Herod Agrippa II

1st-century Judean ruler

Herod Agrippa II

Promptuarium Iconum Insigniorum medallion of Agrippa II, 15th century

King in Galilee and Perea
Reign| 55–c. 92/100 AD
Predecessor| Herod Agrippa I (indirect, reigned over all of Galilee and Perea)
King of Iturea, Trachonitis, Batanea, Gaulanitis, Auranitis, and Paneas
King in Syria
Reign| 53–c. 92/100 AD
Tetrarch of Chalcis
Reign| 48–53 AD
Successor| Aristobulus V (indirect)

Born| 27/28 AD
Died| c. 92 or 100
| Names

Marcus Julius Agrippa
Dynasty| Herodian
Father| Herod Agrippa I
Mother| Cypros

Herod Agrippa II (Roman name: Marcus Julius Agrippa, Hebrew: אגריפס; AD 27/28[1] – c. 92 or 100[1][2]), sometimes shortened to Agrippa II or Agrippa, was the last ruler from the Herodian dynasty, reigning over territories outside of Judea as a Roman client. Agrippa II fled Jerusalem in 66, fearing the Jewish uprising, and he supported the Roman side in the First Jewish–Roman War.

## Early life

[edit]

Herod Agrippa II was the son of the first and better-known Herod Agrippa and the brother of Berenice, Mariamne, and Drusilla (second wife of the Roman procurator Antonius Felix).[3] He was educated at the court of the emperor Claudius, and at the time of his father's death he was 17 years old. Claudius therefore kept him at Rome and sent Cuspius Fadus as procurator of the Roman province of Judaea. While at Rome, he voiced his support for the Jews to Claudius and against the Samaritans and the procurator of Iudaea Province, Ventidius Cumanus, who was thought to have been the cause of some disturbances there.[1]

## Rise in power

[edit]

Map of Judea in the time of Agrippa II Schematic family tree showing the Herods of the Bible

On the death of king Herod of Chalcis in 48, his small Syrian realm of Chalcis was given to Agrippa, with the right of superintending the Temple in Jerusalem and appointing its high priest, but only as a tetrarch.[4][5]

In 53, Agrippa was forced to give up the tetrarchy of Chalcis, but in exchange Claudius made him ruler with the title of king over the territories previously governed by Philip—Iturea, Trachonitis, Batanea, Gaulanitis, Auranitis and Paneas—as well as the kingdom of Lysanias in Abila.[6][7][8] The tetrarchy of Chalcis was subsequently in 57 given to his cousin Aristobulus (Acts 25:13; 26:2,7). Agrippa celebrated by marrying off his two sisters Mariamne and Drusilla. Josephus, the Jewish historian, repeats the gossip that Agrippa lived in an incestuous relationship with his sister Berenice.

In 55, the Emperor Nero added to Agrippa's realm the cities of Tiberias and Taricheae in Galilee, and Livias (Iulias), with 14 villages near it, in Peraea. It was before Agrippa and Berenice that, according to the New Testament, Paul the Apostle pleaded his case at Caesarea Maritima, probably in 59 or 60 (Acts 26).

Agrippa expended large sums in beautifying Jerusalem and other cities, especially Berytus (ancient Beirut), a Hellenised city in Phoenicia. His partiality for the latter rendered him unpopular amongst his own subjects, and the capricious manner in which he appointed and deposed the high priests made him disliked by the Jews.

Nikolai Bodarevsky, 1875, Apostle Paul on Trial. Agrippa and Berenice are both seated on thrones.

## Jewish–Roman War

[edit]

In the 17th year of Agrippa's reign (corresponding with the 12th year of Nero's reign, or 65/66 AD), Agrippa tried desperately to avert a war with Rome,[9] when he saw his countrymen generally disposed to fight against Rome because of insults and abuses they had been facing under the Roman procurator, Gessius Florus. At this time, they had broken off the cloisters leading from Antonia Fortress to the Temple Mount where Roman soldiers went to keep guard during the Jewish holidays, and they refused to pay the due tribute to Rome.[10] Agrippa convened the people and urged them to tolerate the temporary injustices done to them and submit themselves to Roman hegemony. At length, Agrippa failed to prevent his subjects from rebelling, whereas, during a certain holiday when the Roman governor of Syria, Cestius Gallus, had passed through Judea to quell the rebellion, he was routed by Jewish forces.[11] By 66 the citizenry of Jerusalem expelled Agrippa and Berenice from Jerusalem.[1]

