Mavia

Late 4th/early 5th century Arab warrior-queen

PersonhumanQ445782

Also known as Māwiyya · Mawaiy · Mania · Mawia · Mawai · Mauia

Born: 4th century
Died: 425
Place of death: Khanasir
Citizenship: Ghassanids
Occupation: politician
1
Sources
1.archive.archaeology.org/online/features/iron_ladies/mavia.htmlRetrieved 2023-02-04
View statement on Wikidata ↗
, monarch
1
Sources
1.archive.archaeology.org/online/features/iron_ladies/mavia.htmlRetrieved 2023-02-04
View statement on Wikidata ↗
, warrior
1
Sources
1.archive.archaeology.org/online/features/iron_ladies/mavia.htmlRetrieved 2023-02-04
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Languages spoken, written or signed: Arabic

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Mawiyya, also transliterated Mawia, Mawai, or Mawaiy, and sometimes referred to as Mavia of Tanukh) was an Arab queen, who ruled over the Tanukhids, a confederation of semi-nomadic Arabs, in southern Syria, in the latter half of the fourth century. She led her troops in a rebellion against Valens, riding at the head of her army into Phoenicia and Palestine. After she reached the frontiers of Egypt and repeatedly defeated the Roman army, the Romans finally made a truce with her on conditions she stipulated. Following her victory, Mawiyya was powerful enough to be able to dictate the terms of negotiations, and demanded that a certain orthodox Christian monk, Moses, be named as bishop over her people. The Romans later called upon her for assistance when being attacked by the Goths, to which she responded by sending a force of cavalry.

Overview

Named after them

1 linked to Mavia in Wikidata

MMaviagenus of plants, synonym of Erythrophleum

All data

21 statements · 24% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Sex or gender: female
Noble title: queen regnant
Military, police or special rank: commanding officer(since 0375)
Place of burial: Khanasir
Child: Khasidat
Name in native language: الملكة ماوية

On other databases

6 identifiers linking Mavia across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

24%

externally sourced

Source last edited October 6, 2026. AIDb refreshes this page daily.

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AIDb. (2026). Mavia (Q445782). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/mavia-Q445782