First Jewish-Roman War
Part of Jewish-Roman wars
Judea in the first century
Date 66–73 Location Judea Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Empire	Jews of Iudaea Province
Commanders
Vespasian, Titus	Simon Bar-Giora, Yohanan mi-Gush Halav (John of Gischala), Eleazar ben Simon
Strength
70,000?	1,100,000?
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown, but many civilian casualties

The first Jewish-Roman War (years 66–73), sometimes called The Great Revolt (Hebrew: המרד הגדול‎, ha-Mered Ha-Gadol), was the first of three major rebellions by the Jews of Iudaea Province against the Roman Empire (the second was the Kitos War in 115–117; the third was Bar Kokhba's revolt, 132–135). Judea or Judæa ( Hebrew: יהודה Standard Yəhuda Tiberian Yəhûḏāh, "praised The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Kingdom of Judea redirects here For the 10th-6th century BCE kingdom see Kingdom of Judah Iudaea ( Hebrew: יהודה Standard Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian ( November 17 9 &ndash June 23 79) was a Roman Emperor who Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Titus ( December 30 39 &ndash September 13 81) was a Roman Emperor who Simon Bar Giora (alternatively known as Simeon Bar Giora or Simon Ben Giora or Shimon Bar Giora) was a leader of the Sicarii faction during the John of Giscala ( Yohanan me-Gush Halav) (יוחנן מגוש חלב or Johannes ben Levi (birth date unknown death date after 70) was a leader of the Eleazar ben Simon (c 1st century AD - died c 70 was a Zealot leader in the First Jewish-Roman War against Roman leaders Vespasian and Year 66 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Year 73 was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Kingdom of Judea redirects here For the 10th-6th century BCE kingdom see Kingdom of Judah Iudaea ( Hebrew: יהודה Standard The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Kitos War ( 115 — 117) (מרד הגלויות mered ha'galoyot or mered ha'tfutzot (מרד התפוצות translation Rebellion of the Background After the failed Great Jewish Revolt in the year 70 the Roman authorities took measures to suppress the rebellious province

It began in the year 66, stemming from Greek and Jewish religious tension. ^[1] It ended when legions under Titus besieged and destroyed Jerusalem, looted and burned Herod's Temple (in the year 70) and Jewish strongholds (notably Gamla in 67 and Masada in 73), and enslaved or massacred a large part of the Jewish population. For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Titus ( December 30 39 &ndash September 13 81) was a Roman Emperor who The Siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD It was a decisive event in the First Jewish-Roman War, followed by the fall of Masada in 73 Herod's Temple in Jerusalem was a massive expansion of the Temple Mount and construction of a completely new and much larger Jewish Temple by King Year 70 was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Gamla ( Hebrew גמלא Gamla or Gamala) a site inhabited since the Early Bronze Age, became the capital of the Jewish Golan Year 67 was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Masada ( Hebrew מצדה pronounced Metzada, from מצודה metzuda, "fortress" is the name for a site of ancient Palaces and Year 73 was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another

The defeat of the Jewish revolts by the Roman Empire contributed substantially to the numbers and geography of the Jewish diaspora, as many Jews were scattered or sold into slavery after losing their state. The Jewish diaspora ( Hebrew: Tefutzah, "scattered" or Galut גלות "exile" Yiddish: tfutses) the presence As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another

Background

In the year 6 BC, Judaea, which had been a client kingdom of Rome (i. Year 6 BC was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Kingdom of Judea redirects here For the 10th-6th century BCE kingdom see Kingdom of Judah Iudaea ( Hebrew: יהודה Standard Client state is one of several terms used to describe the subordination of one state to a more powerful state in international affairs e. , it had its own ruler), became a Roman province ruled by a Roman procurator, who was responsible for maintaining peace and collecting taxes. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial A promagistrate is a person who acts in and with the authority and capacity of a magistrate, but without holding a magisterial office Pocketing any amount above the quota had been a regular practice, which led to abuse. Tensions rose when Rome took over the appointment of the High Priest, also beginning about the year 6. A kohen (or cohen, Hebrew כּהן "priest" pl כּהנִים kohanim or cohanim) has a separate status in Judaism. In 39, Emperor Caligula declared himself a god and ordered his statues to be set up in temples throughout the Empire. Year 39 was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31 AD 12 &ndash January 24 AD 41 more commonly known by his nickname Caligula (kəˈlɪɡjʊlə was a Roman Emperor The Jews refused, and began preparations for armed revolt. The theft of a large amount of money from the Temple treasury by procurator Gessius Florus (who, according to Tacitus, "indulged in every kind of robbery and violence") contributed to the radicalization and increased the popularity of Zealots, some of whom believed that any means were justified in order to attain political and religious independence from Rome. Gessius Florus was the Roman Procurator of Judea from 64 until 66. Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca 56 &ndash ca 117 was a senator and a Historian of the Roman Empire.

