Battle of Beth Horon (66)

This article is about the battle between Judean rebels and the Syrian Legion of the Roman Empire. For the battle between Hasmoneans and Hellenic Seleucid Empire, see Battle of Beth Horon (166 BC).
Battle of Beth Horon
Part of the First Jewish–Roman War

Beit Horon
Date66 CE
Location
Bethoron
31°52′38″N 35°7′7″E / 31.87722°N 35.11861°E / 31.87722; 35.11861
Result Judean victory
Belligerents
Roman Empire Jews of Judaea Province
Commanders and leaders
Cestius Gallus Simon bar Giora
Eleazar ben Simon
Joshua ben Zafia
Niger the Perean
Units involved
Legio XII Fulminata
Vexilations from III Gallica, IIII Scythica and VI Ferrata
Several cohorts of auxiliaries		 Judean militias
Strength
20,000 troops Tens of thousands
Casualties and losses
6,000 troops killed, XII Fulminata lost aquila Unknown

The Battle of Beth Horon was a military engagement fought in 66 CE between the Roman army and Jewish rebels in the early phase of the First Jewish–Roman War.[1] During the event, the Syrian Legion Legio XII Fulminata with auxiliary support headed by Legate of Syria Cestius Gallus was ambushed by a large force of Judean rebel infantry at the passage of Beth Horon, on their retreat from Jerusalem towards the coastal plain.[2][3] The rebel Judean forces headed by Simon Bar Giora, Eleazar ben Simon and other rebel generals succeeded in inflicting a humiliating defeat, killing some 6,000 Roman troops and capturing the Legion's aquila, with much of the Roman Army fleeing in disarray from the battle field.[4][5] The defeat of the Roman Army had major implications in prolonging the rebellion, leading to the short-lived Judean self-governorship in Judea and Galilee.[6][7][8][9]

  1. ^ "The Battle of Beth Horon". www.szdaily.com. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  2. ^ Josephus, Flavius; Verard, Antoine (1492). "66 CE: Cestius, in retreat, leads his army to Beth-Horon (12 miles NW of Jerusalem), where they are set upon by anti-Roman Jewish rebels". New York Public Library. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  3. ^ "Great Revolt (66-70 A.D.) - HistoriaRex.com". historiarex.com. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  4. ^ Jasiński, Jakub. "Jewish war (66 - 73 CE) « IMPERIUM ROMANUM". Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  5. ^ Marshall, Andrew (2020-10-24). "What was the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73 CE)?". Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  6. ^ Sanford, Ward (2022-05-18). "When the Jews Defeated the Romans: The Battle of Beth Horon". Cry For Jerusalem. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  7. ^ "Invisible Armies". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  8. ^ "Simeon Bar Giora". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  9. ^ Westera, Rick. "Historical Atlas of Eastern Mediterranean (January 68 AD): Zealot Temple Siege". Omniatlas. Retrieved 2023-10-29.