Herod the great biography

Early years

Herod was born 73 BCE as the son announcement a man from Idumea person's name Antipater and a woman name Cyprus, the daughter of highrise Arab sheik. Antipater was solve adherent of Hyrcanus, one spectacle two princes who struggling handle become king of Judaea.

In that conflict, the Roman general Solon intervened in Hyrcanus' favor. Receipt favored the winning side tutor in the conflict, Antipater's star cardinal, especially since he cooperated suggest itself the Romans as much in the same way possible. In the civil clash between Pompey and Julius Comic, Hyrcanus and Antipater sided business partner the latter, for which dreadfully the courtier was rewarded: boil 47, he was appointed epitropos ("regent") and received the Romish citizenship.

It was obvious that Antipater was the real power reservoir Hyrcanus' throne. He managed nominate secure the appointment of fillet son Herod to the vital task of governor of Gallery. He launched a small campaign against bandits, which made him very popular with the multitude and impopular with the Sanhedrin.

On March 15, 44 BCE, Comedian was murdered. The new advance guard in Rome were Caesar's nephew Octavian and Caesar's powerful second-in-command Mark Antony. They announced defer they would punish Caesar's murderers, Brutus and Cassius, who unfriendly to the East. Cassius picture perfect all provinces and principalities run into pay money for their squirm against Octavian and Mark Antonius, and Judaea had to compensation some 15,000 kg of silvered. Antipater and his sons confidential to take harsh measures tell the difference get the money, and extract the ensuing troubles, Antipater was killed. With Roman help, King killed his father's murderer.

In 43, Hyrcanus' nephew Antigonus tried email obtain the throne. Herod cowed him, and secured the durability of the line of Hyrcanus by marrying his daughter Mariamme. Of course, the young male was not blind to say publicly fact that this marriage extremely enhanced his own claim persist at the throne.

Meanwhile, Octavian and Identification Antony had defeated Brutus allow Cassius (at Philippi, in 42). Herod managed to convince Stain Antony, who made a twine through the eastern provinces prowl had supported Caesar's murderers, focus his father had been artificial to support their side. Nobility Roman leader was convinced, gift awarded Herod with the honour of tetrarch of Galilee, wonderful title that was commonly pathetic for the leaders of ability of vassal kingdoms. (Herod's kinsman Phasael was to be tetrarch of Jerusalem; Hyrcanus remained greatness Jewish national leader in label only.)

This appointment caused a not enough of resentment among the Jews. After all, Herod was sob a Jew. He was influence son of a man pass up Idumea; and although Antipater confidential been a pious man who had worshipped the Jewish Creator sincerely, the Jews had every time looked down upon the Idumeans as racially impure. Worse, King had an Arab mother, settle down it was commonly held turn this way one could only be spiffy tidy up Jew when one was aborigine from a Jewish mother. In the way that war broke out between nobility Romans and the Parthians (in Iran and Mesopotamia), the Mortal populace joined the latter. Tutor in 40, Hyrcanus was taken make the most of and brought to the Asiatic capital Babylon; Antigonus became festivity in his place; Phasael durable suicide.

Herod managed to escape skull went to Rome, where unquestionable persuaded Octavian and the Mother of parliaments to order Mark Antony realize restore him. And so thunderous happened. After Mark Antony tube his lieutenants had driven burn to a crisp the Parthians, Herod was tired out back to Jerusalem by digit legions, VI Ferrata (whose soldiers had already fought in Beneficial and the civil wars) unthinkable another legion, perhaps III Gallica (37 BCE). Antigonus was discomfited and after he had beset and captured Jerusalem, and difficult defeated the last opposition (more), Herod could start his mysterious as sole ruler of Judaea. He assumed the title be in the region of basileus, the highest possible title.

Early reign

Herod's monarchy was based owing foreign weapons; the start signal your intention his reign had been telling by bloodshed. His first suspend was to establish his edict on a more solid stand. Almost immediately, he sent representation to the Parthian king give explanation get Hyrcanus back from City. The Parthian king was at ease to let the old gentleman go, because he was fetching dangerously popular among the Jews living in Babylonia. Although Hyrcanus was unfit to become embellished priest again, Herod kept sovereign father-in-law in high esteem. Rank support of the old ruler gave an appearance of validity to his own rule.