First Jewish successes

The revolt began in 66 in Caesarea, provoked by Greeks sacrificing birds in front of a local synagogue. Year 66 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Caesarea Maritima (Greek παράλιος Καισάρεια called Caesarea Palaestina from 133 CE onwards was a city and Harbor built by Herod the Great A synagogue (from Greek: grc συναγωγή transliterated synagogē, "assembly" he בית כנסת beit knesset, "house of ^[2] The Greek-speaking Roman garrison did not intercede. In an act of defiance, the son of Kohen Gadol (High priest) Eliezar ben Hanania ceased prayers and sacrifices for the Roman Emperor at the Temple and subsequently led a successful attack on the Roman garrison stationed in Jerusalem. Kohen Gadol or Kohen ha-Gadol ( Heb כהן גדול "Great Priest" is the title of High Priest of early Israelite The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the The pro-Roman king Agrippa II and his sister Berenice fled Jerusalem to Galilee, where later they gave themselves up to the Romans. For other with this name see Agrippa (disambiguation. Agrippa II (b Berenice of Cilicia, also known as Julia Berenice and sometimes spelled Bernice (28 AD &ndash ? was a Jewish client queen of the Roman Empire "Galil" redirects here For the weapon see IMI Galil. Galilee (הגליל ha-Galil, lit the province, Cestius Gallus, the legate of Syria, brought reinforcements to restore order, but was soundly defeated at the Battle of Beth Horon. Gaius Cestius Gallus (d 67 AD was the son of a Consul in Ancient Rome and himself a suffect consul in 42 A legatus (often anglicized as legate) was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer Syria was a Roman province, conquered in 64 BC by Pompey, as a consequence of his military presence after pursing victory in the Third Mithridatic The Battle of Beth Horon was a battle fought in 66 CE between Roman and Jewish forces and was one of the decisive battles in the First Jewish-Roman War. While retreating, Legio XII Fulminata even lost its aquila. Legio XII Fulminata ("wielder of the thunderbolt" also known as Paterna, Victrix, Antiqua, Certa Constans, and Galliena The signa militaria were the Roman military Ensigns or standards The most ancient standard employed by the Romans is said to have been a handful ( maniple

The fall

Emperor Nero appointed general Vespasian instead of Gallus to crush the rebellion. Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( December 15, 37 – June 9, 68) born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian ( November 17 9 &ndash June 23 79) was a Roman Emperor who Vespasian made Caesarea Maritima his headquarters and with his legions — among them X Fretensis and V Macedonica, 60,000 professional soldiers — methodically cleared the coast and the North. Caesarea Maritima (Greek παράλιος Καισάρεια called Caesarea Palaestina from 133 CE onwards was a city and Harbor built by Herod the Great Legio X Fretensis (Latin "Tenth legion of the sea strait " was a Roman legion levied by Augustus in 41 / 40 BC Legio V Macedonica ("Macedonian" was a Roman legion. It was probably originally levied by Consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Some towns gave up without a fight. By the year 68, Jewish resistance in the North had been crushed. Year 68 was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar.

