Salt Lake Herald | 1909-03-07 | Page 19 | Mavia, Queen of Pharon

MAViA QUEEN OF PHARON Christian Queen of Romans A D By B a strange Irony of fate this wom woman woman woman an was waa herself a Roman Her parents were Christians Christiana Chri Mavia was abducted when a mere slip of a girl by Y a company compan of at Arabs who took her Immediately to their king Obed en who chanced also alsoto alsoto alsoto to have neve been a Christian The beauty of ot this captive coupled with the fact that they were of the same new new faith attracted him to her and he made her his wife King Obedient like Uke all ail rulers in those thos days Was W s continuously engaged In warfare mare and at eath th Slavia suc sue succeeded succeeded him en on n the throne e In l f A D she took command of the large and an powerful army and and d marched nto Pales Palestine Palestine i tine where she met t and defeated three i 4 a emperors Yaler ti lan Valens and Gra Ora Gratian tian These victories consumed many months which verified Platos PIntos conten tion as to a Ii womans power of ot endur endurance endUrance endurance ance under proper training Arriving at Phoenicia the Roman governor was unable to defeat the queen and ad was obliged to call can on the emperor of ot the east for tor reinforcements The emperor sent at once his a great warrior with his troops a man who vho evidently had not a high regard for Mavias martial ability and still less for tor forthe the governor of Phoenicia He made many reckless statements before meet ing the queen In battle as to what the outcome would be sanguinely predict ing his easy victory He was not in inthe Inthe inthe the field long however until he realized that he had either overestimated his own strength or underestimated hers His army rm was literally cut to pieces and he himself escaped only by Ig Ignominious Ignominious flight nor did this dauntless queen cease her warfare after this easi easily easily easily ly won victory she continued her march giving battle after battle al always always always ways victorious until at last she had the satisfaction of hearing he the Romans oman sue for peace Mavia Iaia granted peace p ce on condition that Moses roses the hermit be besent besent besent sent into Pharon as bishop p The ambition of this good queen had always been to Christianize her sub subjects subjects subjects and md obliterate idolatry In her country Mavias lalas friendly relations with the Romans remained undisturbed It Is said she gave one of her daughters in marriage to a Roman Count Victor The brave queen lived to an advanced age ge and though the first Christian woman to take up arms against and conquer the Romans history does loes not give as many details of her life as are given ghen of the other women soldiers whose I victories were not crowned with such suchs s gnat ss