| House of Herod Hebrew:בית הורדוס | |
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| Founder | Antipater the Idumaean |
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TheHerodian dynasty was a royaldynasty ofIdumaean (Edomite) descent, ruling theHerodian Kingdom of Judea and later theHerodian tetrarchy as avassal state of theRoman Empire. The Herodian dynasty began withHerod the Great who assumed the throne of Judea, with Roman support, bringing down the century-oldHasmonean Kingdom. His kingdom lasted until his death in 4 BC, when it was divided among his sons and daughter as atetrarchy, which lasted for about 10 years. Most of those tetrarchies, includingJudea proper, were incorporated intoJudaea Province from 6 BC, though limited Herodiande facto kingship continued untilAgrippa I's death in 44 BC and nominal title of kingship continued until c. 92 or 100 BC, when the last Herodian monarch, kingAgrippa II, died and Rome assumed full power over hisde jure domain.
During the time of theHasmonean rulerJohn Hyrcanus (134–104 BC), Judea conquered Edom (Idumea) and forced the Edomites to convert toJudaism.[1] The Edomites were gradually integrated into the Judean nation, and some of them reached high-ranking positions. In the days ofAlexander Jannaeus, the Edomite Antipas was appointed governor of Edom.[2] His sonAntipater was the chief adviser toHyrcanus II and managed to establish a good relationship with theRoman Republic, who at that time (63 BC) extended their influence over the region,[3] following conquest of Syria and intervention in a civil war in Judea.
There are differing genealogies for the dynasty, depending on the source. According toSextus Julius Africanus, Antipater's father was named Herod, andEpiphanius of Salamis writes that this Herod's father was named Antipas. It isJosephus who states that Antipas fathered Antipater, without further delineating his ancestry. This model is usually accepted by scholars.
Julius Caesar appointed Antipater to beprocurator of Judea in 47 BC,[4] and Antipater appointed his sonsPhasael andHerod to be governors ofJerusalem andGalilee respectively. Antipater was murdered in 43 BC; however, his sons managed to hold the reins of power and were elevated to the rank oftetrarchs in 41 BC byMark Antony.[3][5]
In 40 BC, theParthians invaded the eastern Roman provinces and managed to drive the Romans out of many areas.[6][7] In Judea, the Hasmonean dynasty was restored under KingAntigonus II Mattathias as a pro-Parthian monarch. Herod the Great, the son of Antipater and Cypros (possibly ofNabataean descent), managed to escape to Rome. After convincing theRoman Senate of his sincere intentions in favor of Romans he eventually was announced as king of the Jews by the Roman Senate.[8]
Despite his announcement as king of the whole of Judea, Herod did not fully conquer it until 37 BC.[9] He subsequently ruled the Herodian kingdom as a vassal king for 34 years, crushing the opposition while also initiating huge building projects, including the harbor atCaesarea Maritima, the plaza surrounded by retaining walls at theTemple Mount, theMasada and theHerodium, among other fortresses and public works.[10][11] Herod ruled Judea until 4 BC;[10] at his death, his kingdom was divided among his three sons and his daughter as a tetrarchy.[12]
Herod Archelaus, son of Herod and Malthace the Samaritan, was given the title ofethnarch and ruled over the main part of the kingdom:Judea proper, Idumea, andSamaria. He ruled for ten years until 6 AD, when he was "banished toVienna inGaul, where according toCassius Dio, "Hist. Roma," lv. 27—he lived for the remainder of his days."[13] See alsoCensus of Quirinius.
Philip (sometimes erroneously called Herod Philip II) was the son of Herod and his fifth wifeCleopatra of Jerusalem. He was given the title of tetrarch with jurisdiction over the northeast part of his father's kingdom:Iturea,Trachonitis,Batanaea,Gaulanitis,Auranitis, andPaneas. He ruled until his death in 34 AD.
Herod Antipas, another son of Herod and Malthace, was made a tetrarch ofGalilee andPerea; he ruled there until he was exiled toSpain by emperorCaligula in 39 AD, according to Josephus.[14] Herod Antipas is the person referenced in the Christian New Testament Gospels, playing a role in the death ofJohn the Baptist[15] and the trial ofJesus. TheGospel of Luke states that Jesus was first brought beforePontius Pilate for trial, since Pilate was the governor ofRoman Judea, which encompassed Jerusalem whereJesus was arrested. Pilate initially handed him over to Antipas, in whose territory Jesus had been most active, but Antipas sent him back toPilate's court.
Salome I, Herod's sister, was thetoparch of Jabneh.
Herod Agrippa was the grandson of Herod. Thanks to his friendship with Caligula, the emperor appointed him ruler with the title of king over the territories of Philip in 37 AD, which were after Philip's death in 34 AD shortly part of the Roman province ofSyria, and in 40 AD he was given the territories ofHerod Antipas. In 41 AD, EmperorClaudius added to his territory the parts of Judea province that previously belonged toHerod Archelaus. Thus Agrippa I practically re-united his grandfather's kingdom under his rule. Agrippa died in 44 AD.
Agrippa's sonHerod Agrippa II was appointed a tetrarch ofChalcis and later king of the territories previously ruled by Philip. He actively participated in the quelling of theGreat Revolt of Judea on the Roman side. Agrippa II was the last of the Herodians; with his death in c. 92 or 100 AD the dynasty was extinct, and the kingdom became fully incorporated into the Roman province of Judaea.
In addition,Herod of Chalcis ruled as king of Chalcis, and his son,Aristobulus of Chalcis, was tetrarch of Chalcis and king ofArmenia Minor.
| Antipater the Idumaean procurator of Judea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.Doris 2.Mariamne I 3.Mariamne II | Herod I the Great ∞4.Malthace | 5.Cleopatra of Jerusalem 6.Pallas 7.Phaidra 8.Elpis | Phasael I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1)Antipater heir of Judaea | (2)Alexander I heir of Judea | (2)Aristobulus IV prince of Judea | (3)Herod II Philip prince of Judea | (4)Herod Archelaus ethnarch of Judea, Idumea & Samaria | (4)Herod Antipas tetrarch of Galilea & Perea | (5)Philip the Tetrarch of Iturea & Trachonitis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tigranes V of Armenia | Alexander II prince | Herod Agrippa I king of Judea | Herod V king of Chalcis | Aristobulus Minor prince of Judea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tigranes VI of Armenia | Herod Agrippa II king of Batanaea | Aristobulus tetrarch of Chalcis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gaius Julius Alexander ruler of Cilicia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus proconsul of Asia | Gaius Julius Agrippa quaestor of Asia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lucius Julius Gainius Fabius Agrippa gymnasiarch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Media related toHerodian dynasty at Wikimedia Commons