ALEXANDER JANNAEUS. - Hasmonean king (v. ASMONEI). Son of Hyrcanus II, on the death of his brother Aristobulus I (103 B.C.) he received from the latter's widow Alexandra Salome (v.), who later became his wife, the high priesthood and supreme authority. A. is the Hellenistic fashionable name; Jannaeus is the abbreviation of the Hebrew name Jonathan. He reigned from 103 to 76 B.C. and was the first Hasmonean prince to assume the title of king. Bold, intriguing, given to adventurous expeditions out of a craving for dominion and conquest, he made enemies of the Pharisees because, not being of Davidic descent, he had taken the title of king and because, disregarding his status as high priest, he had married a widow against the Law. The enmity degenerated into a merciless struggle when A., in the temple, was made the target of a violent shower of citrons. On that occasion his wrath caused six thousand victims. The revolt flared up after a bitter defeat suffered by A. in Transjordan; it lasted six years and caused 50,000 deaths. The Pharisees refused the peace offered by A., who had been impressed by their obstinacy, and appealed to the Seleucid king Demetrius III Eucaerus, who defeated A. Six thousand Pharisees went over to A.'s side, judging his defects more bearable than foreign intrusion, but the revolt continued. Eight hundred men were crucified; their wives and children slaughtered before their eyes while A. banqueted. After further campaigns and after three years of illness, A. died while laying siege to a fortress in 76 B.C., advising his wife to be reconciled with the Pharisees.
Bibliography
Salvatore Garofalo