Jewish revolt against Constantius Gallus

The Jewish revolt against Constantius Gallus, also known as the Gallus Revolt, erupted during the Roman civil war of 350–353, upon destabilization across the Roman Empire. In 351–352, the Jews of Roman Palaestina revolted against the rule of Constantius Gallus, brother-in-law of Emperor Constantius II and Caesar of the eastern part of the Roman Empire. The revolt was crushed by Gallus' general Ursicinus.

Jewish revolt against Gallus
Part of the Roman civil war of 350–353
Map of the Roman East under Gallus
Date 351–352 AD Location Syria Palaestina Result Roman victory Destruction of several cities
Belligerents
Roman Empire	Jews of Israel
Commanders and leaders
Constantius Gallus Ursicinus	Isaac of Diocesarea † Patricius †
Casualties and losses
5,000	Several thousand rebels killed

The rebellion was led by Isaac of Diocaesarea (also known as Isaac of Sepphoris),^[1] aided by a certain Patricius and had its epicentre in the town of Diocaesarea (the Greco-Roman referent for Sepphoris). Jerome records that the revolt began with a night attack on the Roman garrison, which was destroyed, and allowed the Jews to procure the necessary weapons.^[2] According to the 9th century author Theophanes the Confessor, subsequently the rebels killed the people of different ethnicities, pagan Greek Hellenes and Samaritans.

Background

See also: Jewish–Roman wars

The emperor Constantius II, like his father Constantine the Great before him, showed a preference for the Christian religion, which he favored over all others, including Judaism. Unlike his father, however, Constantius allowed Christians to persecute the pagans and the Jews. Some Christian clergy practiced intolerance toward non-Christians, both through the secular arm and in directing angry crowds, which attacked and destroyed synagogues and temples.^[3]

Eventually, the Jews reacted, opposing Christian proselytism and showing intolerance toward Jewish Christians. Fiery sermons preached in synagogues against Edom were in fact directed against those Romans who, after removing the Jews' political independence, were now repressing their religion.^[1]

Revolt

Roman Civil War

Main article: Roman civil war of 350–353

In 350, Emperor Constantius II was engaged in a campaign in the East against the Sasanians. He was however forced to return to the West to counter the usurpation of Magnentius, who had murdered Constantius' brother and colleague, Constans. Constantius therefore appointed his cousin Gallus Caesar of the East, on March 15, 351 at Sirmium. Gallus arrived at Antioch,^[a] his capital, on May 7 of that same year.^[4] During the period between the passage of Constantius in the West and the arrival of Gallus in the East, or immediately after the arrival of the Caesar in Antioch, the Jews revolted in Palestine.^[5]

Hostilities in Galilee

The rebellion was led by Isaac of Diocaesarea (also known as Isaac of Sepphoris),^[1] aided by a certain Patricius, also known as Natrona, a name with messianic connotations,^[6] and had its epicentre in the town of Diocaesarea (the Greco-Roman referent for Sepphoris).^[7][b] Jerome records that the revolt began with a night assault on the Roman garrison, which was destroyed, and allowed the Jews to procure the necessary weapons.^[8] According to the 9th century author Theophanes the Confessor subsequently the rebels killed the people of different ethnicities, pagan Greek Hellenes and Samaritans.^[9][10] He is the first author to make this claim.^[11]

Ursicinus' campaign

In 351 or 352, Gallus sent his magister equitum Ursicinus^[12] to forcefully put down the revolt.^[13] Tiberias^[c] and Diospolis,^[d] two of the cities conquered by the rebels, were almost destroyed, while Diocaesarea was razed to the ground.^[1] Ursicinus also ordered several thousand rebels killed.^[10] According to Jerome, Gallus slew many thousands of people, including even those who were too young to fight.^[14] Sozomen, when recalling these events, wrote: "The Jews of Diocæsarea (Sepphoris) also took up arms and invaded the Roman garrisons in Palestine and the neighboring territories, with the design of shaking off the Roman yoke. On hearing of their insurrection, Gallus Caesar, who was then in Antioch, sent troops against them, defeated them, and destroyed Diocæsarea."^[15] A midrash suggests that Patricius was killed in the battle.^[16]

Aftermath

See also: Samaritan revolts and Jewish revolt against Heraclius

After the events, a permanent garrison occupied Galilee.^[17]

See also

• History of the Jews in the Roman Empire
• Jewish–Roman wars
  • First Jewish–Roman War, 66–73 CE
  • Bar Kokhba revolt, 132–136 CE
  • Kitos War, 115–117 CE
• Samaritan revolts, 484–572 CE
• Jewish revolt against Heraclius, 614–617/625

Notes

1. 36°12′N 36°09′E
2. 32°45′8″N 35°16′52″E
3. 32°47′23″N 35°31′29″E
4. 31°56′55″N 34°53′20″E