St. Julia of Carthage was crucified because she would not deny her Lord!
St. Julia was born into the nobility of Carthage (North Africa) around the time of St. Augustine. It was a turbulent time in history, especially since the Roman Empire was crumbling.
Genseric was the great King of the Vandals. He ruled them for fifty years (428-477) and established the Vandal Kingdom as a great Mediterranean power which wreaked great havoc upon the Western Roman Empire. Immigrating from southern Spain (Andalucia), Genseric led his 80,00 Vandals across the Strait of Gibraltar and swiftly conquered North Africa. He defeated the Roman army in 430 AD and then crushed the combined forces of the Western and Eastern Empires in 435. Although he had a treaty with Rome that conceded much of the northwestern African coast to him, in a surprise attack he invaded Carthage on October 19, 439. He annexed many of the Mediterranean islands, including Corsica, Sardinia, Sicilia and Malta. In 455 AD he even captured and plundered Rome and this sack of Rome is how history best remembers him. Twice more he defeated the Roman armies in their efforts to overthrow him (460 and 468 AD). He died in Carthage of natural causes at 88 years of age.
When Genseric conquered Carthage (439 AD), he wished to utterly destroy the established ruling class to solidify his conquest. Thus, he executed many of the noble men and sold many of the noble women into slavery. Julia was among those sold into lifelong servitude. She had witnessed savage barbary and the full brutality of war as her city was sacked and her people maimed. Her culture, her society - her very way of life - were all crumbling before her. She was ripped from her family and everything which she knew and held dear. For many it was a time of great despair. Some believed Christ had abandoned His people. Others fell back into superstition, thinking Vandal gods had defeated the Christian God in a heavenly battle mirroring the earthly one. Paganism gathered strength. Others believed the End was near, apocalyptic times were at hand, and Christ was soon to return. Through all of this great physical and spiritual turmoil, St. Julia was able to keep her peace. Fueled by her ardent faith, hope and charity she heroically lived the virtues, especially exemplifying kindness, long-suffering, perseverance, detachment from the world, and meekness.
Julia was "purchased" by a pagan merchant of Syria named Eusebius. Under the most mortifying employments of her station, by cheerfulness and patience she found a happiness and comfort which the world could not have afforded. All the time she was not employed in her master's business was devoted to prayer and reading books of piety. Her master was greatly impressed by her fidelity and charmed by her virtues. His heart softened towards her and he treated her with a reciprocated kindness. Although he did not convert, he acquired a healthy respect and admiration for Julia's God, the God of the Christians.
As Eusebius relied greatly on Julia for the management of his household affairs, he took her with him on one of his business voyages to Gaul. Having reached the northern part of Corsica, he cast anchor, and went on shore to join the pagans of the place in their idolatrous festivals. Julia was left at some distance, because she would not be defiled by the superstitious ceremonies which she openly reviled. Felix, the governor of the island, who was a bigoted pagan, asked who this woman was who dared to insult the gods. Eusebius informed him that she was a Christian and his property, yet he found her so diligent and faithful that he could not part with her and had allowed her to continue to practice her faith.
However, the malevolent governor Felix (who was most likely possessed) wished to force Julia to apostatize. He was sure that his methods of bribery and torture could cause her to abandon her religion. Therefore Felix offered Eusebius four of his best and most beautiful female slaves in exchange for Julia. But the merchant replied, "No; all you are worth will not purchase her; for I would freely lose the most valuable thing I have in the world rather than be deprived of her."
Yet Felix would stop at nothing in order to destroy Julia and vindicate his prideful superiority over her God. He invited Eusebius to feast with him in honor of the gods and as part of the idolatrous festivities. Then he made sure that Eusebius imbibed so much drink that he would fall fast asleep and lose consciousness. Felix immediately sprung into action. He captured Julia and compelled her to sacrifice to his gods. He bribed her, promising to procure her liberty if she would but comply. Julia answered that she was already truly free because she was a servant of Jesus Christ and no greater freedom existed in the world that what she already possessed!
Thinking that he was being made fun of, and infuriated by Julia's undaunted and resolute convictions, Felix flew into a mad rage. He had Julia struck repeatedly in the face, constantly taunting her and inviting her to renounce her "Crucified God." Then he had the hair of her head torn off. Seeing her unmoved, he ordered that she be hanged on a cross until she relented or died. Eusebius was prevented from helping her under the threat of death by Felix.
Thus, Julia died in the manner of crucifixion, faithfully following her Master and Savior to the end. Several Christian monks from the isle of Gorgon carried off her body and buried it was all honors. She is also known as St. Julia of Corsica. The story of her life was faithfully recorded by a contemporary North African, Bishop Victor Vitensis. In 763 AD, King Desiderius of Lombardy respectfully moved her relics to Brescia, where her memory was celebrated with great devotion.