Alexander Jannaeus

'''Alexander Jannaeus''' ({{langx|grc|Ἀλέξανδρος Ἰανναῖος}} {{Transliteration|grc|Aléxandros Iannaîos}},<ref>''[[DGRBM]]'', "Alexander Jannaeus"; ''[[Pauly–Wissowa|RE]]'', "[[s:de:RE:Alexandros 24|Alexandros 24]]"</ref> English: "Alexander Jannaios", usually Latinised to "Alexander Jannaeus"; {{langx|he|{{Script/Hebrew|יַנַּאי}}}} ''Yannaʾy'';<ref>''Corpus Inscriptioum Iudaeae/Palaestinae'' vol. 3, De Gruyter, [{{googlebooks|q6XoBQAAQBAJ|pg=PA53|plainurl=y}} p. 53]</ref> born '''Jonathan''' {{lang|he|יהונתן}}) was the second king of the [[Hasmonean dynasty]], who ruled over an expanding kingdom of Judaea from 103 to 76&nbsp;BCE. A son of [[John Hyrcanus]], he inherited the throne from his brother [[Aristobulus I]], and [[Yibbum|married his brother's widow]], Queen [[Salome Alexandra]]. From his conquests to expand the kingdom to a bloody civil war, Alexander's reign has been described as cruel and oppressive with never-ending conflict.{{sfn|Saldarini|2001|p=89}} The major historical sources of Alexander's life are [[Josephus]]'s ''[[Antiquities of the Jews]]'' and ''[[The Jewish War]]''.{{sfn|Atkinson|2016|p=100}}

'''Alexander Jannaeus''' ({{langx|grc|Ἀλέξανδρος Ἰανναῖος}} {{Transliteration|grc|Aléxandros Iannaîos}},<ref>''[[DGRBM]]'', "Alexander Jannaeus"; ''[[Pauly–Wissowa|RE]]'', "[[s:de:RE:Alexandros 24|Alexandros 24]]"</ref> English: "Alexander Jannaios", usually Latinised to "Alexander Jannaeus"; {{langx|he|{{Script/Hebrew|יַנַּאי}}}} ''Yannaʾy'';<ref>''Corpus Inscriptioum Iudaeae/Palaestinae'' vol. 3, De Gruyter, [{{googlebooks|q6XoBQAAQBAJ|pg=PA53|plainurl=y}} p. 53]</ref> born '''Jonathan''' {{lang|he|יהונתן}}) was the second king of the [[Hasmonean dynasty]], who ruled over an expanding kingdom of Judaea from 103 to 76&nbsp;BCE. A son of [[John Hyrcanus]], he inherited the throne from his brother [[Aristobulus I]], and [[Yibbum|married his brother's widow]], Queen [[Salome Alexandra]]. From his conquests to expand the kingdom to a bloody civil war, Alexander's reign has been described as cruel and oppressive with never-ending conflict.{{sfn|Saldarini|2001|p=89}} The major historical sources of Alexander's life are [[Josephus]]'s ''[[Antiquities of the Jews]]'' and ''[[The Jewish War]]''.{{sfn|Atkinson|2016|p=100}}

Under Alexander Jannaeus, the Hasmonean kingdom reached its greatest territorial extent, encompassing most of [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]]'s [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coastline and the regions surrounding the [[Jordan River]]. His reign was defined by nearly continuous conflict, including campaigns against Hellenistic cities, [[Nabataeans|Nabataean]] forces in the east, and [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucid]] armies in the north. Domestically, he faced fierce opposition, particularly from the [[Pharisees]], due to his autocratic rule, reliance on mercenaries, heavy taxation, and controversial religious policies. These tensions culminated in a [[Judean Civil War|violent civil war]] and the mass execution of his opponents. He died around 76 BCE during the siege of [[Rajeb|Ragaba]]<nowiki/>a and was succeeded as ruler by his wife, Salome Alexandra.

Under Alexander Jannaeus, the Hasmonean kingdom reached its greatest territorial extent, encompassing most of [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]]'s [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coastline and the regions surrounding the [[Jordan River]]. His reign was defined by nearly continuous conflict, including campaigns against [[Hellenization|Hellenistic]] cities, [[Nabataeans|Nabataean]] forces in the east, and [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucid]] armies in the north. Domestically, he faced fierce opposition, particularly from the [[Pharisees]], due to his autocratic rule, reliance on mercenaries, heavy taxation, and controversial religious policies. These tensions culminated in a [[Judean Civil War|violent civil war]] and the mass execution of his opponents. He died around 76 BCE during the siege of [[Rajeb|Ragaba]] and was succeeded as ruler by his wife, Salome Alexandra.

[[File:Alexander Jannaeus coin.JPG|thumb|A bronze [[prutah]] coin of Alexander Jannaeus. Obverse: the [[Paleo-Hebrew alphabet|Paleo-Hebrew]] inscription "Jonathan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews". Reverse: a pair of [[Cornucopia]]s or Horns of Plenty, which were a Hellenistic and Roman symbol. The pomegranate in the center of the coin gives it a Jewish aspect. Pomegranate appears on many [[Hasmonean coinage|Hasmonean coins]]. Itamar Atzmon Collection]]

[[File:Alexander Jannaeus coin.JPG|thumb|A bronze [[prutah]] coin of Alexander Jannaeus. Obverse: the [[Paleo-Hebrew alphabet|Paleo-Hebrew]] inscription "Jonathan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews". Reverse: a pair of [[Cornucopia]]s or Horns of Plenty, which were a Hellenistic and Roman symbol. The pomegranate in the center of the coin gives it a Jewish aspect. Pomegranate appears on many [[Hasmonean coinage|Hasmonean coins]]. Itamar Atzmon Collection]]