Between Empires and Peers: Hasmonean foreign policy under Alexander Jannaeus

Abstract

During the reign of Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BCE), Judea underwent a number of signifi cant changes. This article explores one of them: The fundamental shift in foreign policy strategy. This shift becomes most apparent in the king's decision to not renew the alliance with Rome, which had been a hallmark of Hasmonean foreign policy since the days of Judas Maccabaeus. However, a close analysis of Alexander Jannaeus' policy regarding other foreign powers demonstrates that the end of the Judean-Roman alliance did not happen in a vacuum. It is shown that under Alexander Jannaeus, the Hasmonean state adopted a different strategy towards imperial powers by focusing on deescalation and ignorance rather than alliances. In contrast, interactions with other rising states in the vicinity, such as the Nabateans and Itureans, increased. This new orientation in foreign policy refl ected changes in Hasmonean identity and self-defi nition; Judea did not need imperial support to maintain its independence anymore but strived to increase its status as a regional power.