22. The Romans made Herod King of Judea
Once in Rome, Herod busied himself making friends and influencing people. In addition to Mark Anthony, he also won over the future Emperor Augustus- Caesar’s heir Octavian and Octavian’s great friend and ally Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. It was through these influential friends that Herod finally managed to persuade the Roman senate to support his cause and, in 40 BC, the Senate voted Herod the title of King of the Jews. Herod, however, had to wait to take up his throne until 37 BC. Aided by the forces of Mark Anthony, Herod finally took back Jerusalem from the Parthians and their puppet Antigonus.
