Octavian Confirms Herod’s Claim to Kingship

Josephus

The Jewish War 1.388–393

ca. 75

“Caesar,” he said, “I was made king by Antony, and I acknowledge that I have throughout served Antony’s interests. I will not conceal from you either that, if I had not been occupied with the Arabs, you would certainly have found me expressing my gratitude in armed support of Antony. As it was, I sent him what reinforcements I could, and corn by…

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Herod showed his loyalty to Antony for making him king by successfully fighting the Nabateans at Antony’s command. However, when Octavian defeated Antony at the Battle of Actium (31 BCE), making him the undisputed ruler of the empire, Herod pledged his loyalty to Octavian. Octavian accepted Herod’s assurances and confirmed his claim to kingship over Judaea.

In line with the great classical historians, Josephus embellishes his account of these events with original speeches, which he puts into the mouths of Herod and Octavian. Needless to say, these speeches reflect Josephus’ own perspective and are not Herod’s or Octavian’s actual words.

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Creator Bio

Josephus

37–100

Flavius Josephus was born into a prominent Jewish priestly family and served as a general stationed in the Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt (66–73 CE). He was captured by the Romans and eventually integrated into the Flavian imperial aristocracy, who commissioned him to compose chronicles of the Jewish–Roman war and the history of the Jews. Josephus’ works, all written in Greek, include The Jewish War, Jewish Antiquities, Against Apion, and his autobiography, Life of Josephus. These writings provide important insights into the Judaisms of the Second Temple period and include one of the few surviving accounts of the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.

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