Summary

Agrippa II (c. 27/28 ce–94/95 ce) was the last monarch of the Herodian dynasty. He was the son of Agrippa I and his wife and first cousin Cypros, and great-grandson of Herod the Great (PIR 1.132). This inbreeding may have been responsible for his lack of initiative at times when decisive action was needed. On his father’s death, the Emperor Claudius felt that it was inopportune to appoint the young Agrippa to the Judaean throne. Instead, the young Agrippa remained in Rome until his uncle, Herod of Chalcis, died and he was granted his first small realm and royal title. At the behest of Claudius, in 53 ce Chalcis was exchanged for a larger domain, covering areas north, west, and east of Lake Tiberias. For much of his reign, Agrippa’s sister Berenice acted as his de facto consort and was present with him when he interviewed the Apostle Paul in Caesarea. On the outbreak of the First Jewish Revolt, Agrippa II was unable to prevent it spreading to his own kingdom. Although he was curator of the Jerusalem Temple, he failed to save it. Agrippa and Berenice departed for Rome after the revolt had been extinguished, perhaps as late as 75 ce, she to continue her affair with Titus. Agrippa then fades from history but continued to strike autonomous coinage until 94/95 ce, when it is likely that he died. Agrippa II had no heirs.