Hasmonean Kingdom

The Maccabean family is also known as the Hasmoneans. The family name of the Hasmonean dynasty originates from the ancestor of the house, Hasmon, said to have been the great-grandfather of Mattathias whom Josephus called by the Hellenised form Asamoneus.

With the position of High Priest, Simon, the last of the Maccabees, also took on the title of "Nasi" or prince. Though he didn't refer to himself as King, this delicate distinction wasn't honored by his descendants, who later declared themselves kings.

According to the Torah, priests who come from the Tribe of Levi and specifically the line of Aharon, are not allowed to take up the position of King or visa versa, as Jewish kingship is exclusively dedicated to the line of King David from the tribe of Judah. This mixture of inter-tribal leadership positions became the root of terrible corruption in the Hasmonean family, ultimately leading to their downfall and bringing the Jewish People to ruin.

It also caused most of the later Hasmonean kings to side with the Sadducees, who, corrupted by money and power, shunned most of the Jewish Law to remain in favor with their Grecian and later Roman overlords.