Cestius Gallus

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Gaius Cestius Gallus (d. 67 AD) was the son of a consul in ancient Rome and himself a suffect consul in 42.

He was legate of Syria from 63 or 65. He marched into Judea in 66 in an attempt to restore calm at the outset of the Great Jewish Revolt. He succeeded in conquering Beit Shearim in the Jezreel Valley, seat of the Great Sanhedrin (Jewish supreme religious court) at the time, but was unable to take Jerusalem. While withdrawing he was defeated at Beth-horon and lost almost an entire legion, about 6,000 professional soldiers, at the hands of Eleazar ben Simon. Emperor Nero appointed General Vespasian, the future Emperor, instead to quash the rebellion.