MAVIA, by Birth a Roman, and educated a Christian,
Was forced away by a troop of the Saracens of Pharan: and presented to Obedien, their prince, who was a Christian. From her great beauty, he made her his wife; and upon his death she became sole mistress of the kingdom; and immediately commenced hostilities with the Romans, (with whom they were at peace,) put herself at the head of her troops, made incursions into Palestine, as far as Phoenicia, ravaged the frontiers of Egypt, and was engaged in several battles, in which she obtained all the glory (A. D. 373, Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian, emperors). The commander in Phoenicia demanded succour of the general of the Eastern armies, who came with a considerable body of troops, and after severely taxing the cowardice of the commander, in not being able to resist a woman, commenced battle with her himself; ordering the commander to stand aloof as a simple spectator; but himself and army were soon forced to yield, and would have been cut to pieces, had not the Phoenician commander, forgetting the insult be had received, ran to his assistance, covered his retreat, and retired himself fighting, repulsing, and molesting the enemy with arrows. As the warlike princess continued to obtain all the advantage, the Romans were obliged to submit to ask for peace; to which she consented, on condition of their sending the anchorite Moses to be the bishop of her nation: this was performed, and idolatry destroyed in her kingdom. She maintained a strict alliance with the Romans, and gave her daughter in marriage to count Victor.
