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Who led the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucids?

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Hanukkah Lighting the menorah in celebration of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

The Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire was initiated by the Jewish priest Mattathias, who defied the anti-Jewish decrees of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 BCE.12

Following the death of Mattathias, his son Judas Maccabeus assumed leadership of the rebellion. A brilliant military strategist, Judas led the guerrilla war against Seleucid forces, successfully defending the Jewish religion and reconsecrating the Temple of Jerusalem—an event celebrated during the festival of Hanukkah. Although Judas was killed in battle in 161/160 BCE, his brothers continued the struggle, eventually securing the independence of Judaea and establishing the Hasmonean dynasty.342