During the First Jewish–Roman War of 66–73, he sent 2,000 men, archers and cavalry, to support Roman general Vespasian, showing that, although a Jew, he was entirely devoted to the Roman Empire.[2] He accompanied Vespasian's son Titus on part of his campaigns against the rebels[1] and was wounded at the siege of Gamla. After the capture of Jerusalem, he went with Berenice to Rome, where he was invested with the dignity of praetor and rewarded with additional territory.

### Relations with Josephus

[edit]

Agrippa had a great intimacy with the historian Josephus, having supplied him with information for his history, Antiquities of the Jews.[2] Josephus preserved two of the letters he received from him.[12][13][14]

## Death

[edit]

According to the patriarch Photius I of Constantinople, Agrippa died childless at age 70, in the third year of the reign of Trajan, that is, 100,[15] but statements of Josephus, in addition to the contemporary epigraphy from his kingdom, cast this date into serious doubt.[citation needed] The modern scholarly consensus holds that he died before 93/94.[1] He was the last ruler from the House of Herod.

## Ancestry

[edit]

Ancestors of Herod Agrippa II

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8\. Herod the Great

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| 4\. Aristobulus IV|

|  |  |
| 9\. Mariamne the Hasmonean

| 2\. Herod Agrippa I|

|  |  |  |  |
| 10\. Costobarus

| 5\. Berenice|

|  |  |
| 11\. Salome I

| 1\. Herod Agrippa II|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 12\. Phasael

| 6\. Phasael II|

|  |  |

| 3\. Cypros|

|  |  |  |  |
| 14\. Herod the Great (= 8)

| 7\. Salampsio|

|  |  |
| 15\. Mariamne the Hasmonean (= 9)

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Family tree

[edit]

| | | | | | | | | | Alexander
HASMONEAN DYNASTY| | Alexandra

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4.Malthace| | Herod the Great
HERODIAN DYNASTY| | 2.Mariamne I
d. 29 BC
| | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Aristobulus
d. 7 BC| | Berenice I

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Herod Archelaus| | Mariamne III| | Herod V| | Herodias| | Herod Agrippa I| | Aristobulus Minor
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Herod Agrippa II| | Berenice II| | Mariamne VI| | Drusilla|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Berenice III

## See also

[edit]

* Herodian kingdom
* List of Hasmonean and Herodian rulers

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Rajak, Tessa (1996), "Iulius Agrippa (2) II, Marcus", in Hornblower, Simon (ed.), Oxford Classical Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Agrippa, Herod, II." . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 425.
3. ^  Mason, Charles Peter (1870). "Agrippa, Herodes II". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. 1\. p. 78.
4. ^  Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Agrippa II". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.: "In the year 50, without regard to the rights of the heir to the throne, he had himself appointed… to the kingdom of Chalcis by the emperor, and also to the supervisorship of the Temple at Jerusalem, which carried with it the right of nominating the high priest."
5. ^ Herod Agrippa II at Livius.org
6. ^ Josephus, Antiquities (book 20, chapter 7, verse 1); Josephus, Wars of the Jews (book 2, chapter 12, verse 8).
7. ^ Hoehner, Harold W. (1980) [1972]. Herod Antipas. Contemporary evangelical perspectives: biblical history. Vol. 17\. Zondervan. p. 108\. ISBN 978-0-31042251-8. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
8. ^ Orr, James, ed. (2018) [1939]. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Delmarva. p. 6669. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
9. ^ Josephus, De Bello Judaico (Wars of the Jews) ii.xiv.§ 4
10. ^ Josephus (Wars) ii.xv.§ 6; ii.xvi.§ 5.
11. ^ Josephus (Wars) ii.xix.§ 2
12. ^ Josephus. AJ. 17.5.4..; Josephus. AJ. 19.9.2.. and endnote 1 ; Josephus. AJ. 20.1.3.. ; Josephus. AJ. 20.5.2.. ; Josephus. AJ. 20.7.1.. ; Josephus. AJ. 20.7.8.. ; Josephus. AJ. 20.8.4.. ; Josephus. AJ. 11.9.4..
13. ^ Josephus. BJ. 2.11.6.. ; Josephus. BJ. 2.12  §1,16.. ; Josephus. BJ. 2.17.1.. ; Josephus. BJ. 4.1.3..
14. ^ Josephus. Vit. 1.1.54..
15. ^ Photius cod. 33