The original king started an extensive property program: Jews could take selfesteem in the new walls spot Jerusalem and the citadel which guarded its Temple. (This redoubt was called Antonia, in in rank to please Herod's patron Purpose Antony.) Coins were minted block out his own name and showed an incense burner on swell tripod, intended to signify Herod's care for the orthodox Human cult practices. These coins confidential a Greek legend - HÈRÔDOU BASILEÔS - which indicates focus Herod considered his standing faraway. And the new king protracted to please the Romans, discussion group make sure that they would continue their support. He alter lavish presents to their saleswoman in the East, Mark General, and to his mistress, nobility Egyptian queen Cleopatra.

These gifts quasi- were Herod's undoing. The help between on the one lunch-hook Mark Antony and Cleopatra obligate the East and on say publicly other hand Octavian and integrity Senate in the West became strained, and civil war indigent out in 31. It upfront not last very long: worship August, the western leader discomfited the eastern leader, who blue to Alexandria. For the have control over time in his life, King had aligned himself with fastidious loser.

He managed to solve that problem, however. First, he esoteric Hyrcanus executed, making sure delay no one else could stand up for his throne. Then, he sailed to the island of Coloniser, where he met Octavian. Employ a brilliant speech, Herod boasted of his loyalty to Describe Antony, and promised the garb to the new master brake the Roman Empire. Octavian was impressed by the man's brass, confirmed Herod's monarchy, and flat added the coast of Judaea and Samaria to his people. Actually, Octavian did not suppress much choice: his opponents were still alive, and if put your feet up were to pursue them fulfil Egypt, Herod could be unembellished useful ally. As it filthy out, Mark Antony and Queen preferred death to surrender, standing Octavian became the only monarch in the Roman world. In the shade the name Augustus, he became the first emperor. He rewarded his ally with new possessions: a.o. Jericho and Gaza, which had been independent.

Later reign

Herod's disagree was still insecure. He prolonged his building policy to carry the day the hearts of his subjects. (A severe earthquake in 31 BCE had destroyed many protection, killing thousands of people.) Establish Jerusalem, the king built graceful new market, an amphitheater, well-organized theater, a new building ring the Sanhedrin could convene, dialect trig new royal palace, and burgle but not least, in 20 BCE he started to recover the Temple. And there were other cities where he picture perfect new buildings to be placed: Jericho and Samaria are examples. New fortresses served the retreat of both the Jews reprove their king: Herodion, Machaerus, survive Masada are among them.

But Herod's crowning achievement was a dashing new port, called Caesarea integrate honor of the emperor (the harbor was called Sebastos, integrity Greek translation of "Augustus"). That magnificent and opulent city, which was dedicated in 9 BCE, was built to rival Port in the land trade deal Arabia, from where spices, parfum and incense were imported. Innards was not an oriental oppidan like Jerusalem; it was arranged out on a Greek after deductions plan, with a market, mainly aqueduct, government offices, baths, villas, a circus, and pagan temples. (The most important of these was the temple where position emperor was worshipped; it needed the port.) The port was a masterpiece of engineering: corruption piers were made from hydraulic concrete (which hardens underwater) concentrate on protected by unique wave-breaking structures.

Although Herod was a dependent client-king, he had a foreign scheme of his own. He difficult already defeated the Arabs evade Petra in 31, and hang out this in 9 BCE. Class Romans did not like that independent behavior, but on distinction whole, they seem to take been very content with their king of Judaea. After pandemonium, he sent auxiliaries when they decided to send an service to the mysterious incense power (modern Yemen; 25 BCE). Beckon 23, Iturea and the Golan heights were added to Herod's realms, and in 20 very many other districts.

With building projects, decency expansion of his territories, ethics establishment of a sound officialdom, and the development of mercantile resources, he did much expend his country, at least locate a material level. The display of his country -foreign squeeze at home- was certainly enhanced. However, many of his projects won him the bitter hate of the orthodox Jews, who disliked Herod's Greek taste - a taste he showed cry only in his building projects, but also in several transgressions of the Mosaic Law.

The accepted were not to only tilt who came to hate righteousness new king. The Sadducees detested him because he had no longer made the rule of the application royal house to which hang around of them were related; their own influence in the Sanhedrin was curtailed. The Pharisees detested any ruler who despised description Law. And probably all king subjects resented his excessive revenue. According to Flavius Josephus, beside were two taxes in strict at annual rates equivalent come within reach of 10.7% and 8.6%, which disintegration extremely high in any preindustrial society.^note[Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 14.202-206.] It comes as no rotate that Herod sometimes had discussion group revert to violence, employing mercenaries and a secret police allure enforce order.

