Herod the Great

Herod I or Herod the Great (Hebrew: Hordos הוֹרְדוֹס) was a major Roman client-king of Judaea approximately 37-4 B.C.E. in Jerusalem. Best known to history as a ruthless man who did not hesitate to kill anyone who might have threatened his throne, Herod also proved himself to be a capable administrator and far-sighted ruler whose reigned over a territory greater than any Jewish king since Solomon. He navigated the treacherous political waters of the Roman Empire during the reigns of Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavius. His leadership also helped to build the economic might of Judaea — founding cities, expanding religious sites, developing agricultural projects, and creating a relatively stable government during a particularly tumultuous period.

Ruebens' Massacre of the Innocents

Herod is best known, however, from the Christian Bible, which gives an account of his being visited by wise men from the east who tell him of the impending birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem. Sensing a threat to his kingship, Herod reacts by slaughtering the infant boys in the area, in what has come to be known as the Massacre of the Innocents. Only in Matthew's Gospel (chapter 2) is this story mentioned, and its historicity is much debated. Herod's ruthlessness as a ruler, however, is well documented. He executed several members of his own family — including his wife, numerous in-laws, and several sons — as well as 45 members of the Jewish religious council in Jerusalem.

Herod's most famous project was rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem, greatly enlarging it and making it into the most beautiful in its time. Some of his other achievements include: the rebuilding the water supplies for Jerusalem, building his own palace in Jerusalem, refurbishing and constructing fortresses such as Masada and Herodion, supporting the financially trouble Olympic Games, and creating new cities such as Caesarea Maritima and Sebaste. He also engaged in substantial relief programs during periods of drought or famine and influenced Rome to protect the rights of Jews in the diaspora.

Herod's fatal flaw appears to have been a paranoid suspicion created by insecurity about his place on the throne. Whether he could have survived without this quality cannot be known. However, it has earned him a place in history more for his cruelty than for his many positive accomplishments.

Biography

Family Background

Herod the Great arose from a wealthy, influential Idumaean family. The Idumaeans were the successors to the Edomites, the descendants of Esau according to the Hebrew Bible. When the Jewish Hasmonean ruler John Hyrcanus I conquered Idumea in 130-140 B.C.E., he required all Idumaeans to obey Jewish law or to leave, and thus most Idumaeans thus converted to Judaism.

Herod identified himself as Jewish, although his pedigree as a Jew was challenged by his stricter Jewish opponents throughout his career. His father was Antipater the Idumaean and his mother was Cypros, princess from Petra in Nabatea, east of the Jordan River. The family rubbed shoulders with the great in Rome, such as Pompey and Cassius. In 47 B.C.E. Antipater was appointed chief minister of Judea by Hyrcanus II, and he in turn appointed Herod governor of the Galilee at the age of 25. Antipater was poisoned in 43 B.C.E., and this event may have been at the root of Herod's later obsession about his own safety on the throne.

Herod's early career was a stormy one. He successfully put down a revolt by the Hasmonean zealot Antigonus, and for this he was rewarded by Hyrcanus II with an offer of betrothal to his teenage granddaughter Mariamne. Hyrcanus himself having no male heir, the match was extremely attractive to Herod, as it greatly increased his credentials as a Jewish ruler. He banished his first wife and three-year-old son and married Mariamne several years later.

Herod becomes King

The taking of Jerusalem by Herod the Great by Jean Fouquet

Hyrcanus, who held the title of "ethnark" from Rome, now appointed Herod "tetrach" of Galilee. In 40 B.C.E., the Hasmonean zealot Antigonus — this time joined by powerful Parthian alllies — invaded Judea and marched on Jerusalem where he imprisoned both Hyrcanus and Herod's brother Fasael, who served as governor of that city. Herod came to their rescue, but Anigonus' forces, supported by religious Jews who considered Herod's family as half-breeds, successfully defended the city, forcing Herod's army to flee. He first marched to Idumea in the South, then to Arabia, and eventually came to Rome. Hyrcanus, meanwhile, had been mutilated by his captors and deported to Babylon, while Fasael was dead, possibly by his own hand. The new Emperor, Mark Antony, received Herod's promise to win back the lost terriroty for the Empire. Herod was consequently given the title of King of Judaea by Antony with the Senate's unanimous approval. Prevailing after a long struggle against Antigonus and the Parthians with Roman support, Herod finally conquered Judea and began to rule as king around 37 B.C.E., with Miramne as his queen. Antigonus was captured taken to Rome in chains by the general Sosius, where he was executed. Herod then executed 45 pro-Antigonus members of the Jewish council or Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, many of them heads of leading Sadduceean families with ties to the Hasmoneans. He seems to have received some support from important Pharisees, who placed less stress on questions of lineage.

