Triangular Epistolary Diplomacy with Rome from Judas Maccabee to Aristobulos I
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Date
2020-05-18
Authors
Coskun, Altay
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Société Latomus, Brussels
Abstract
Scholarly opinions tend to converge towards accepting that Roman commitment to
Judaea was very limited: sources attesting treaties of friendship and alliance are either
seen as fabricated or not reflecting the real intentions of the Romans. Their inactivity is
thus mostly blamed for the discontinuation of friendship by the end of the 2nd century
BC. The present study questions these views, not least by demonstrating how highly
amcitia populi Romani was appreciated both by the Author (140 BC) and Continuator
(128 BC) of 1Macc. The methodological novelty is to accept the historicity of the
diplomatic documents in 1Macc and Josephus’ Jewish Antiquities, and to systematically
correct their narratives on this basis. Accordingly, Judas’ ambassadors made the first
alliance (161 BC), which was renewed under Simon (142 BC) and again under John
Hyrkanos I (128 BC). Another mission to Rome under John Hyrkanos was headed by
Straton (107 BC). The alliance was also renewed under Aristobulos (104 BC) and
Alexander Jannaios (by 100 BC). The evidence allows us to describe the mechanism of
Judaean diplomacy: ambassadors were sent from Jerusalem to the Senate, put forward
their concerns, expected and normally received official letters that told third parties,
especially Seleukid kings, what to do. This kind of ‘triangular diplomacy’ was
particularly successful under Simon and John Hyrkanos. Gradually, however, the largescale
changes in the eastern Mediterranean World diminished Roman interest and
influence in the Near East, also ending the high tide of Roman epistolary diplomacy.
Description
Keywords
Judas (Judah) Maccabee, Simon, high priest, John Hyrcanus I, Aristobulus I of Judea, Roman Senate, diplomacy, Demetrius I Soter, Seleucids, Pergamum, Jonathan, high priest, Demetrius II