Benjamin of Tiberias
Encyclopedia
According to Jewish sources Benjamin of Tiberias was a man of immense wealth, who enlisted and armed many soldiers during the Jewish revolt against Heraclius in the 7th century Palaestina province of the Byzantine Empire
. Benjamin took a place as one of the leaders of the revolt, actively participating in the Persian siege and capture
of Jerusalem in 614 and playing a major role in managing the newly established autonomous Jewish community within the Sassanid Empire
. However, the autonomy period was brief, and the Jews surrendered to Heraclius, who entered Jerusalem in 628. Despite the surrender, the next year a major massacre by Byzantines and Ghassanids
devastated the Jewish communities of Galilee
and Jerusalem. The fate of Benjamin is not known for certain.
, decided as a tactical move to establish a military alliance with the Jewish population of the Sassanid Empire, with a promise to re-establish Jewish rule over the Land of Israel
(Palaestina province of Byzantine Empire at that time). Following his pact with Nehemiah ben Hushiel
, son of the Jewish Exilarch
, a joint Sassanid-Jewish army, commanded by Shahrbaraz
, arrived to Palaestina and conquered Caesaria. The Jewish and Persian force was joined by Benjamin of Tiberias, who enlisted and armed additional Jewish soldiers from Tiberias, Nazareth and the mountain cities of Galilee and together they marched on Jerusalem. Later, they were joined by the Jews of the southern parts of the country; and supported by a band of Arabs, the united forces took Jerusalem
in July 614 CE.
However, the mainstream version tells that in 628, after the defeat and death of Khosrau II, Heraclius came as victor into Jerusalem and the Jews of Tiberias and Nazareth, under the leadership of Benjamin of Tiberias, surrendered and joined him as allies. It is said that Benjamin even accompanied Heraclius on his voyage to Jerusalem. Despite the surrender, most of the Jewish population in the area was massacred the next year with Jewish survivors fleeing to Egypt. There is no certain information on the fate of Benjamin in those final chapters of the conflict.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. Benjamin took a place as one of the leaders of the revolt, actively participating in the Persian siege and capture
Siege of Jerusalem (614)
The Siege of Jerusalem in 614 was part of the final phase of the Byzantine-Sassanid Wars. The Persian Shah Khosrau II appointed his generals to conquer the Byzantine controlled areas of the Near East, establishing a strategic alliance with the Jewish population of the Sassanid Persia...
of Jerusalem in 614 and playing a major role in managing the newly established autonomous Jewish community within the Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
. However, the autonomy period was brief, and the Jews surrendered to Heraclius, who entered Jerusalem in 628. Despite the surrender, the next year a major massacre by Byzantines and Ghassanids
Ghassanids
The Ghassanids were a group of South Arabian Christian tribes that emigrated in the early 3rd century from Yemen to Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and the Holy Land....
devastated the Jewish communities of Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
and Jerusalem. The fate of Benjamin is not known for certain.
Sassanid alliance with the Jews
During an early stage of the Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602-628, the Sassanid Persian ruler, Khosrau IIKhosrau II
250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II (Khosrow II, Chosroes II, or Xosrov II in classical sources, sometimes called Parvez, "the Ever Victorious" – (in Persian: خسرو پرویز), was the twenty-second Sassanid King of Persia, reigning from 590 to 628...
, decided as a tactical move to establish a military alliance with the Jewish population of the Sassanid Empire, with a promise to re-establish Jewish rule over the Land of Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
(Palaestina province of Byzantine Empire at that time). Following his pact with Nehemiah ben Hushiel
Nehemiah ben Hushiel
Nehemiah ben Hushiel was the son of the Jewish Exilarch, placed as the symbolic leader of Jewish troops within Sassanid army in 608 CE, according to Jewish sources. This army participated in Khasrau II's campaign in the Levant. The joint military effort of Sassanid troops and local Jewish militias...
, son of the Jewish Exilarch
Exilarch
Exilarch refers to the leaders of the Diaspora Jewish community in Babylon following the deportation of King Jeconiah and his court into Babylonian exile after the first fall of Jerusalem in 597 BCE and augmented after the further deportations following the destruction...
, a joint Sassanid-Jewish army, commanded by Shahrbaraz
Shahrbaraz
Shahrbaraz or Shahrwaraz was a general, with the rank of Eran Spahbod under Khosrau II . His name was Farrokhan, and Shahrbaraz was his title...
, arrived to Palaestina and conquered Caesaria. The Jewish and Persian force was joined by Benjamin of Tiberias, who enlisted and armed additional Jewish soldiers from Tiberias, Nazareth and the mountain cities of Galilee and together they marched on Jerusalem. Later, they were joined by the Jews of the southern parts of the country; and supported by a band of Arabs, the united forces took Jerusalem
Siege of Jerusalem (614)
The Siege of Jerusalem in 614 was part of the final phase of the Byzantine-Sassanid Wars. The Persian Shah Khosrau II appointed his generals to conquer the Byzantine controlled areas of the Near East, establishing a strategic alliance with the Jewish population of the Sassanid Persia...
in July 614 CE.
Jewish leader
The joint military effort of Sassanid troops and Jewish militias resulted in a short-lived Jewish autonomy under Sassanid suzerainty. The 3-year period following the conquest of Jerusalem is poorly documented, though Jewish sources claim that the son of the Jewish Exilarch, Nehemiah ben Hushiel, had then been appointed the ruler of Jerusalem. In 617 the Sassanid army abandoned the area to reinforce Khosrau II's campaign against the Byzantines - an act seen by Jews as betrayal. The same year the remaining Christians of Jerusalem rioted, killing Nehemiah. Benjamin remained a leading figure, but the Jewish autonomy probably deteriorated into anarchy.Final years
There are several versions on the fate of Benjamin: one speaks of his execution by Theodosius in 625 CE; while another of his forced conversion to Christianity.However, the mainstream version tells that in 628, after the defeat and death of Khosrau II, Heraclius came as victor into Jerusalem and the Jews of Tiberias and Nazareth, under the leadership of Benjamin of Tiberias, surrendered and joined him as allies. It is said that Benjamin even accompanied Heraclius on his voyage to Jerusalem. Despite the surrender, most of the Jewish population in the area was massacred the next year with Jewish survivors fleeing to Egypt. There is no certain information on the fate of Benjamin in those final chapters of the conflict.