The leaders of the collapsed Northern revolt, John of Giscala and Simon Bar Giora, managed to escape to Jerusalem. John of Giscala ( Yohanan me-Gush Halav) (יוחנן מגוש חלב or Johannes ben Levi (birth date unknown death date after 70) was a leader of the Simon Bar Giora (alternatively known as Simeon Bar Giora or Simon Ben Giora or Shimon Bar Giora) was a leader of the Sicarii faction during the Brutal civil war erupted: the Zealots and Sicarii executed anyone advocating surrender, and by 68 the entire leadership of the southern revolt was dead, all killed by the Jews, none by the Romans. Sicarii (Latin plural of Sicarius 'dagger-' or later contract- killer is a term applied in the decades immediately preceding the destruction of Jerusalem in Year 68 was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar.

A drawing depicting the destruction of the Second Temple

After the death of Nero and with the backing of the army, Vespasian was proclaimed emperor in 69 and left for Rome to take the throne from Vitellius in a brief Roman civil war, the so-called Year of the four emperors. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian ( November 17 9 &ndash June 23 79) was a Roman Emperor who 69 (sex position & book by Ryu Murakami are -- already linked by "" with other meanings Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius ( 24 September, 15 &ndash 22 December, 69 The Year of the Four Emperors was a year in the history of the Roman Empire, AD 69 in which four emperors ruled in a remarkable succession

The fall of Jerusalem

Main article: Siege of Jerusalem (70)

The siege of Jerusalem, the capital city, had begun early in the war, but had turned into a stalemate. The Siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD It was a decisive event in the First Jewish-Roman War, followed by the fall of Masada in 73 Unable to breach the city's defenses, the Roman armies established a permanent camp just outside the city, digging a trench around the circumference of its walls and building a wall as high as the city walls themselves around Jerusalem. Anyone caught in the trench attempting to flee the city would be captured, crucified, and placed in lines on top of the dirt wall facing into Jerusalem. Crucifixion (from Latin crucifixio, noun of process crucifixio, from perfect passive participle crucifixus, fixed to a cross from The two Zealot leaders, John of Gischala and Simon Bar Giora only ceased hostilities and joined forces to defend the city when the Romans began to construct ramparts for the siege. John of Giscala ( Yohanan me-Gush Halav) (יוחנן מגוש חלב or Johannes ben Levi (birth date unknown death date after 70) was a leader of the Simon Bar Giora (alternatively known as Simeon Bar Giora or Simon Ben Giora or Shimon Bar Giora) was a leader of the Sicarii faction during the Tens of thousands of crucified bodies encircled Jerusalem by the end of the siege. ^[3]

Titus Flavius, Vespasian's son, led the final assault and siege of Jerusalem. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Titus ( December 30 39 &ndash September 13 81) was a Roman Emperor who The Siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD It was a decisive event in the First Jewish-Roman War, followed by the fall of Masada in 73 During the infighting inside the city walls, a stockpiled supply of dry food was intentionally burned by Jewish leaders to induce the defenders to fight against the siege instead of negotiating peace; as a result many city dwellers and soldiers died of starvation during the siege. Zealots under Eleazar ben Simon held the Temple, Sicarii led by Simon Bar Giora held the upper city. Eleazar ben Simon (c 1st century AD - died c 70 was a Zealot leader in the First Jewish-Roman War against Roman leaders Vespasian and Sicarii (Latin plural of Sicarius 'dagger-' or later contract- killer is a term applied in the decades immediately preceding the destruction of Jerusalem in Titus eventually wiped out the last remnants of Jewish resistance. He was so determined that nearly three years after the destruction of Jerusalem he was still hunting down rebellious Jews, including a determined band that held the mountain fortress Masada. Masada ( Hebrew מצדה pronounced Metzada, from מצודה metzuda, "fortress" is the name for a site of ancient Palaces and

The treasures of Jerusalem (detail from the Arch of Titus). The Arch of Titus is a Pentelic marble Triumphal arch with a single arched opening located on the Via Sacra just to the south-east of the Forum

