Archelaus

Archelaus is one of the sons of Herod the Great. After the death of his father, Archelaus is given the authority over Judea, Samaria and Idumea. Archelaus is ruler over these territories from 4 BC to AD 6.

Archelaus was particularly unpopular, for he ruled with an iron fist. A delegation of important Jews and Samaritans complains about him to Emperor Augustus. In response, the emperor deposes Archelaus and banishes him to Gaul.

After this, Judea becomes a Roman province governed by a prefect.

Archelaus is only mentioned once in the New Testament, in Matthew 2:22. It says there that Joseph and Mary want to return with Jesus from Egypt to the land of Israel, but when they hear that Archelaus has succeeded his father as king of Judea, they are afraid to return. Instead, they decide to go to Galilee, and they settle in the town of Nazareth.