Anatomy of a Coup: Reassessing the Reign of Judah Aristobulus I

This chapter explores the reign of Judah Aristobulus I (104/103 BCE), with a focus on the alleged coup and violent death of his brother Antigonus. First, it is shown that Josephus intentionally prioritized the Antigonus story over other aspects of Aristobulus’s rule, using it to foreshadow problems that would plague the Hasmonean dynasty in the following decades. Second, a historical analysis reveals that the dynastic crisis of 104/103 BCE was much more severe than Josephus suggests, with significant tension within the ruling family and at the court. However, a close reading of the Antigonus narrative also provides further insights into the Hasmonean power structure. It is in this episode that the ostentatious self-presentation of Hasmonean rulers is described in greater detail for the first time. The court in Jerusalem is depicted as a nexus of factions and interest groups, and Salina Alexandra, Aristobulus’s wife and the first Hasmonean queen, is reported to have intervened in the power struggles. Josephus’s account of Aristobulus’s short reign thus reflects a political system that is more complex and stringently organized than commonly assumed. Although its focus on the dynasty generated tension, the structure proved to be remarkably stable.