Roman Judea
Judea under Roman control: from Pompey's conquest of 63 BCE through the province of Judea under prefects such as Pontius Pilate.
Category: States, Places
- 64 BCESyria becomes a Roman province
Pompey annexes the Seleucid-held cities of Syria in 64 BCE, creating the Roman province of Syria. Judea becomes a client state of Rome.
- 63 BCEPompey captures Jerusalem
After a three-month siege Pompey takes Jerusalem in 63 BCE. Judea becomes a client state of Rome.
- 47 BCEAntipater helps Caesar; the Herodian rise
In 47 BCE Antipater the Idumaean, adviser to Hyrcanus II, helps Julius Caesar at Alexandria and is rewarded with Roman citizenship and the post of procurator of Judea. He gives his sons Phasael and Herod the governorships of Jerusalem and Galilee. He is poisoned in 43.
- 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.
- 6Judea becomes a Roman province
In 6 CE Augustus deposes Herod Archelaus, ethnarch of Judea, Samaria and Idumea, and turns Judea into a Roman province under a prefect, the first being Coponius. The capital moves from Jerusalem to Caesarea. Syria's legate Quirinius takes a census for taxes.
- 6Judas of Galilee resists the census
In 6 CE Judas of Galilee urges Jews not to register for Quirinius's census. Josephus calls his movement the "fourth philosophy" beside Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes and blames it for the later war with Rome. Whether it founded the Zealots is disputed.
- 26Pontius Pilate becomes prefect of Judea
Pontius Pilate governs Judea from 26 CE to 36 or 37, under Tiberius, keeping Caiaphas as high priest throughout. Josephus reports clashes over imperial standards in Jerusalem and an aqueduct paid from the Temple treasury. A 1961 inscription at Caesarea names him.
- c. 28John the Baptist preaches and is killed
About 28-29 CE John the Baptist preaches and baptizes; Jesus's baptism by him is among the events scholars accept most widely. Herod Antipas has John killed, around 30. The Gospels cite his rebuke of Antipas's marriage; Josephus says Antipas feared revolt.
- c. 30The crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified in Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate, most likely at Passover in 30 or 33 CE. Tacitus mentions it, and the baptism and crucifixion are the points scholars accept most widely. The Gospels differ over how much blame falls on Pilate.
- c. 36Pilate is recalled
After the Samaritans complain to Vitellius, governor of Syria, Pilate is recalled to Rome in 36 or 37. Tiberius dies on 16 March 37 before he arrives. Caiaphas is removed from the high priesthood after Pilate's fall.
- 40Caligula orders a statue in the Temple
In 40 CE, after Jews tear down an altar to the imperial cult at Jamnia, Caligula orders a statue of himself placed in the Jerusalem Temple. Philo leads delegations to the emperor and Agrippa opposes the plan. Caligula is assassinated in early 41.
- 41Agrippa I rules Judea
Agrippa I, a grandson of Herod the Great and friend of Claudius, helps Claudius to the throne and in 41 CE receives Judea, Samaria and Idumea, a realm about as large as Herod's. He dies at Caesarea in 44, and Judea returns to direct Roman rule under procurators.
- 66The First Jewish-Roman War
From 66 to 73 or 74 CE Judea revolts against Rome, in what the sources call the War of Destruction. Corrupt governors, economic strain and religious zeal all play a part. It ends with Jerusalem and the Temple destroyed and the end of Jewish political independence.
- 66The revolt breaks out; Gallus is defeated
In 66 CE riots in Caesarea escalate after the governor Gessius Florus, who had plundered the Temple treasury, answers with force, and rebels kill the Roman garrison in Jerusalem. Syria's legate Cestius Gallus marches on the city but is defeated at Beth Horon.
- 67Josephus surrenders at Yodfat
After the fall of Yodfat in 67 CE, the Jewish commander Josephus surrenders to Vespasian and, by his own account, foretells that Vespasian will be emperor. Freed in 69, he serves Titus at Jerusalem and then writes the war's main history. Many Jews saw his claim as self-serving.
- 67Vespasian conquers Galilee
Nero sends Vespasian, who conquers Galilee in 67 CE, taking Yodfat, Tarichaea and Gamla. In Jerusalem rival factions, among them Zealots, John of Gischala and Simon bar Giora, fall into civil war.
- 70The Second Temple is destroyed
The Second Temple burns in the summer of 70 CE, on 10 Av in Josephus's account, the day Tisha B'Av recalls. Josephus says Titus tried to save it; later writers say he ordered it burned. Scholars are divided. Excavations show burn layers and fallen stones.
- 70Titus besieges Jerusalem
In spring 70 CE Titus surrounds Jerusalem, full of Passover pilgrims, while factions inside fight one another and burn food stores. The Romans breach the walls and the Antonia fortress, and the Upper City falls in late summer. Josephus's 1.1 million dead is thought exaggerated.
- c. 73The siege of Masada
The Roman governor Flavius Silva besieges Masada, the last rebel stronghold, held by about 960 Sicarii and their families, traditionally in 72-73 CE, though some date it 73-74. Josephus says the defenders killed one another rather than surrender; several scholars doubt this.