## References

[edit]

*  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Agrippa, Herodes II". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
*  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Agrippa II". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.
* Yohanan Aharoni & Michael Avi-Yonah, "The MacMillan Bible Atlas", Revised Edition, p. 156 (1968 & 1977 by Carta Ltd.).

## Further reading

[edit]

* Jacobson, David (2021). Agrippa II: the Last of the Herods. Routledge. ISBN 9781032091785.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Herod Agrippa II.

* Jewish Encyclopedia: Agrippa II
* Agrippa II – Article in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
* Livius.org: Herod Agrippa II

Herod Agrippa II

House of Herod

Preceded by

Herod of Chalcis

|  Tetrarch of Chalcis
48–53  | Vacant

Title next held by

Aristobulus of Chalcis
Vacant

Title last held by

Herod Agrippa |  King of Batanaea
53–100  | Title extinct

* v
* t
* e

New Testament people

Jesus Christ|

* In Christianity
* Historical
* Life of Jesus in the New Testament

Gospels|

| Individuals|

* Alphaeus
* Anna the Prophetess
* Annas
* Barabbas
* Bartimaeus
* Blind man (Bethsaida)
* Caiaphas
* Celidonius
* Cleopas
* Clopas
* Devil
* Penitent thief ("Dismas")
* Elizabeth
* Gabriel
* Impenitent thief ("Gestas")
* Jairus' daughter
* Joanna
* John the Baptist
* Joseph
* Joseph of Arimathea
* Jude
* Lazarus
* Legion
* Luke
* Lysanias
* Malchus
* Martha
* Mary, mother of Jesus
* Mary Magdalene
* Mary, mother of James
* Mary, sister of Martha
* Mary of Clopas
* Naked fugitive
* Son of Nain's widow
* Nicodemus (Nicodemus ben Gurion)
* Salome
* Samaritan woman
* Satan
* Simeon
* Simon, brother of Jesus
* Simon of Cyrene
* Simon the Leper
* Simon the Pharisee
* Susanna
* Syrophoenician woman
* Theophilus
* Zacchaeus
* Zebedee
* Zechariah

|

Multiple|

* People named James
* People named John
* People named Joseph (or Joses)
* People named Judas or Jude
* People named Mary
* People named Simon or Simeon

Groups|

* Angels
* Jesus's brothers
* Demons
* Disciples
* Evangelists
* Female disciples of Jesus
* God-fearers
* Herodians
* Magi
* Myrrhbearers
* Nameless
* Pharisees
* Prophets
* Proselytes
* Sadducees
* Samaritans
* Sanhedrin
* Scribes
* Seventy disciples
* Shepherds
* Women at the crucifixion
* Zealots

Apostles|

* Andrew
* Bartholomew
* Nathanael
* James, son of Alphaeus
* Less
* James, son of Zebedee
* John
* Evangelist
* Patmos
* "Disciple whom Jesus loved"
* Judas Iscariot
* Judas Thaddaeus
* Matthew
* Philip
* Simon Peter
* Simon the Zealot
* Thomas

Acts|

* Aeneas
* Agabus
* Ananias (Damascus)
* Ananias (Judaea)
* Ananias son of Nedebeus
* Apollos
* Aquila
* Aristarchus
* Barnabas
* Blastus
* Cornelius
* Damaris
* Demetrius
* Dionysius
* Dorcas
* Elymas
* Egyptian
* Ethiopian eunuch
* Eutychus
* Gamaliel
* James, brother of Jesus
* Jason
* Joseph Barsabbas
* Judas Barsabbas
* Judas of Galilee
* Lucius
* Luke
* Lydia
* Manaen
* (John) Mark
* Evangelist
* cousin of Barnabas
* Mary, mother of (John) Mark
* Matthias
* Mnason
* Nicanor
* Nicholas
* Parmenas
* Paul
* Philip
* Priscilla
* Prochorus
* Publius
* Rhoda
* Sapphira
* Sceva
* Seven Deacons
* Silas / Silvanus
* Simeon Niger
* Simon Magus
* Sopater
* Sosthenes
* Stephen
* Theudas
* Timothy
* Titus
* Trophimus
* Tychicus
* Zenas

