Archelus
Ethnarch of Judea, 1 B.C. - 6 A.D.
Upon Herod’s death, his will divided the nation into three segments. He left Judea to Archelaus, Galilee and Perea to Herod Antipas, and what would today be part of Lebanon to Philip. For all of Herod’s brutality, he was a good administrator. Sadly, Archelaus inherited his brutality without his governing skills.
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After a period of mourning, Archelaus appeared before the people and promised reform. The people, incited by the Pharisees, took him at his word and demanded quick action on five demands. These included the trial of those who had voted for the death of Judas and Matthias, the destroyers of the eagle that Rome had placed over the temple entrance; the release of political prisoners; tax relief; and the replacement of Joasar, the current unpopular high priest.
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Archelaus agreed with their demands but said he could not act until Herod’s will was sanctioned by Rome. The crowd of several thousand, who were gathered in Jerusalem for Passover, would not wait. Archelaus, fearing revolt, called out a troop of soldiers to quell the disturbance. The crowd stoned them and drove them away. As midday approached, the preparation for Passover replaced politics as the primary concern and hostilities quieted. Taking advantage of their religious preparation, Archelaus called out the full military stationed in Jerusalem and killed over 3,000 of the worshipers.
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Shortly, all of the heirs of Herod were required to report to Rome to have their competing claims of sovereignty settled. In their absence rebellion broke out. The Syrian governor, Quirinius, intervened and eventually allowed a Jewish delegation to go to Rome with their complaints. They also requested that Judea become a Roman province in conjunction with Syria. Caesar Augustus confirmed Herod’s will, but made Archelaus the “Ethnarch”—leader of the people—rather than the king.
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Archelaus’ rule was short and without any significant accomplishments. He was replaced in 6 A.D. with Judea’s first Roman Procurator, Coponius.
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