Ancient History Herod the Great: The Ruthless King of Judea

King Herod the Great, ruler of Judea from 37 to 4 BCE, is infamous for his ruthless pursuit of power and his brutal tactics to maintain it. Herod secured his throne through alliances with Rome, but his paranoia and ambition drove him to extreme measures. To protect his rule, he executed several members of his own family, including his wife and sons. He’s also remembered for the biblical Massacre of the Innocents, where he ordered the killing of young boys in Bethlehem to eliminate any threat to his reign.