Queen Salome Alexandra

76-67 BCE

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Queen Salome Alexandra, or Shlomtzion in Hebrew, meaning the "peace of Zion", lived up to her name by bringing a more peaceful rule to Judea from 141–67 BCE. She was only one of three women to rule over Israel, the other two being Deborah, the prophetess, and Queen Athaliah. The wife of Aristobulus I, and afterward of Alexander Jannaeus, Salome was the last regnant queen of Judea, and the last ruler of Judea to die as the sovereign of an independent kingdom. She granted liberty to thousands of political exiles and doubled the size of the army forging extensive foreign connections and was respected by neighbouring monarchs. Near the end of her reign, Aristobulus, her son, gathered a large mercenary force and sought to usurp her. She died before she could counter the uprising, leaving her sons to contend for power.

Josephus, War 1.5.1

"...for this woman kept the dominion, by the opinion that the people had of her piety; for she chiefly studied the ancient customs of her country and cast those men out of the government that offended against their holy laws."

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Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum | Guillaume Rouille

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Salome Alexandra was the last regnant Queen of Judea.

Josephus, War 1.5.1

"Now Alexander left the kingdom to Alexandra his wife, and depended upon it, that the Jews would now very readily submit to her; because she had been very averse to such cruelty as he had treated them with, and had opposed his violation of their laws, and had thereby got the good-will of the people. Nor was he mistaken as to his expectations; for this woman kept the dominion, by the opinion that the people had of her piety; for she chiefly studied the ancient customs of her country and cast those men out of the government that offended against their holy laws."

Josephus, Antiquities 13.16.1

"So Alexandra, when she had taken the fortress, acted as her husband had suggested to her; and spake to the Pharisees, and put all things into their power; both as to the dead body, and as to the affairs of the Kingdom: and thereby pacified their anger against Alexander, and made them bear good will and friendship to him… Alexander left behind him two sons: Hyrcanus, and Aristobulus: but committed the Kingdom to Alexandra."