Was Augustus Octavian, as a Roman, the king of the Jews?

Answer 1

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When the Romans would conquer someone, they would often keep the local government intact. So, in Judea, you have a local Jewish King that ruled his people and a Roman governor that kept the local king in line and paying taxes with Roman troops. Obviously the Roman governor answered to the Roman Emperor. But if you were a lower class Jew, you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between your government before the Roman invasion and after. In fact, in the ancient world lower class people were often oblivious to changes in government.

Also, Augustus never claimed the title king (rex), nor did he call himself a dictator, and emperor (imperator) just ment general at that time, officially he was only first citizen (princeps). The truth is, Augustus almost certinly never heard of Jesus and if he did, would not have cared if Jesus claimed kingship over the Jews. Jesus was actually brought to the local king of Judea and he didn't even care. Jesus' crucifixion had nothing to do with politics, it was just a mob who wanted him dead.

Answer 2

When Augustus was Roman Emperor, Herod the Great was King in Judea (along with neighbouring lands such as Galilee etc...). Herod was a "client" King & a vassal to Augustus. Therefor, Herod was King of the Jews & not Augustus... but Augustus called the shots!

Answer 3

Herod the first was King of the Jews at the time. Since Judea was part of the Roman Empire, Herod like other kings answered to the Emperor. Emperor > King. So Augustus was the Jews' Emperor.

Answer 4

He was Emperor of Rome and Jerusalem and Judea were part of the Roman Empire. I don't think Galilee was, which is where Jesus was from, but it might have been.

That is the reason the Romans considered Jesus a threat, when he was called "King of the Jews' he was considered a threat to Roman authority, even though his "Kingdom was not of this world". The Jewsih people in Judea and Galilee wanted to have a Jewish King who would get them out of Roman control. When he did not, that is why some wanted him dead.

Answer 5

Herod was king of the Jews until his death in 4 B.C., but an Emperor is the King of Kings. Augustus was Herod's boss.