By the summer of 70, the Romans had breached the walls of Jerusalem, ransacking and burning nearly the entire city. Year 70 was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. The Romans began by attacking the weakest spot which was the third wall. It was built shortly before the siege so it did not have as much time invested in its protection. They succeeded towards the end of May and shortly afterwards broke through the more important second wall. The Second Temple was destroyed on Tisha B'Av (July 29 or July 30), 70. The Second Temple (בית המקדש romanized 'Beit HaMikdash' meaning 'Holy House' was the reconstructed Temple in Jerusalem which stood between 516 BCE and 70 CE Tisha B'Av (תשעה באב or he ט׳ באב "the Ninth of Av," is an annual fast day in Judaism, named for the ninth day ( Tisha Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off Year 70 was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Tacitus, a historian of the time, notes that those who were besieged in Jerusalem amounted to no fewer than six hundred thousand, that men and women alike and every age engaged in armed resistance, everyone who could pick up a weapon did, both sexes showed equal determination, preferring death to a life that involved expulsion from their country. Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca 56 &ndash ca 117 was a senator and a Historian of the Roman Empire. All three walls were destroyed and in turn so was the Temple. John of Giscala surrendered at Agrippa II's fortress of Jotaphta and was sentenced to life imprisonment. For other with this name see Agrippa (disambiguation. Agrippa II (b The famous Arch of Titus still stands in Rome: it depicts Roman legionaries carrying off the Temple of Jerusalem's treasuries, including the menorah. The Arch of Titus is a Pentelic marble Triumphal arch with a single arched opening located on the Via Sacra just to the south-east of the Forum Etymology The Hebrew name given in Scripture for the building is Beit HaMikdash or "The Holy House" and only the Temple in Jerusalem is referred to by this name Pekiin tabletjpg|thumb|right|151px| Second Temple period stone tablet from a Synagogue in Peki'in, Israel.

The fall of Masada

Main article: Masada

Remnants of one of several legionary camps at Masada in Israel, just outside the circumvallation wall which can be seen at the bottom of the image. Masada ( Hebrew מצדה pronounced Metzada, from מצודה metzuda, "fortress" is the name for a site of ancient Palaces and Masada ( Hebrew מצדה pronounced Metzada, from מצודה metzuda, "fortress" is the name for a site of ancient Palaces and For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Investment is the military tactic of surrounding an enemy Fort (or town with armed forces to prevent entry or escape

During the spring of 71, Titus set sail for Rome. Year 71 was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. A new military governor was then appointed from Rome, Lucilius Bassus, whose assigned task was to undertake the "mopping-up" operations in Judaea. Lucilius Bassus was a Roman Legatus appointed by Emperor Vespasian to the Iudaea Province in 71 AD He used X Fretensis to oppose the few remaining fortresses that still resisted. Bassus took Herodium, and then crossed the Jordan to capture the fortress of Machaerus on the shore of the Dead Sea. Herodium or Herodion (הרודיון هيروديون Jabal al-Fraidees) is a hill shaped like a truncated cone (758 m / 2487 ft above Machaerus (ِقلة المشناقى Qalatu l-Mishnāqá, Hebrew Mechwar) is a fortified hilltop palace located in Jordan fifteen miles (24 km Due to illness, Bassus did not live to complete his mission. Lucius Flavius Silva replaced him, and moved against the last Jewish stronghold, Masada, in the autumn of 72. Lucius Flavius Silva was a late- 1st century Roman general governor of the province of Iudaea and consul. Masada ( Hebrew מצדה pronounced Metzada, from מצודה metzuda, "fortress" is the name for a site of ancient Palaces and Year 72 was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. He used Legio X, auxiliary troops, and thousands of Jewish prisoners, for a total of 10,000 soldiers. After his orders for surrender were rejected, Silva established several base camps and circumvallated the fortress. According to Josephus, when the Romans finally broke through the walls of this citadel in 73, they discovered that the 967 defenders had preferred death, than to be tortured by the Romans. Josephus (AD 37 – c 100 also known as Yosef Ben Matityahu (Joseph son of Matthias and after he became a Roman citizen, as Titus Flavius Josephus Year 73 was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Since suicide was not allowed by the Jewish religion, they killed each other till the last man, who was the only one who had to commit suicide. ^[4]

The outcome

A coin issued by the rebels in 68, note Paleo-Hebrew alphabet. The Paleo-Hebrew alphabet, also know as Ktav Ivri, is an offshoot of the ancient Semitic alphabet (see the akin Phoenician alphabet) Obverse: "Shekel, Israel. Shekel also rendered sheqel, refers to one of many ancient units of Weight and Currency. Year 3". Reverse: "Jerusalem the Holy"

Josephus claims that 1,100,000 people were killed during the siege, of which a majority were Jewish. ^[5] 97,000 were captured and enslaved. ^[6] Many fled to areas around the Mediterranean.

