Herodian Kingdom of Judea

The Herodian Kingdom of Judea was a semi-autonomous region in ancient Palestine during the 1st century BCE and early 1st century CE, ruled by the Herodian dynasty. Herod the Great, its most famous ruler, was appointed by Rome and known for extensive building projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Although technically a client kingdom of the Roman Empire, it maintained a degree of local authority. Herod's reign was marked by political cunning, large-scale construction, and complex relations with both Jewish traditions and Roman authorities. After Herod's death, the kingdom was divided among his heirs and eventually integrated into Roman provinces.