Aristobulus II

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Aristobulus II from "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum"

Aristobulus II (* around 100 BC; † 49 BC in Rome ) was a Jewish king and high priest of the Hellenistic- influenced aristocratic Sadducees .

Aristobulus was the youngest son of the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus . After the death of Queen Salome Alexandra , his mother, in 67 BC. At first, Aristobulus' brother and high priest John Hyrcanus II became the legal king of the Jews. However, Aristobulus found his brother unfit to lead the kingdom. As a result, there were military conflicts between the two brothers. Since Aristobulus was able to win over the majority of the population, he finally prevailed against Hyrcanus and became high priest and king. Hyrcanus agreed to live as a private citizen.

The enforced peace was disrupted when Antipater , the father of the future King Herod , intervened. Antipater was closely connected to Hyrcanus and with the change of power he saw himself in danger. Antipater succeeded in winning over the upper class of the Jews again for the cause of Hyrcanus, through which he also secured his influence over the latter. He brought Hyrcanus to Aretas III. , to flee the king of the Nabataeans , who assured him military support for the return of twelve cities previously lost to Jannäus . In 65 BC After a siege of the Temple of Jerusalem , Aristobulus was defeated.

The disputes between the two brothers over the throne now also prompted the Romans , 64 BC. To intervene in the events and thereby expand their influence in the region. Both brothers vied for the favor of Scaurus , the quaestor of the general Pompey , for their cause. The decision was made in favor of Aristobulus. Scaurus urged Hyrcanus and Aretas to retreat.

In the winter of 64/63 BC In Antioch , delegations of the two warring brothers appeared for the first time before Pompey himself. A decision should only be made after the planned campaign against the Nabataeans. Pompey urged both parties to keep the peace pending a decision. Aristobulus sensed the bad outcome of the decision and left early. Pompey pursued him and forced him to surrender all his fortresses to him. Aristobulus wanted to wage war against Pompey from Jerusalem, but when he appeared there with a huge force, Aristobulus capitulated and offered valuables and submission to the city. Probably some followers of Aristobulus were unwilling to obey and prevented the Romans from entering the city. Pompey then captured Aristobulus and brought him to Rome.

Aristobulus managed to escape, but was arrested again in Machaerus . Caesar determined it in 49 BC. BC again to rulers of the Hasmoneans and made Roman troops available to him to regain his rule. Pompey had Aristobulus poisoned before he came to power. The body of Aristobulus was embalmed in honey until Mark Antony later sent him to Judaea and had him buried in the royal tomb of the fortress of Alexandreion .

Alexander , his first son, was born in 49 BC. Executed in Antioch. Antigonus , the second son of Aristobulus, was to become the last ruler of a partially independent empire of the Hasmoneans.

literature

Remarks

  1. Flavius ​​Josephus: Antiquitates iudaicae. Book XIV 7.4.
predecessor Office successor
Salome Alexandra King of Judea
67–63 BC Chr.
John Hyrcanus II