Hasmonean kingdom
The Jewish priest-kings of the Hasmonean dynasty (c. 141-37 BCE), from Simon Thassi to Antigonus, and their wars, rule and religious parties.
Category: States
- c. 150 BCEPharisees, Sadducees and Essenes emerge
In the mid-2nd century BCE, under the Hasmonean priest-rulers, Jewish groups take shape: Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes. Pharisees accept an oral Torah and the Sadducees only the written one; the Essenes live apart. Josephus first mentions the Pharisees under Jonathan.
- 141 BCEJudea becomes independent
In 141 BCE Simon Thassi expels the Seleucid garrison from the Acra citadel in Jerusalem. The year before, Demetrius II had exempted Judea from tribute. This marks the start of the Hasmonean state.
- 134 BCEJohn Hyrcanus succeeds Simon
Simon Thassi is assassinated in 135 or 134 BCE and his son John Hyrcanus succeeds him. Antiochus VII besieges Jerusalem for about a year; a truce costs Hyrcanus a payment, the city walls and troops against the Parthians. After Antiochus dies he stops paying tribute.
- c. 134 BCEThe settlement at Qumran
A settlement is built at Qumran by the Dead Sea between 134 and 104 BCE, under Hyrcanus or somewhat later. Most scholars link it to the Essenes, but it has also been read as a fortress, villa or workshop. It is destroyed in the Jewish War, about 68-73 CE.
- c. 110 BCEHyrcanus conquers Samaria and Idumea
From about 110 BCE Hyrcanus takes Samaria, Idumea and Transjordan. He destroys the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim and, reportedly, forces the Idumeans to convert, though some scholars dispute it. Herod's family later comes from Idumea.
- 104 BCEAristobulus I takes the title of king
In 104 or 103 BCE Aristobulus I becomes the first Hasmonean to take the title basileus (king), joining it to the high priesthood. His father Hyrcanus had separated civil rule from the priesthood in his will; Aristobulus imprisoned his mother.
- c. 96 BCEAlexander Jannaeus fights the Pharisees
After taking Gaza around 96 BCE, King Alexander Jannaeus faces a civil war with Pharisee opponents, who pelt him with citrons at Tabernacles. Rebels ally with the Seleucid Demetrius III. Josephus says Jannaeus later crucifies about 800 Jews, mostly Pharisees, in Jerusalem.
- 76 BCESalome Alexandra reigns
From 76 to 67 BCE Queen Salome Alexandra rules Judea after Alexander Jannaeus, with her son Hyrcanus II as high priest. She shares power with the Pharisees, whose influence grows, and rabbinic tradition remembers her reign as a golden age.
- 67 BCEHyrcanus II and Aristobulus II go to war
Near the end of Salome Alexandra's life, her younger son Aristobulus II seizes fortresses and declares himself king. After she dies in 67 BCE a civil war with his brother Hyrcanus II, backed by Antipater, draws in Rome. It ends in 63 with Pompey.
- 63 BCEPompey captures Jerusalem
After a three-month siege Pompey takes Jerusalem in 63 BCE. Judea becomes a client state of Rome.
- 40 BCEParthians install Antigonus; Herod named king
In 40 BCE the Parthians invade Syria and back Antigonus, last Hasmonean ruler, who takes Jerusalem and mutilates Hyrcanus II so he cannot be high priest. Herod flees to Rome, where the Senate names him king of Judea (40 or 39, by source).
- 37 BCEHerod takes Jerusalem
In 37 BCE (36 by some arguments) Herod, with Roman help, takes Jerusalem after a siege and ends Hasmonean rule. Antigonus is executed, beheaded by Antony according to Josephus.