Aristobulus of Chalcis (Greek: Ἀριστόβουλος) was a son of Herod of Chalcis and his first wife Mariamne. Herod of Chalcis was a grandson of Herod the Great through his father, Aristobulus IV. Mariamne was a granddaughter of Herod the Great through her mother, Olympias; hence Aristobulus was a great-grandson of Herod the Great on both sides of his family.

Upon the death of his father in 48 AD, the emperor Claudius gave the kingdom of Chalcis to Aristobulus' first cousin, Herod Agrippa II. When Agrippa was given the territories previously governed by Philip and Lysanias in 53 AD, he ceded Chalcis to Aristobulus.[1]

In 55 AD, he was appointed by Nero as King of Armenia Minor, and participated with his forces in the Roman-Parthian War of 58–63, where he received a small portion of Armenia in exchange.[2] He remained its ruler until the area was re-annexed into the Roman Empire in 72.

He was married to Salome after the death of her first husband, Herod Philip II. With her Aristobulus had three children.[3] Three coins with portraits of him and his wife have been found.[1]

The name "Salome" is given to the stepdaughter of Herod Antipas (unnamed in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark) in Josephus's Jewish Antiquities (Book XVIII, Chapter 5, 4).

References

  1. ^ William Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, pp. 301-302
  2. ^ Tacitus, Annals, XIII.7; XIV.26
  3. ^ Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII.5.4
Aristobulus of Chalcis House of Herod New title King of Armenia Minor 55 – 72 Annexed by Rome VacantTitle last held byAgrippa II Tetrarch of Chalcis 57 – 92 Title extinct
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