Romans and
Herod's family|

| Gospels|

* Antipas
* Archelaus
* Herod the Great
* Herodias
* Longinus
* Philip
* Pilate
* Pilate's wife
* Quirinius
* Salome
* Tiberius

|

Acts|

* Agrippa
* Agrippa II
* Berenice
* Cornelius
* Drusilla
* Felix
* Festus
* Gallio
* Lysias
* Paullus

Epistles|

* Achaicus
* Alexander of Ephesus
* Alexander the Coppersmith
* Andronicus
* Archippus
* Aretas IV
* Artemas
* Carpus
* Claudia
* Crescens
* Demas
* Diotrephes
* Epaphras
* Epaphroditus
* Erastus
* Eunice
* Euodia and Syntyche
* Herodion
* Hymenaeus
* Jesus Justus
* Junia
* Linus
* Lois
* Mary
* Michael
* Nymphas
* Olympas
* Onesimus
* Onesiphorus
* Pudens
* Philemon
* Philetus
* Phoebe
* Quartus
* Sosipater
* Tertius
* Tryphena and Tryphosa

Revelation|

* Antipas
* Four Horsemen
* Apollyon
* Two witnesses
* Woman
* Beast
* Three Angels
* Whore of Babylon

* v
* t
* e

First Jewish–Roman War

Part of the Jewish–Roman wars

Origins|

* Siege of Jerusalem (63 BCE)
* Judas uprising (6 CE)
* Alexandrian riots (38)
* Jacob and Simon uprising

Military engagements

| Early engagements|

* Jerusalem riots
* Alexandria riots

|

Gallus' campaign|

* 1st Sepphoris
* 1st Jaffa
* Geva
* Beth–Horon
* Ein Gedi

Galilee campaign|

* 2nd Sepphoris
* Gabara
* Yodfat
* Tarichaea
* Gamla
* Mount Tabor
* Gischala

Judea coast and highlands|

* Zealot coup
* Jerusalem

Last strongholds|

* Herodium
* Machaerus
* Jardes
* Masada

Belligerents and leaders|

| Roman Empire|

* Gessius Florus
* Cestius Gallus
* Vespasian
* Titus
* Lucilius Bassus
* Flavius Silva
* Herod Agrippa II

|

Provisional government|

* Ananus ben Ananus
* Joseph ben Gurion
* Joshua ben Gamla
* Eleazar ben Hanania
* Niger the Perean
* Josephus

Peasantry faction|

* Simon bar Giora

Zealots|

* John of Gischala
* Eleazar ben Simon

Sicarii|

* Menahem ben Yehuda
* Eleazar ben Ya'ir

Aftermath|

* Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism
* Yohanan ben Zakkai
* Fiscus Judaicus
* Sicaricon
* Diaspora Revolt
* Kitos War
* Bar Kokhba revolt
* History of the Jews in the Roman Empire

| Commemoration|

* Tisha B'Av
* Arch of Titus
* Arch at Circus Maximus
* Colosseum
* Judaea Capta coinage
* Temple of Peace, Rome

|

Related topics|

* Judaea
* Campaign history of the Roman military
* Burnt House
* Herodian Quarter
* Corinth Canal
* First Jewish Revolt coinage
* Flavian dynasty
* The Jewish War
* Legend of Destruction
* Siege of Jerusalem (poem)
* The Dovekeepers
* TV adaptation
* Masada
* Flight to Pella
* Josephus problem
* Temple menorah

* Category
* Commons

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* 2
* BnF data
* 2
* Poland
* Israel
* 2

People|

* DDB

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

*[c.]: circa
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template