Archelaus (23 BC – 18 AD) – King of Judea, who succeeded his father Herod the Great but was deposed by the Romans. full history in 3000 words

Archelaus (23 BC – 18 AD) – King of Judea, who succeeded his father Herod the Great but was deposed by the Romans. full history in 3000 words

Archelaus was born in 23 BC as the eldest son of Herod the Great, the King of Judea. Herod was a powerful and ambitious ruler who had managed to secure the favor of the Roman Empire by helping to suppress a Jewish revolt in 40 BC. He had several wives and many children, but he designated Archelaus as his successor, granting him the title of king over Judea, Samaria, and Idumea.

Upon Herod's death in 4 BC, Archelaus took the throne but his reign was marked by controversy and unrest. He was accused of being a harsh and incompetent ruler, who did not have the support of the people or the Jewish religious leaders. In particular, his heavy-handed approach to taxation and his brutal suppression of a protest against it in the temple led to riots and violence in Jerusalem. The Roman authorities became concerned about the instability in Judea and eventually intervened, sending a delegation to investigate the situation.

The delegation was led by Publius Quinctilius Varus, the governor of Syria, who was tasked with assessing Archelaus' suitability to rule. Varus found Archelaus to be unsuitable, and he was subsequently deposed and banished to Vienne in Gaul. Judea was then placed under direct Roman rule, with a governor appointed to oversee the region. This marked the end of the Herodian dynasty's rule over Judea.

Archelaus' deposition was not the end of his story, however. He continued to seek a return to power, using his wealth and connections to lobby the Roman authorities for reinstatement. He even traveled to Rome to plead his case before the emperor Augustus. Despite his efforts, he was never able to regain his throne, and he spent the rest of his life in exile in Gaul.

Archelaus' reign was short but eventful, and his deposition marked a turning point in the history of Judea. The Roman occupation of the region would continue for centuries, and the Jewish people would struggle to maintain their religious and cultural identity in the face of foreign domination. Archelaus himself would be remembered as a controversial figure, whose heavy-handed rule and ultimate downfall came to symbolize the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of good governance.

In conclusion, Archelaus was a king of Judea who succeeded his father Herod the Great but was eventually deposed by the Romans. His reign was marked by controversy and unrest, with accusations of harsh and incompetent rule. His heavy-handed approach to taxation and suppression of protests led to riots and violence in Jerusalem. Eventually, the Roman authorities became concerned and intervened, deposing Archelaus and placing Judea under direct Roman rule. Despite his efforts to regain his throne, Archelaus spent the rest of his life in exile. His deposition marked a turning point in the history of Judea and his legacy would be remembered as a cautionary tale of authoritarianism and the importance of good governance.

Archelaus then sent a general, some other people, and finally a "tribune in Command of a Cohort" to reason with these "Seditionists", to stop their "innovations" and wait until Archelaus could return from Rome and Caesar. Those who came from Archelaus were , with many killed. After the stoning, those who stoned the soldiers returned to their sacrifices, as if nothing had happened. Josephus does not tell who performed the sacrifices in the Temple. It was after midnight, and Archelaus suddenly ordered the entire army into the city to the temple. Josephus records the death toll at 3000. Archelaus sent heralds around the city announcing the cancellation of Passover.