Jewish revolt against Gallus

Jewish revolt against Gallus
Part of the Jewish–Roman wars
Date 351–352
Location Syria Palaestina province
Result Decisive Roman victory, destruction of several cities
Belligerents
Roman Empire Jews of Iudaea
Commanders and leaders
Ursicinus Isaac of Diocesarea
Patricius
Casualties and losses
several thousands of 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.

Contents

Background

See also: Jewish-Roman Wars

The emperor Constantius II, like his father Constantine I before him, showed a preference for the Christian religion, which favored over all others, Judaism including. Unlike his father, however, Constantius allowed Christians to persecute the pagans and the Jews. Christian clergy practiced intolerance toward non-Christians, both through the secular arm and directing the 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. The 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]

Gallus sent in 351 or 352 his maigster 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 to kill several thousands of rebels, even young ones.[8] A midrash suggests that Patricius was killed in the battle. [12]

Aftermath

See also: Samaritan Revolts and Jewish revolt against Heraclius

After the events, a permanent garrison occupied Galilee.[13]

Notes

  1. ^ Lazare, p. 46.
  2. ^ a b c Lazare, p. 47.
  3. ^
  4. ^ Socrates Scholasticus, ii.28.2.
  5. ^ Yalkut Shemoni Shemot 191
  6. ^ Socrates Scholasticus, ii.33; Sozomen, iv.vii.
  7. ^
  8. ^ a b Jerome, Chronica, 15-21; Theophanes, AM 5843.
  9. ^ Banchich
  10. ^ .
  11. ^
  12. ^ http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=110&letter=P
  13. ^ http://www.usd.edu/erp/Palestine/history.htm

References

Primary sources

Secondary sources