Who was John Hyrcanus I, and how was he related to Simon Maccabeus?

John Hyrcanus I (c. 175–104 BCE) was a prominent high priest and ruler of the Jewish nation who led the Hasmonean dynasty during a period of significant territorial expansion and prosperity. As the youngest son of Simon Maccabeus, he assumed supreme authority in Judaea in 135 BCE following the assassination of his father and two elder brothers by his brother-in-law, Ptolemy.12

During his reign, Hyrcanus I consolidated Jewish control by conquering Samaria and Idumaea, where he famously imposed conversion to Judaism on the local population. While his leadership maintained the power of the state, his tenure marked a shift in the character of the Maccabees; he became associated with the Sadducees and adopted a more worldly, aristocratic outlook compared to the religious zeal of his predecessors. Upon his death in 104 BCE, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Aristobulus I.132