User:Diego4568/sandbox

Wiki 5 Sandbox (this edit will go under the reign in Judea section)
Nonetheless, just when Herod obtained leadership in Judea, his rule faced two threats. The first threat came from his mother in law Alexandra, whose goal was to regain power for her Hasmonean family. The Hasmoneans were the family whose dynasty in Judea Herod overthrew in 37 BCE. In the same year, Cleopatra married the Roman leader Antony. Through this, Cleopatra obtained influence over Antony, giving Alexandra an opportunity to accomplish her goal. Alexandra, recognizing Cleopatra's influence over Antony, asked Cleopatra for aid in making Aristobulus III a High Priest. Being a son of Alexandria and member of the Hasmonean family, Aristobulus III's rise to High Priesthood would restore some power to the Hasmoneans. Alexandra's request was made, but Cleopatra also urged Alexandra to leave Judea with Aristobulus III and visit Antony. Herod received word of this plot, and he feared if Antony saw Aristobolus III in person there was a risk that Antony may name Aristobulus III king of Judea. This led Herod to, in 35 BCE, order Aristobulus III's assassination, ending this first threat to Herod's throne. The marriage of 37 BCE also sparked a power struggle between Roman leaders Octavian, who would later be called Augustus, and Antony. Herod, owing his throne to Rome, had to pick a side, and he chose Antony. In 31 BCE at Actium, Antony lost to Octavian, posing a second threat to Herod's rule. Herod had to regain Octavian's support if he was to keep his throne. At Rhodes in 31 BCE, Herod, through his character, ability to keep Judea open to Rome as a link to the wealth in Syria and Egypt, and ability to defend the frontier, convinced Octavian that he would be loyal to him.