Category:John Hyrcanus (subject)
John Hyrcanus (2nd century BCE), son of Simon Maccabeus, was a member of the Hasmonean dynasty. He ruled as High Priest and King of Judea, from 134 BCE to his death in 104 BCE. He was succeeded by his son Aristobulus; see Maccabees.
Overview
The beginnings of Hyrcanus' reign were very difficult. He was the only survivor of an assassination plot that killed his father Simon Maccabeus and his two brothers, Matthatias and Judas.
In the first year of Hyrcanus' reign, the Seleucid King Antiochus VII Sidetes invaded Judea, devastated the whole country, and finally besieged Jerusalem. Hyrcanus was forced to a humiliating surrender. But when in 128 BCE the Antiochus was killed in battle against the Parthians, the Seleucid empire collapsed. Hyrcanus was ready to take advantage of the new situation to consolidate his power in the region and expand his kingdom. First he marched into Transjordan and took the city of Medeba. He then attacked Schechem and destroyed the Samaritan Temple on Mount Gerizim. He also invaded the Idumean territories, before completing the conquest of Samaria and its capital, Samaria.
The policy of conquest begun by Jonathan Maccabeus and Simon Maccabeus escalated to a new level. Hyrcanus was the first of the Jewish princes to hire mercenaries in his army. He also inaugurated a policy of forced conversions in the occupied territories. Hyrcanus was now alone, confronting his neighbors. The Seleucid Empire was so weakened and divided that no longer was capable of any serious resistance.
Hyrcanus accumulation of power as King and High Priest met the growing opposition by the Pharisees. In his will, Hyrcanus apparently made an attempt to solve the problem by granting the kingdom to his wife, while his oldest son Aristobulus should receive only the High Priesthood.
However, when Hyrcanus died in 104 BCE, Aristobulus had his own mother killed, while his brothers were also imprisoned. Aristobulus would rule as both King and High Priest.
In Depth
- John Hyrcanus (sources) -- survey of ancient sources
- John Hyrcanus (arts) -- survey of fictional works
- John Hyrcanus (research) -- survey of scholarly works
Related categories
External links
Pictures on the web
- Map of Hyrcanus' kingdom <Wikipedia>
- Hyrcanus' coin <Wikipedia>
Pages in category "John Hyrcanus (subject)"
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