Gallus.27 campaign and Judean Free Government First Jewish–Roman War

as result of unrest in judaea, cestius gallus, legate of syria, assembled syrian legion xii fulminata reinforced units of iii gallica, iiii scythica, , vi ferrata, plus auxiliaries , allies - total of approximately 30,000-36,000 troops, in order restore order in neighbouring province. syrian legion captured narbata , took sepphoris, surrendered no fight. judean rebels, withdrew sepphoris, took refuge @ atzmon hill, defeated following short siege. gallus later reached acre in western galilee, , marched on caesarea , jaffa, massacred 8,400 people. continuing military campaign, gallus took lydda , afek (antipatris) , engaged jerusalemite rebels in geva, lost 500 roman troops judean rebels led simon bar giora, reinforced ally volunteers adiabene.

the syrian legion invested jerusalem, uncertain reasons , despite initial gains withdrew towards coast, ambushed , defeated judean rebels @ battle of beth horon, result shocked roman empire leadership. defeat of romans in beth horon considered 1 of worst military defeats of roman empire rebel province throughout history. 6,000 roman troops killed , many more wounded in battle, legio xii fulminata losing aquila, gallus abandoned troops in disarray fleeing syria. victorious judean militias included sadducee , pharisee factions, major role played peasantry led simon bar giora, eleazar ben simon sicarii.

victorious judean troops took initiative , attempted expand control hellenistic city of ashkelon, assembled army commanded niger perean, yohanan issean , shila babylonian , laid siege of city. despite pillage of ashkelon countryside campaign turned disastrous judeans, failing take city , losing 8,000 militia men small roman garrison had held city. many jewish residents of ashkelon butchered greco-syrian , roman neighbours in aftermath. failure take ashkelon changed tactics of rebel judean forces open engagement fortified warfare.

following defeat of gallus in beth horon, people s assembly called under spiritual guidance of simeon ben gamliel , judean free government formed in jerusalem. former high priest ananus ben ananus appointed 1 of government heads , began reinforcing city, other prominent figures such joseph ben gurion , joshua ben gamla taking leading roles; yosef ben matityahu appointed commander in galilee , golan, while joseph ben shimon appointed commander of jericho, yohanan issean commander of jaffa, lydda, ammeus-nikopolis , tamna area , elazar ben hananiya joint commander in edom joshua ben zafia, niger perean (the war hero during gallus campaign) under command.

later, in jerusalem, attempt menahem ben yehuda, leader of sicarii, take control of city failed. executed , remaining sicarii ejected city stronghold masada, taken roman garrison. headquartered in masada, sicarii notably terrorized nearby judean villages such ein gedi. simon bar giora, charismatic, radical peasantry leader, expelled jerusalem new government. faction of ousted bar giora took refuge in masada , stayed there until winter of 67-8.