The eighth and last member of the Hasmonean dynasty to rule an independent Judea, before control of the kingdom fell to the Romans under the watch of the Idumean family of Antipater and Herod the Great.
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Hyrcanus—son of Alexander Jannaeus by Salome Alexandra—was appointed high-priest on his father's death in 76 BC while Salome continued as the effective ruler over Judea. Laidback and vacillating, he was deposed by his younger ambitious and preemptive brother, Aristobulus II, even before their mother's death in 67 BC. Antipater (an advisor to Salome Alexandra), however, saw in the weak and indecisive Hyrcanus his golden opportunity to climb even higher up the ladder of power. When both sides appealed to Pompey Magnus for help, it was Antipater who got his ears and succeeded to restore Hyrcanus to the high-priesthood but deprived of his title as king, leaving civil control of Judea effectively to Antipater and his sons, Phasael and Herod (later the Great). Hyrcanus, unhappy as he was, was hardly the kind of person who would, or could, raise a fight against them. That loss was made permanent in 42 BC when Mark Antony officially appoint Phasael and Herod tetrachs of Judea.
Two years later, the Parthians attacked Palestine. Taking the opportunity and with their help, Antigonus (Aristobulus's son) had his uncle and Phasael captured. Phasael died in captivity (according to Josephus, he killed himself, unable to stomach the life of a captive). Antigonus, had his uncle's ears cut off, mutilating him to disqualify him from ever resuming the high-priest's office. After a forced exile in Babylon, Herod allowed Hyrcanus back in Jerusalem (36 BC) but already Herod had in mind what he was to do with him. He had Hyrcanus murdered in 30 BC, but not before taking Hyrcanus's grand-daughter, Miriamme, as his wife. (Despite their animosity towards one another, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus were also fathers-in-law to their respective children.)
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