The Hasmonean Dynasty's Game of Thrones

In Episode Two of our series, we dive deep into the story of the Maccabee family. Beginning with Mattathias and his sons daring murder of Seleucid government officials and following through the revolt first with Judas Maccabeus and his guerrilla war, and later all out war for independence with Judas’ brother Simon.
A vicious cycle of power struggles take place that rock the Judean countryside as the Hasmonean family and heirs of Mattathias via internally and externally to expand control, seize power, and enforce beliefs upon the countryside.
The power struggles internally within the Maccabee family tell fascinating stories to rival Game of Thrones, with backstabbing, murders, betrayals, and civils wars as each generation of Maccabee seeks to leave their mark.
The Kingmaker, Alexandra Salome reveals her political chops being able to successfully manipulate and win over the court to her side and have her husband and brother-in-law killed, she later proclaims Alexander Jannaeus king and then promptly marries him, solidifying her rule and the rule of her heirs, before ruling the kingdom on her own after Alexander’s death.
Lastly, we end with the last heirs of the Hasmonean Dynasty, Hycanus II, Aristobulus II, and Antigonus II as the country is plunged into yet another power struggle for the throne of Jerusalem, before Pompey, and later Mark Antony flex Roman muscle and impose their will on Judean kingship, ending the dynasty of Mattathias and beginning the rule of Herod the Great. It’s an epic episode of freedom, power struggles, civil war, and betrayals as we dig into the story and history of the dynasty that won and lost the independence of Jerusalem within 4 generations.
0:00 Introduction
4:27 Roman Seleucid Relations 180 BCE
9:50 Judean culture wars
21:32 Buying the High Priesthood
28:43 Antiochus' persecution of the Jews
37:59 The Rebellion Begins
41:59 The Guerrilla War of Judas Maccabeus
46:19 Jonathan, Simon and Jerusalem independence
51:52 Ptolemy and John Hyrcanus Civil War
1:00:12 Alexandra Salome, the Kingmaker
1:09:33 The Civil Wars of Alexander Jannaeus
1:14:07 Roman Intervention and Herod
1:17:52 Closing Comments