Britannica AI Icon

Alexander Jannaeus

king of Judaea

Quick Summary

Alexander Jannaeus was a Hasmonean ruler of Judaea who reigned from 103 to 76 BCE. His reign was characterized by extensive warfare, during which he imposed his rule over a large area, including coastal cities and territories east of the Jordan River.1

Unlike his predecessors, Alexander Jannaeus was a bitter enemy of the Pharisees, a prominent Jewish sect. His coins featured both Greek and Hebrew inscriptions, and he used the title "King Alexander". He was succeeded by his wife, Salome Alexandra, who reversed his policies and aligned herself with the Pharisees. This shift in power led to internal conflict between their sons, Aristobulus II and Hyrcanus II, ultimately paving the way for Roman intervention in Judaean affairs.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.