of Alexander, then 14 years old. Upon adulthood, Alexander confirmed his esteem for his mother and named her consors imperii (imperial consort). It was in this condition that she accompanied her son in his campaigns: a custom started with Julia Domna (Septimius Severus's wife). Thus she travelled to the East, for the campaign against the Parthian empire, and to the Germania provinces. Julia Mamaea was with Alexander in Moguntiacum (modern Mainz), capital of Germania Superior, when he was assassinated by his troops. She suffered the same fate.
JuliaMamaea's position as the dominant imperial force in the empire was won with blood.
Julia Maesa persuaded the 16-year-old Elagabalus to adopt the 12-year-old Alexianus.
JuliaMamaea declared to the army that late emperor Caracalla was the father of her son, just as her sister had earlier claimed the late emperor father of Elagabalus.
JuliaMamaea was born on the 14th or 29th of August of an unknown year after 180.
Mamaea's first marriage may have been to a former consul, and after his death, she was allowed to retain the senatorial rank, even when she later -during the reign of her uncle Septimius Severus (emperor 193-211) married to an equestrian named Gessius Marcianus.
Like Mamaea, he was from Syria (born in Arca), and the marriage may have served to strengthen Severus' power base in the eastern provinces.