Alexander Jannaeus

Alexander Jannaeus (Ancient Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος Ἰανναῖος Aléxandros Iannaîos, English: "Alexander Jannaios", usually Latinised to "Alexander Jannaeus"; Hebrew: יַנַּאי‎ Yannaʾy; born Jonathan יהונתן) was the second king of the Hasmonean dynasty, who ruled over an expanding kingdom of Judea from 103 to 76 BC. A son of John Hyrcanus, he inherited the throne from his brother Aristobulus I. From his conquests to expand the kingdom to a bloody civil war, Alexander's reign has been described as cruel and oppressive with never-ending conflict. The major historical sources of Alexander's life are Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews and The Jewish War.

Under Alexander Jannaeus, the Hasmonean kingdom reached its greatest territorial extent, encompassing most of Palestine's Mediterranean coastline and the regions surrounding the Jordan River. His reign was defined by nearly continuous conflict, including campaigns against Hellenistic cities, Nabataean forces in the east, and Seleucid armies in the north. Domestically, he faced fierce opposition, particularly from the Pharisees, due to his autocratic rule, reliance on mercenaries, heavy taxation, and controversial religious policies. These tensions culminated in a violent civil war and the mass execution of his opponents. He died around 76 BC during the siege of Ragaba and was succeeded as ruler by his wife, Salome Alexandra.