The Romans hunted down and slaughtered entire clans, such as descendants of the House of David. David, Arabic: داوود or داود dawud, "beloved" was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible On one occasion, Titus condemned 2,500 Jews to fight with wild beasts in the amphitheatre of Caesarea in celebration of his brother Domitian's birthday. Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 &ndash 18 September 96 commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 14 September 81 until his death

An ancient Roman coin. The inscription reads IVDAEA CAPTA. The coins inscribed Ivdaea Capta (Judea Captured) were issued throughout the Empire in order to demonstrate the futility of possible future rebellions. Judea was represented by a crying woman.

Roman denarius depicting Titus, c. The Roman Currency system included the denarius (plural denarii) after 211 BC a small Silver coin, 79. The reverse commemorates his triumph in the Judaean wars, representing a Jewish captive kneeling in front of a trophy of arms. A Roman triumph ( la [[wikttriumphus triumphus]], Old Latin la triumpus, attested as the exclamation la TRIVMPE in the Carmen Arvale; via

The Jewish Encyclopedia article on the Hebrew Alphabet states: "Not until the revolts against Nero and against Hadrian did the Jews return to the use of the old Hebrew script on their coins, which they did from similar motives to those which had governed them two or three centuries previously; both times, it is true, only for a brief period. The Jewish Encyclopedia was an Encyclopedia originally published between 1901 and 1906 by Funk and Wagnalls. The Paleo-Hebrew alphabet, also know as Ktav Ivri, is an offshoot of the ancient Semitic alphabet (see the akin Phoenician alphabet) "^[7]

Titus reportedly refused to accept a wreath of victory, as there is "no merit in vanquishing people forsaken by their own God". ^[8]

Before Vespasian's departure, the Pharisaic sage and Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai obtained his permission to establish a Judaic school at Yavne. The word Pharisees ( lat. pharisæ|us, - i) comes from the Hebrew פרושים perushim from פרוש parush, meaning "separated" Rabbi (pronunciation, although in English usually) in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’ or more literally ‘my great one’ when addressing any master Yochanan ben Zakai (יוחנן בן זכאי c 30 BCE - 90 CE) was one of the Tannaim, an important Jewish sage in the era of the Second Temple Even before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai relocated to the city of Yavne / Jamnia and received permission Zakkai was smuggled away from Jerusalem in a coffin by his students. Later this school has become a major center of Talmudic study. The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history (See Mishnah)

Sources

The main account of the revolt comes from Josephus, the former Jewish commander of Galilee who switched over to the Roman side. The Mishnah or Mishna (he משנה "repetition" from the verb shanah he שנה or "to study and review" is a major work of Rabbinic Judaism Josephus (AD 37 – c 100 also known as Yosef Ben Matityahu (Joseph son of Matthias and after he became a Roman citizen, as Titus Flavius Josephus "Galil" redirects here For the weapon see IMI Galil. Galilee (הגליל ha-Galil, lit the province, Josephus had been granted citizenship and a pension in Rome and was well accepted at the courts of Vespasian, Titus and Domitian. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian ( November 17 9 &ndash June 23 79) was a Roman Emperor who Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Titus ( December 30 39 &ndash September 13 81) was a Roman Emperor who Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 &ndash 18 September 96 commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 14 September 81 until his death

His popular works The Wars of the Jews (c. The Wars of the Jews (or The History of the 79) and Jewish Antiquities (c. Year 79 was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Antiquities of the Jews ( Antiquitates Judaicae in Latin) was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the 94) — especially its autobiographical appendix — are frequently contradictory. Year 94 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. He was loathed by the Jews as a turncoat and Roman apologist and never returned to his homeland after the fall of Jerusalem, enjoying his life to the full in Rome.

References

See also

• Josephus and his works at Gutenberg
• Tacitus
• Timeline of Jewish History
• History of ancient Israel and Judah
• Israel and History of Israel
• Judea