Antipater the Idumaean
Antipater I | |
---|---|
Born | 113 or 114 BCE Edom |
Died | 43 BCE (aged 69–70) |
Spouse | Cypros |
Issue | |
Ancient Greek | Αντίπατρος |
Hebrew | אָנְטִיפָּטְרוּס |
House | Herodian dynasty |
Father | Antipas |
Religion | Judaism |
Antipater I the Idumaean
A native of
After
The diplomacy and artful politics of Antipater, as well as his insinuation into the Hasmonean court, paved the way for the rise of his son
Background
Though historians understand that Antipater's family had converted to
Instead Josephus explains that Antipater's family converted to Judaism during the
Early Church Fathers often portrayed Herod polemically, and as such, their accounts of his familial origin reflected poetic license in place of historical accuracy. According to
Antipater married Cypros, a
Antipater served as a governor of Idumea under King Alexander Jannaeus and Queen Salome Alexandra, the parents of the feuding heirs.[2] Josephus writes that he was a man of great authority among the Idumeans, both wealthy and born into a dignified family.[14] Indeed, it is clear in the various forms of assistance that Antipater provides to both Hyrcanus II, brother of Aristobulus, and the Romans, that he possessed great resources, and brilliant military and political capabilities.[15]
At the Hasmonean court
Antipater laid the foundation for
Soon after Hyrcanus succeeded his widowed mother as ruler and took the office of the high priest, he was immediately attacked by his brother and surrendered. Hyrcanus agreed to retire from public life.[16] Antipater, who seems to have succeeded his father as governor of Idumæa, had reason to fear that King Aristobulus would not retain him in this position.[2]
Antipater was known as a seditious and trouble-making man, and he exploited the weak-willed Hyrcanus for the sake of his ambition.[17] After Hyrcanus stepped down, Antipater persuaded him to contend against his brother for his rightful position, and even convinced the unsuspecting and reluctant Hyrcanus that his younger brother intended to kill him.[18] He arranged for Hyrcanus to come under the protection of the Arabian King Aretas III in Petra. Together they attacked Aristobulus in Jerusalem, and there was a great upheaval that drew the attention of Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, the Roman magistrate Pompey assigned to the eastern Mediterranean province.[19]
Although Pompey and his lieutenant Scaurus initially ruled in Aristobulus’ favor when the brothers brought their case forward, on the third intervention Pompey ordered the brothers to wait. Aristobulus impatiently provoked a political offense that brought Pompey to appoint Hyrcanus the ethnarch of Judea.[20]
Hyrcanus proved ineffective as either an administrator, or more importantly, as tax collector. Antipater was able to insinuate himself into a position of influence, and soon exercised the authority that ostensibly belonged to Hyrcanus as high priest.[21] Antipater recognized Rome's growing dominance in the region and exploited it to his advantage. Due to his loyalty to Rome and reliability as a statesman, he was placed in charge of Judea, with responsibilities and privileges that included mediating civil disturbance and tax collecting.[22]
Roman procurator and appointments of sons
With Hyrcanus established, Antipater thrived and laid the foundation for his family's success by navigating conflicts of loyalty and power-shifting within the Roman elite. When
Later when accused by Aristobulus’ son,
At this time came the defining point in Antipater's legacy, whereby he made his sons, Phasael, governor of Jerusalem, and Herod governor of
Assassination and legacy
After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Antipater was forced to side with Cassius against Mark Antony. When Cassius came to Syria to collect troops, he began to demand harsh tributes, so much so that some entire cities and city curators were sold into slavery.[29] Cassius demanded seven hundred talents out of Judea, so Antipater split the cost between his two sons. One aristocrat tasked with collecting tribute was Malichus, who disdained Antipater and enraged Cassius by not collecting with haste.[30] However, Antipater saved Malichus from death by expending one hundred talents of his own and placating Cassius’ anger.[31]
Although Antipater saved Malichus' life a second time from a different ruler, Malichus continued to despise Antipater and seek his murder. Josephus presents two opposing reasons, one which would help secure Hyrcanus against the rising threat of Herod,[32] and the other being his desire to quickly dispose of Hyrcanus and take power himself.[33] He devised multiple assassination attempts which Antipater evaded, but successfully bribed one of Hyrcanus’ cup-bearers to poison and kill Antipater.[34]
