Herod (son of Antipater and Cypros)

Also known as: Herod / king Herod / the king · Family: Jewish · Role: son of Antipater · First appears: Book I, Chapter 8

Herod was born to Antipater and Cypros, alongside Phasaelus, Joseph, Pheroras, and Salome. When Antipater appointed Phasaelus governor of Jerusalem, he sent Herod, still very young, to govern Galilee. There Herod captured and killed Hezekias and many other robbers, becoming powerful enough that Sextus Caesar appointed him general of Coelesyria and Samaria; Hyrcanus, whom Herod had faced as an accuser, dismissed the capital charge against him after Sextus Caesar intervened.

Herod rose further under Cassius, who made him procurator of Syria, gave him an army, and promised him Judea’s kingship. He defeated Felix, Marion, and Antigonus, married Mariamne, and was made tetrarch with Phasaelus by Antony. After escaping the Parthians and reaching Masada, he returned with armies, took Joppa and Jericho, subdued Galilee and Idumea, and fought beside Sosius against Antigonus. In Rome, Antony and Augustus supported his appointment as king of the Jews; later Augustus restored his diadem, enlarged his kingdom, and told him, “I will confirm the kingdom to thee by decree.”