King of Israel: Aristobulus II

Although he had no rightful claim to the throne, Aristobulus entertained designs upon it, even during the life of his mother. He courted the nobles and military by depicting himself to be the patron of the Sadducees. The many fortresses that the queen had given to the Sadducees became one of the resources he used in preparation for the usurpation of the government. 

He left Jerusalem and secretly worked with his friends in the fortified places, with the intention of making war against his mother. However, the queen died leaving him to turn his weapons against his brother Hyrcanus II who was the legitimate heir to the throne. After a reign of three months, Hyrcanus abandoned the royal title in favor of Aristobulus, in return for which he was allowed unlimited use of the high priest's revenue.

Hyrcanus was later convinced by Antipater the Idumean to convince Aretas, king of Arabia, to make war against Aristobulus. When victory of Aretas occurred,  Aristobulus withdrew to the Temple Mount. The siege that followed led to no decisive result. As a result, Rome was called in to unravel the situation. Roman intercession proved injurious to the brothers as well as the Jewish state.

Pompey sent his legate, Scaurus, to Syria, to take possession of the heritage of the Seleucids. Ambassadors from both the Judean parties waited upon Scaurus, requesting his assistance. Aristobulus'  gift of four hundred talents turned the scale in his favor, and Aretas was notified to abandon the siege of the Temple Mount. With Aristobulus victorious, Hyrcanus retained an insignificant portion of his previous power. 

When Pompey appeared in Syria (AD 64), affairs took a turn quite different from the anticipations of Aristobulus. The golden vine, valued at five hundred talents, which Aristobulus presented to Pompey, had no effect upon him; and when, in the year 63, the still hostile brothers appeared before him, Pompey refused to give any immediate decision.  Aristobulus left Pompey in a burst of indignation, and secured himself in the citadel of Alexandrion. Pompey followed and demanded the surrender of all the forts. Aristobulus capitulated, but fled to Jerusalem to prepare himself for resistance there.

When he saw that Pompey continued on against him, he went to the general's camp, and promised him gold and the surrender of Jerusalem if hostilities were suspended. Notwithstanding this, Pompey detained Aristobulus in the camp, and sent his captain Gabinius to take possession of the city. The war party in Jerusalem refused to surrender, and Aristobulus was made prisoner by Pompey, who proceeded to besiege the city. The capture of Jerusalem and of the Temple Mount, which followed, ended the independence of Judea as well as the reign of Aristobulus.

In the triumph celebrated by Pompey in Rome (61), the Jewish prince and high priest was forced to march in front of the chariot of the conqueror. In the year 56, Aristobulus II succeeded in escaping from prison in Rome, and, proceeding to Judea, stirred up a revolt. He was recaptured by the Romans and again taken to Rome. However, in 49 he was liberated by Cæsar, and sent as the head of two legions against Pompey in Syria.  On his way there he was poisoned by friends of Pompey.