| Jewish revolt against Gallus | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Jewish–Roman wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Roman Empire | Jews of Palestine | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Ursicinus |
Isaac of Diocesarea Patricius | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Minimal | Several thousand rebels killed | ||||||
The Jewish revolt against Gallus (351–352) was a Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire, in particular directed against the rule of Constantius Gallus, brother-in-law of Emperor Constantius II and Caesar of the East. The revolt was subdued by Gallus' general Ursicinus.
Background[]
The emperor Constantius II, like his father Constantine the Great before him, showed a preference for the Christian religion, which he favored over all others, including Judaism. Unlike his father, however, Constantius allowed Christians to persecute the pagans and the Jews. Some Christian clergy practiced intolerance toward non-Christians, both through the secular arm and in directing angry crowds, which attacked and destroyed synagogues and temples.[1]
Eventually, the Jews decided to react, opposing Christian proselytism and showing intolerance toward Jewish converts. Fiery sermons, preached in synagogues against Edom were in fact directed against those Romans who, after removing the Jews' political independence were now repressing their religion.[2]
Revolt[]
In 350, Emperor Constantius II was engaged in a campaign in the East against the Sassanids. He was however forced to return to the West to counter the usurpation of Magnentius, who had murdered Constantius' brother and colleague, Constans. Constantius therefore decided to appoint his cousin Gallus Caesar of the East, on March 15, 351 at Sirmium. Gallus arrived at Antioch,[3] his capital, on May 7 of that same year.[4] During the period between the passage of Constantius in the West and the arrival of Gallus in the East, or immediately after the arrival of the Caesar in Antioch, the Jews revolted in Palestine.
The rebellion was led by Isaac of Diocesarea (also known as Isaac of Sepphoris),[2] which was aided by a certain Patricius, also known as Natrona, a name with messianic connotations,[5] and had its epicentre in the town of Diocesarea.[6][7] The revolt began with a night assault on the Roman garrison, which was destroyed, and allowed the Jews to procure the necessary weapons. Subsequently the rebels killed the people of different ethnicities, like the Greeks and the Samaritans.[8]
In 351 or 352, Gallus sent his magister equitum Ursicinus[9] to forcefully put down the revolt. Tiberias[10] and Diospolis,[11] two of the cities conquered by the rebels, were almost destroyed, while Diocaesarea was razed to the ground.[2] Ursicinus also ordered several thousand of rebels killed.[8] A midrash suggests that Patricius was killed in the battle.[12]
Aftermath[]
After the events, a permanent garrison occupied Galilee.[13]
Notes[]
- ↑ Lazare, p. 46.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lazare, p. 47.
- ↑ 36°12′N 36°09′E / 36.2°N 36.15°E
- ↑ Socrates Scholasticus, ii.28.2.
- ↑ Yalkut Shemoni Shemot 191
- ↑ Socrates Scholasticus, ii.33; Sozomen, iv.vii.
- ↑ 32°45′8″N 35°16′52″E / 32.75222°N 35.28111°E
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jerome, Chronica, 15-21; Theophanes, AM 5843.
- ↑ Banchich
- ↑ 32°47′23″N 35°31′29″E / 32.78972°N 35.52472°E.
- ↑ 31°56′54.59″N 34°53′20.4″E / 31.9484972°N 34.889°E
- ↑ http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=110&letter=P
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20000621154528/http://www.usd.edu/erp/Palestine/history.htm
References[]
Primary sources[]
- Socrates Scholasticus, Historia ecclesiastica
- Sozomen, Historia ecclesiastica
- Theophanes the Confessor, Chronographia
Secondary sources[]
- Thomas M. Banchich, "Gallus Caesar (15 March 351 - 354 A.D.)", De Imperatoribus Romanis, 1997.
- Bernard Lazare and Robert Wistrich, Antisemitism: Its History and Causes, University of Nebraska Press, 1995, ISBN 080327954X.
- "Patricius", Jewish Encyclopedia
The original article can be found at Jewish revolt against Constantius Gallus and the edit history here.