Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II

Josephus relates that after Alexandra’s death, Hyrcanus accepted Aristobulus’ victory and conceded the kingship to him in exchange for an honored position as the king’s brother. Despite this apparent truce, the conflict between the brothers would continue, due in part to the involvement of the Idumean leader Antipater I, father of Herod the Great, who was an enemy of Aristobulus and supporter of Hyrcanus. Both Hyrcanus and Aristobulus appealed to Pompey, then in the process of making Syria a province of the Roman Empire. Pompey ultimately sided with Hyrcanus and, after besieging Jerusalem and defeating Aristobulus, installed Hyrcanus as high priest. This was the first direct Roman intervention in Judean affairs and ushered in the Roman period.