Hasmoneans

The Hasmoneans were the Jewish royal Dynasty founded by the Maccabees. The dynasty was named after Hasmon who was an ancestor of Mattathias. It was founded by Simon Maccabaeus, the brother of Judas the Maccabee the leader of the Maccabee Revolt. When the Romans conquered Jerusalem in the year 63 BC, the Hasmoneans lost their power and the indepedence of the Jews ended.