Although Hasmonean rulers had claimed the title of both king and high priest, Herod was ineligible to serve as priest since he was not of Levite blood. He initially appointed a young man of appropriate lineage named Ananel to the post. This, however, outraged the Hasmonean elites, who favored Miramne's brother Aristobulus III. Miramne's mother, Alexandra, went so far as to appeal to her friend Cleopatra of Egypt in matter; and since Cleopatra had substantial influence with Herod's patron Mark Antony, Herod was forced to captiulate. Ananel was deposed, and in 36, Herod named the 17-year-old Aristobulus as high priest. A year later, Aristobulus drowned at a party, a supposed victim of drunken horseplay. With Herod under suspicion, Antony summoned him to explain the circumstances. Despite Cleopatra's probable advice to the contrary, Antony declared the matter to be an internal affair under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod returned to Jerusalem confident of continued Roman support.

Herod further solidified his position in 32-31 by gaining victory in the war against the Nabatean Arabs, who had rebelled against his rule. Meanwhile in imperial politics, Octavian had defeated Mark Antony. Herod quickly declared his allegiance to Octavian, who, as Ceasar Augustus confirmd his as King of Judea in 30 B.C.E.

Family and Succession Problems

While Herod thus skillfully navigated the treacherous political waters at the highest levels, he now proved incapable of keeping his own house in order. In 29 Herod began to suspect that Miriamne and her family were determined to dethrone him. He had Miriamme put on trial on a charge of adultery. Her mother, Alexandra, perhaps under duress, was a witness against her. Mariamne was convicted, reportedly deporting herself with great dignity at her execution. She was 25 years of age, having given birth to five children in seven years. Alexandra soon retaliated against Herod by declaring herself queen, claiming that Herod was mentally unfit to serve. Herod had her executed her without trial. Continuing to fear a conspiracy from the Hasmonean faction, Herod then executed Miriamne's brother Kostobar.

In 27, Herod married Malthace, a Samaritan woman to whom his ultimate heirs were born. In 23, probably without divorcing Malthrace, he married another Mariamne, whose father, Simon, he named high priest. A decade later, Herod accused Alexandros and Aristobulos, his sons from his marriage to the first Mariamne, of threatening his life. Augustus himself intervened to forestall their trial, but by 7 B.C.E., they had been convicted and executed. Antipater, Herod's son from his first marriage (to Doris), was designated sole successor to the throne, but soon he too was charged with plotting Herod's murder. A younger son by Malthrace, Herod Antipas, was named his new successor. (It should be noted that the "Herod" mentioned in biblical account as responsible for the death of John the Baptist is not Herod the Great but Herod Antipas.)

Antipater was executed in 4 B.C.E., and Herod named his son Archelaus to be his successor as king, with Antipas and Philip as tetrarchs. After Herod's death Agustus divided his kingdom between these three sons of Herod, but did not recognize Archelaus as king.

Herod the Builder and Ruler

File:Herod's-Kingdom.gif

Herod's Kingdom, from Livius.Org, with permission.

While Herod was clearly a failure as a family man, his successes as a builder and ruler were substantial. After demonstrating significant skill as a diplomat, fundraiser, and military leader in the campaign that made him king, he countinued to ruler effectively throughout his career despite the many threats against him, real and imagined. In 2y B.C.E., he held a large festival in Jerusalem to celebrate the completion of a newly built theatre and amphitheatre in honor of Octvian's victories. While this project alienated religious Jews as evidence of Herod's devotion to corrupt Greek values, it also demonstrated his effectiveness as an organizer and fundraiser, as well as solidifying his reputation in the broader world. In 27, looking beyond Jerusalem after the death of the first Miriamne, he completed the rebuilding the fromer northern capital of Samaria to honour Augustus), renaming it Sebaste. In the same year he married the beautiful Samaritan princess, Malthace.

In 25, Herod carried out a massive program of grain importation from Egypt and thus helped stave off the effects of drought, famine, and epidemics. At the same time, he was able to lowers taxes by one third. In 23, he opened his own palace in Jerusalem, naming it the Antonia in honor of his Roman patron. He also opened the stragegic the fortress called the Herodian, guarding the southern approaches to Jerusalem.

Building began on the impressive port city of Caesarea Maritima in 23 B.C.E. The project further demonstrated Herod's capability as a builder and provided a modern Mediterranean port necessary to establish his naiton as a major economic force. Around this time Rome rewarded Herod's successes by adding the regions Trachonitis, Batanaea and Auranitis to his rule. (This later proved troublesome as Herod angered Augustus in taking too free a hand subduing rebels from these terroritories who had fled to Syria.)

His most famous building project, the massive expansion Temple of Jerusalem, began around 20 B.C.E. While part of his motivation for the project was to quell resentment of the fact that his own palace dominated — both in size and location — the previous temple, the grandeur of the project surely brought glory as much to the Jewish religion of the time as it did to Herod as a builder. By 14 B.C.E., the prosperity of Herod's kingdom was secure enought that he could give substantial aid to the Jews in Anatolia and Cyrene as well as once again lowering taxes lowered in Judea. He also gave significant support the financially strapped Olympic Games. The inauguration of Caesarea Maritima in 11 B.C.E., presented a marvellous spectacle, rivaled only by the final dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem a year earlier.

