Emperor Hadrian is my profile picture, which was an old joke that became an inconvenient brand. Regardless, I am mixed about changing it. However, he plays a role in this story.
Bar Kokhba revolt: Hadrian’s War
Hadrian is a very unique Emperor. He is considered to be one of the better Emperors Rome had, but was the first truly homosexual Emperor and also the first to sport a beard. He was also deeply enamoured with all things Greek and sometimes known as the “Greekling.”
When Hadrian was the heir to Trajan and working his way through the system (being a general, a soldier, and so on) there was another Jewish revolt. Marcius Turbo was sent to quell the rebellion and outright exterminate any Jews in rebelling areas. He did just that, and the war mostly ended the year Hadrian took power, in mid-117 AD.
Hadrian viewed the Jews as a threat, and indeed, they were perhaps the most rebellious people in the Roman Empire, and during Hadrian's reign, nationalism had become popular as independence was demanded. Indeed, Hadrian, taking after Tactius, likely viewed the Jews as subhuman.
Hadrian had promised to rebuild Jerusalem, but then he went back on that in the worst way. He instead built a Roman colony named after himself and even built a Temple to Jupiter on the rubble of the Second Temple
This meant war and in 132 AD, the Bar Kokhba revolt started. The Jewish people had learned a lot from the 1st revolt. This time, they were prepared. They had significant stockpiles of supplies hidden everywhere and had adopted guerrilla tactics to use against the approaching Roman Legions.
At first, the revolt was a smashing success. Under the command of Simon bar Kokhba, a brilliant General, the region was taken. Simon bar Kokhba was named Nasi (Prince) and had an Army numbered 200,000 to 400,000. Most of the men were lightly armed militia, but he had 12,000 hardened warriors around him as well.
After the violence suffered during the 1st Roman Jewish War there was a though that a redeemer would appear of the Davidic bloodline to restore the Jews to Israel. The most powerful Rabbis and thinkers all declared Simon bar Kokhba the redeemer, the messiah.
The rebels did well- very well. Both Legio X and Legio VI were routed from the region and could not stop the rebellion. So Legio III, Legio III, and Legio XXII Deiotariana are brought in. Again, they are defeated, and it is so bad that Legio XXII Deiotariana is annihilated- and I mean that literally.
There are a few Legions that “vanished” from history, which is rare. It is almost certain that Legio XXII Deiotariana was entirely destroyed (all men killed) and that the famous Legio IX Hispana (the infamous missing Legion) was also lost in this conflict.
The rebels had a full underground tunnel network, caches of weapons, fortified cities, and plans. It was executed so well that they wiped the floor with 3 Roman Legions, and they entirely “disappeared” one. They were clearly ready for this fight. Here is a picture of their tunnels, excavated and remaining today.
Hadrian was livid. He sent General Sextus Julius Severus to gain a foothold in the region. Once done, he sent 60,000 to 120,000 men to put down this revolt including Legio III Cyrenaica, Legio X Fretensis, Legio XXII Deiotariana, Legio III Gallica, Legio VI Ferrata, Legio II Traiana, Legio X Gemina, Legio IX Hispana, Cohorts from 4 other Legions, and additional auxiliaries to end this revolt forever. It was one of the largest Armies Rome ever fielded.
Interesting fact: Legio IX Hispana is known as the “lost Legion” because it literally disappeared. Most scholars, including myself, believe that it was lost (as in destroyed entirely) during this conflict.
The rebellion was slowly and methodically eradicated. The Romans went town to town and found the underground storage, the supply depots, and began to burn it all. Eventually, Simon bar Kokhba was defeated badly in an open battle and forced to withdraw to the fortress of Betar. There he made his stand and was defeated and killed.
Hadrian viewed the Jews as too rebellious and concluded that destruction was the best option. During the campaign, Cassius Dio states that 500,000 Jews were killed, and the majority were likely civilians. This represented perhaps 10% of the global Jewish population just in this 1 war. It is reported to 985 villages and towns were razed with the inhabitants being sold into slavery or killed
With the Jewish people nearly destroyed, Hadrian renamed the region to Syria Palaestina, which remained the name for centuries. He expelled or enslaved the surviving Jews, passed laws making the study of the Torah illegal, and also made the Hebrew calendar illegal. The Jewish people had proven to be a tenacious enemy, perhaps the most dangerous internal group Rome faced. Despite their will to fight and sacrifice, the Jewish people had lost their homeland and many had lost their lives.
Thus began the Jewish diaspora. Spread over the Roman Empire and Mesopotamia, the Jewish people were cut off from their homeland. Always the minority and always a bit differant from the dominant culture, they would face violence and oppression for mellenia. They were a people unable to determine their own future and destiny.
Many were integrated into Roman society, but they were viewed poorly by the Romans. As the Middle Ages came about and Christianity dominated Europe, Jews took on the role of moneylenders, traders, and members of generally isolated communities. I have written an answer about that as well- the comments.
Thanks for reading.
Hey Alex, you mentioned “[Jews] were a people unable to determine their own future and destiny.” How is that different from any of the other conquered peoples? Wouldn’t the same be said for Ethiopians, Syrians, Phoenicians, Germanics, etc.? Or is this unique in some way more than is self-evident?
Hello Alex, I hope that you are well. I truly enjoy reading your history lessons. Keep up the good work .