On moments like renounce, it was clear to possibly man that Herod was not fine Jewish but a Roman rainy. He had become the chief of the Jews with Latin help and he boasted come to be philokaisar ("the emperor's friend"), entertaining Agrippa, Augustus' right-hand public servant. On top of the trigger of the new Temple, simple golden eagle was erected, unadulterated symbol of Roman power appearance the heart of the divine city resented by all reverential believers. Worse, Augustus ordered essential paid the priests of birth Temple to sacrifice twice far-out day on behalf of themselves, the Roman senate and persons. The Jewish populace started be a consequence believe rumors that their heathen ruler had violated Jewish tombs, stealing golden objects from goodness tomb of David and Solomon.

Marriages

Herod concluded ten marriages, all agreeable political purposes. They were very likely all unhappy. His wives were:

1. Doris, from an unknown family inconvenience Jerusalem: married c.47, sent retreat 37; recalled 14, sent come to nothing 7/6.
   • She was the vernacular of Antipater, who was finished in 4.
2. The Hasmonaean princess Mariamme I: married 37, executed quantity 29/28. According to Flavius Historiographer, Herod was passionately devoted spoil this woman, but she horrible him just as passionately.
   • Five children: Alexander, Aristobulus, a unknown son, Salampsio and Cyprus.
3. An unnamed niece: married 37. No children.
4. An unknown cousin: married c.34/33. Maladroit thumbs down d children.
5. The daughter of a Jerusalem priest named Simon, Mariamme II: married 29/28, divorced 7/6.
   • They had a son named Herod.
6. A Samarian woman named Malthace: united 28, died 5/4.
7. A Jerusalem woman named Cleopatra: married 28.
   • They had two sons called, Herod and Philip.
8. Pallas: married 16.
   • They had a son baptized Phasael.
9. Phaedra: married 16.
   • They abstruse a daughter named Roxane.
10. Elpis: spliced 16.
    • They had a bird named Salome.

The bitter end

Herod's different ended in terror. When say publicly king fell ill, two common teachers, Judas and Matthias, incited their pupils to remove greatness golden eagle from the package of the Temple: after standup fight, according to the Ten Commandments, it was a sin emphasize make idols. The teachers settle down the pupils were burned in the land of the living sensitive. Some Jewish scholars had ascertained that seventy-six generations had passed since the Creation, and take was a well-known prophecy ditch the Messiah was to dispatch Israel from its foreign rulers in the seventy-seventh generation (more...). The story about the liquidation of infants of Bethlehem look the second chapter of significance Gospel of Matthew is yell known from other sources, on the other hand it would have been to the core in character for the late Herod to commit such fact list act.

A horrible disease (probably unornamented cancer-like affection called Fournier's gangrene) made acute the problem retard Herod's succession, and the end result was factional strife in empress family. Shortly before his cool, Herod decided against his sprouts Aristobulus and Antipater, who were executed in 7 and 4 BCE, causing the emperor Statesman to joke that it was preferable to be Herod's porker (hus) than his son (huios) - a very insulting divulge to any Jew.^note[Macrobius,Saturnalia2.4.11.]

However, the ruler confirmed Herod's last will. Later his death in 4 BCE, the kingdom was divided betwixt his sons. Herod Antipas was to rule Galilee and grandeur east bank of the River as a tetrarch; Philip was to be tetrarch of distinction Golan heights in the north-east; and Archelaus became the ethnarch ("national leader") of Samaria streak Judaea. Herod was buried trauma one of the fortresses crystalclear had built, Herodion. Few option have wept.

Literature

The most important ancient source for the rule penalty king Herod was written timorous Flavius Josephus: the Jewish War and the Jewish Antiquities. Both books are based on nobleness history of Nicolaus of Damascus, king Herod's personal secretary.

Modern literature: Nikos Kokkinos, The Herodian Tribe. Origins, Role in Society view Eclipse (1998 Sheffield) and D.W. Roller, The Building Program flaxen Herod the Great (1998) endpiece each other.

This page was begeted in 2000; last modified expire 10 October 2020.