Herod's troubles with Jewish factions, however, was not ended. In 6 B.C.E., he dealt harshly with the Pharisees, some of whom had announced that the birth of the Messiah would mean the end of his rule. In 4 B.C.E., when Young Torah-students smashed the golden Roman eagle over the main entrance of Herod's Temple, he had them arrested them and how punished? If the Massacre of the Innocents was historical, it too would have occurred around this time as well, depending on the date one assigns to the birth of Jesus.

The Sadducees, meanwhile regained the upper hand in Jeruslem politics as Herod had carefully cultivated those among them who were willing to cooperate with his rule.

Timeline of Herod's Reign

37 — Herod begins to reign as King of Judea.

36 — Herod names Aristobulus III, high priest.

35 — Aristobulus drowns at a party.

Copper coin of Herod, bearing the legend "Basileus Herodon" on the obverse and a Macedonian sun-symbol on the reverse.

32 — Start of the war against Nabatea, with victory one year later.

31 — Octavian (Agustus) defeats Mark Antony. Herod declares his allegiance to Octavian.

30 — Octavian confirms Herod as King of Judaea.

29 — Herod puts Miriamme on trial on a charge of adultery. Herod's mother-in-law, Alexandra, declares herself Queen. Herod executes her without trial.

28 — Large festival is held in Jerusalem to celebrate the completion of the newly built theatre and amphitheatre. Herod executes his brother-in-law Kostobar for conspiracy.

27 — Herod rebuilds the northern city of Samaria to honour Augustus) and renames it Sebaste. An assassination attempt on Herod is fioled.

25 — Facing drought, Herod imports grain from Egypt and starts an major aid programe. He lowers taxes by one third.

23 — Herod builds a palace in Jerusalem and the fortress Herodian in Judaea. He marries his third wife, also named Mariamne, the daughter of high priest Simon.

22 — Building starts on Caesarea Maritima. Rome rewards Herod 'ssuccesses by adding the regions Trachonitis, Batanaea and Auranitis to his rule.

20 — Probable starting date of the expansion of the Temple of Jerusalem.

18 — Herod travels for the second time to Rome.

14 — Herod gives aid to the Jews in Anatolia and Cyrene. Taxes lowered in Judea.

13 — Herod makes his firstborn son Antipater his primary heir in his will.

12 — Herod supports the financially strapped Olympic Games and ensures their future. He the first Mariamne's sons of threatening his life. He takes them to Aquileia to be tried; but Augustus intervenes to reconcile the three.

10 — Temple in Jerusalem is inaugurated.

9 — The inauguration of Caesarea Maritima presents a marvellous spectacle. War against the Nabateans harms Herod's reputation with Augustus.

8 — Herod is reconciled with Augustus. He now formally charges his sons with high treason.

7 — Mariamne's sons are found guilty before a Roman court in Berytos (Beirut) and executed. Antipater is designated sole successor to the throne. In second place the succession incorporates Herod Philip, a son from the second Mariamne.

6 — Herod proceeds harshly against the Pharisees, fearing their hope in the coming Messiah.

5 — Antipater, Herod's first son, convicted of conspiracy to murder Herod and convicted. Herod makes his son from his 4th marriage, Herod Antipas, his new successor. Herod becomes seriously ill.

4 — Young Pharisees smash the golden Roman eagle over the main entrance of the Temple of Jerusalem. Herod crushes the rebellion. Antipater is executed. Herod names his son Archelaus to be his successor as king, with Antipas and Philip as tetrarchs. Herod probably dies in March. Agustus divides his kingdom between his three sons, but does not recognize Archelaus as king.

Marriages and Children

1. married Doris

• Son Antipater, executed 4 B.C.E.

2. married Mariamme (I.), daughter of Hasmonean Alexandros

• Son Alexandros, executed 7 B.C.E.
• Son Aristobulos, executed 7 B.C.E.
• Daughter Salampsio
• Daughter Cypros

3. married Malthace

• Son Herodes Archelaos - Ethnarch
• Son Herodes Antipas - Tetrarch
• Daughter Olympias

4. married Mariamme (II.), daughter of High-Priest Simon

• Son Herod

5. married Cleopatra of Jerusalem

• Son Herod Philip - Tetrarch
• Son Herod

6. married Pallas

• Son Phasael

7. married Phaidra

• Daughter Roxane

8. married Elpis

• Daughter Salome bint Herod I

9. married a cousin (name unknown)

• no known children

10. married a niece (name unknown)

• no known children

It is very probable that Herod had more children, especially with the last wives. Since polygamy was still legal under Jewish law at this time, so some of the later marriages were certainly polygamous.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Grant, Michael. Herod the Great. Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London, 1971. ISBN: 297-00393-3,

External Links

• Family trees
• Outline of Great Books Volume I - King Herod: extracts from the works of Josephus
• Timeline 49 to 1 B.C.E.

Template:Succession box one to three

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