Rome’s relationship with the Jewish population of the Roman Empire had been strained since thedestruction of Jerusalem in the 1st century CE, andHadrian’s focus on Romanizing the province ofJudaea greatlyexacerbated tensions. He aimed to transform Jerusalem into a Roman metropolis, and in 132 he banned the practice of castration and circumcision. A short time later, many Jews in Judaearevolted under thecharismaticBar Kokhba, a man who had been recognized by some as themessiah.

Bar Kokhba’s revolt was successful at the start. He quickly occupied the Judaean countryside and forced the provincial governor to request reinforcements. Hadrian transferred his most talented generals to the region. Among them was Julius Severus, who took command of the imperial forces. Hedeployed threelegions and at least 17auxiliary units; one of these legions was likely obliterated by insurgents. Taking note of Bar Kokhba’s reluctance to engage him in open combat, Severus adopted a scorched-earth strategy, leveling hundreds of villages and outposts. The rebels often hid in underground tunnels, so he starved and burned them out from above. By 135 therevolt had been extinguished and Bar Kokhba killed, but only after enormous losses on both sides.

Hadrian resolved to stamp the Jews and their religion out of existence. He sold all Jewish prisoners into slavery, forbade the teaching of theTorah, renamed the provinceSyria Palaestina, and changed Jerusalem’s name toAelia Capitolina (although scholars are divided over whether to place Jerusalem’s name change before or after the revolt). Synagogues were replaced with Roman temples. More painful was his edict barring Jews from so much as looking upon their fallen capital. Many prominent rabbis violated this edict andmartyred themselves in the process. Hadrian’s efforts had a lasting effect: the Jews would not regain control of their ancestral homeland for over 1,800 years.