Aristobulus II

Aristobulus II fought his brother for the Hasmonean throne and delivered Judaea to Rome by doing it. He was the younger son of Alexander Jannaeus and Salome Alexandra, and the abler of the two — a soldier who had commanded armies under his mother while his elder brother Hyrcanus held the high priesthood as a figurehead. Salome died in 67 BC and Hyrcanus succeeded as king and high priest. Aristobulus, who had already secured the loyalty of the garrisons in the fortresses, marched on him within months, beat him near Jericho when much of the army defected, and forced him to abdicate both offices in exchange for his estates and his life. That would have settled it, had Antipater the Idumaean not persuaded Hyrcanus that his life was in danger and taken him to the Nabataean king Aretas III, who invaded with fifty thousand men and besieged Aristobulus on the Temple mount. Both brothers then appealed to Rome, which had just arrived in Syria. Pompey heard their delegations at Damascus in 63 BC, along with a third asking for the abolition of the monarchy altogether, and deferred his decision. Aristobulus lost patience, withdrew, and prepared to fight. He then surrendered in person and his partisans held the Temple anyway. Pompey besieged it for three months, took it with about twelve thousand dead, and entered the Holy of Holies. Aristobulus was carried to Rome in the triumph. He escaped twice, was recaptured, and was poisoned in 49 BC by Pompey's supporters as Caesar was sending him back to raise Judaea.

• Lived: 100 BCE – 49 BCE
• Nationality: Jewish
• Roles: ruler