Antipater's work as power-broker between the Hasmoneans, the Arabians, and the Romans inaugurated dramatic dynamics and steep changes in the history of the Jewish nation. The diplomacy and artful politics of Antipater produced the
Family tree of the Herodian dynasty
Antipater the Idumaean procurator of Judea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.Doris 2. Mariamne II 4.Malthace | Herod I the Great king of Judea | 5.Cleopatra of Jerusalem 6.Pallas 7.Phaidra 8.Elpis | Phasael governor of Jerusalem | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Antipater heir of Judaea | (2) Alexander I prince of Judea | (2) Aristobulus IV prince of Judea | (3) Herod II Philip prince of Judea | (4) Herod Archelaus ethnarch of Judea, Idumea | (4) Herod Antipas tetrarch of Galilea & Perea | (5) Philip the Tetrarch of Iturea & Trachonitis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tigranes V of Armenia | Alexander II prince of Judea | Herod Agrippa I king of Judea | Herod V ruler of Chalcis | Aristobulus Minor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tigranes VI of Armenia | Herod Agrippa II king of Judea | Aristobulus ruler of Chalcis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gaius Julius Alexander ruler of Cilicia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gaius Julius Agrippa quaestor of Asia | Gaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus proconsul of Asia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lucius Julius Gainius Fabius Agrippa gymnasiarch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
- Herodian dynasty
- Herodian kingdom
- List of Hasmonean and Herodian rulers
Notes
- romanized: Antípatros, Hebrew: אָנְטִיפָּטְרוּס ‘Ānṭīpāṭrūs
- Hebrew: אנטיפס)
Citations
- ^ Kokkinos, Nikos. The Herodian Dynasty: Origins, Role In Society and Eclipse. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998, p.109
- ^ a b c "Antipater". JewishEncyclopedia.com.
- ^ Julius Caesar: The Life and Times of the People's Dictator By Luciano Canfora chapter 24 "Caesar Saved by the Jews".
- ^ Peterson, Herod: King of the Jews and Friend of the Romans, p.52-53
- ISBN 978-0-520-92627-1.
- ^ Ezra 2
- ^ a b Josephus, Antiquities, 14.15.2.
- ^ a b Josephus, Antiquities, 16.7.1.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 13.9.1.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.8.1.
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.8.9.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.7.3.
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.6.3.
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.6.2.
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.8.7.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.1.2.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.1.3.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.1.4.
- ^ Hayes and Mandell, The Jewish People in Classical Antiquity, p.101
- ^ Hayes and Mandell, The Jewish People in Classical Antiquity, p.107
- ^ a b Schiffman, Lawrence H., "Judea Under Roman Rule", From Text to Tradition, Ktav Publishing House, Hoboken, NJ, 1991
- ^ Hayes and Mandell, The Jewish People in Classical Antiquity, p.117
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.9.3-5.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.8.4.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.8.5.
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.10.3.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.4.4.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.9.1.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 11.1-2.
- ^ Hayes and Mandell, The Jewish People in Classical Antiquity, p.122
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.11.2.
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.11.2-4.
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.11.7.
- ^ Josephus, Wars, 1.9.2-4.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 14.15.14.
References
- ISBN 1-56563-167-6
- Gissin, Mikhail (2014). "The Dusk of Judea and the Dawn of a New Dynasty." Harpswell, ME: Brunswick Press. ISBN 978-1-4997-1350-3.
- Hayes, John H., and Sara R. Mandell (1998). "The Jewish People in Classical Antiquity." Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 0-664-25727-5.
- Richardson, Peter (1996). "Herod: king of the Jews and friend of the Romans." Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 1570031363.
- Eisenman, Robert, 1997. James, the Brother of Jesus. Political background of Judea.