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It's time for one of ComradeSnake's signature overly long threads about history!For the festive time of the year, I'm gonna be writing a history of the Maccabean Revolt! At the end
I'm gonna go over how I think it relates to successful rules for guerilla operations.
I'm gonna go over how I think it relates to successful rules for guerilla operations.
For my own ease, I'll be using the Latinized "Judea" in reference to the land of the Jewish people.
I'll write about religious issues as far as it's necessary for the scope of my thread. I'm not going to get into the specifics of the Jewish faith. That's out of my depth.
I'll write about religious issues as far as it's necessary for the scope of my thread. I'm not going to get into the specifics of the Jewish faith. That's out of my depth.
To set the stage, Judea is located between two of the "Diadochi" (successors) of Alexander's Empire. Ptolemaic Egypt to the south and the Seleucid Empire to the North. Initially, Judea was under the control
of Egypt. The Ptolemies had a lax attitude towards Judea's
of Egypt. The Ptolemies had a lax attitude towards Judea's
administration, allowing Judea to have its own courts, practice their own faith, and perform rites in the High Temple.
In 198BC Judea was taken by the Seleucids who continued the lax policy. This changed in 175BC with the ascension of Antiochus IV to the Seleucid throne.
In 198BC Judea was taken by the Seleucids who continued the lax policy. This changed in 175BC with the ascension of Antiochus IV to the Seleucid throne.
Antiochus was dealing with an increased threat from Egypt and the rising Roman Republic. He decided to centralize the border region with Egypt with a policy of Hellenization of Judea.
Most importantly this included appointing a Hellenized Jew as the High Priest.
Most importantly this included appointing a Hellenized Jew as the High Priest.
In 168BC the seething traditionalists rose up and deposed the appointee. Antiochus ordered the province governor, Apollonius, to enact harsh measures to bring the Jews to heel. Seleucid troops entered Jerusalem and began slaughtering Jews and burning their homes.
They pillaged the Holy Temple, stealing sacred objects, then raising the "aBomination of Desolation" (likely a statue of Zeus) in the Temple. They completed profaning it by sacrificing a pig to the "Abomination." Many anti-Jewish followed. Jews were forbidden from praying
together, perform circumcisions, or obey their dietary laws. Enforcement was carried out by a garrison in the fortress of Acra near the Temple Mount and with small patrols sent into the countryside.
One such patrol, led by an officer named Apelles, set up a pagan altar in Moddin, a small village north-west of Jerusalem. He ordered the local priest, Mattathias, to slaughter and eat a pig. Mattathias refused and killed a soldier who attempted to force him.
He then killed Apelles and the outraged villagers swarmed and killed the remaining soldiers. Mattahius fled into the hills with his sons and some villagers and proceeded to raid and harass Seleucid patrols, killing soldiers and taking their equipment.
Mattahius also began setting up an intelligence
network that would pay dividends in the future. Within a year, Mattahius died and his middle son, Judah, would take up a leadership role.
network that would pay dividends in the future. Within a year, Mattahius died and his middle son, Judah, would take up a leadership role.
At some point during this period, Judah earned the moniker "Maccabeus" which can be translated as "Hammer." His band of warriors would be known as the Maccabees.
By 166, the Maccabees controlled much of central Judea and had nearly cut communications between Jerusalem and the provincial capital of Samaria. Apollonius gathered 2,000 men and marched to put down the revolt.
Judah, with only 600 militia, knew he could not face
Judah, with only 600 militia, knew he could not face
the Seleucid army in a head-on fight and elected for an ambush. The spot he chose was Wadi Haramiah. In the ensuing ambush, Apollonius and all 2,000 men
were killed. The results sent shockwaves throughout both sides.
were killed. The results sent shockwaves throughout both sides.
The Maccabees were swelled with volunteers and the Seleucids realized they needed to take the revolt seriously.
he new Seleucid governor, Seron, marched down the coast to Jaffa with an army of 4,000 men.
he new Seleucid governor, Seron, marched down the coast to Jaffa with an army of 4,000 men.
His army's movements were known the entire time thanks to the large network of informants Judah had built up. Seron turned inland for Jerusalem, but Judah, now with 2,000 men set another ambush at the pass of Beth Horon (a name that might sound familiar).
Despite Seron's attempts to fix the tactical mistakes of Apollonius, it made little difference. Seron was killed in the first few moments of the attack and the leaderless soldiers fled the pass, leaving 800 dead.
Judah did not pursue them.
Judah did not pursue them.
Following onto the coastal plain would play into the Seleucid strength and put his army in hostile territory. Antiochus received word of the defeat as he was preparing to deal with a separate revolt in Persia. Unwilling to take chances again, he gave the new governor, Lysias,
a force of 20,000 commanded by experienced generals.
This much larger force once again followed the coastal route before turning inland and making camp near Emmaus (near present-day Latrun).
This much larger force once again followed the coastal route before turning inland and making camp near Emmaus (near present-day Latrun).
Judah, his army swelled to 6,000 made camp close by, making sure the Seleucids could see it. Maccabean intelligence detected the Seleucid preparations for a night attack and Judah planned a counter night attack against the split Seleucid army.
The ensuing night battle
is a complicated affair but the Maccabees once again came out victorious.
is a complicated affair but the Maccabees once again came out victorious.
Lysias did not panic. He reassembled his army and made another attempt in 164BC. Lysias marched his army of Jerusalem using the friendly region of Idumea as a base of operations. Judah, now commanding 10,000,
met the advance at Beth-Zur,
met the advance at Beth-Zur,
the battle playing out almost the same (with greater numbers) as Wadi Haramiah. Lysias lost 5,000 men and retreat back into Idumea. Judah once again made the wise decision to remain in Judea.
Judah made the military and political calculations to liberate Jerusalem. His army entered the city and cleared it out before surrounding the Seleucid garrison at Acra. Priests began repairing and rededicating
the Temple.
the Temple.
They found only one bottle of holy oil for the candelabra, enough to last one night. Reportedly, it lasted eight and celebrated thereafter as the festival of Hanukkah.
