Julia was a noble virgin of Carthage in North Africa. A dedicated orthodox Christian, she refused to embrace the heretical tenets of the Arians and was sold into slavery by the Vandals - themselves Arian adherents - in 439 and sailed with her new master, a Syrian merchant. The vessel stopped at the island of Corsica, and Julia was commanded to participate in local pagan ceremony. When she refused, threats were made; she was then tortured and crucified. Another tradition states that she was martyred by Saracens. She is venerated as the patroness of Corsica.