|
Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 6:11 PM
Not equally moderate was his brother, surnamed Felix, who had for
some time been governor of Judaea, and thought that he could do any evil
act with impunity, backed up as he was by such power. It is true that the
Jews had shown symptoms of commotion in a seditious outbreak, and when
they had heard of the assassination of Caius, there was no hearty submission,
as a fear still lingered that any of the emperors might impose the same
orders. Felix meanwhile, by ill-timed remedies, stimulated disloyal acts;
while he had, as a rival in the worst wickedness, Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire, who
held a part of the province, which was so divided that Galilea was governed
by Cumanus, Samaria by Felix. The two peoples had long been at feud, and
now less than ever restrained their enmity, from contempt of their rulers.
And accordingly they plundered each other, letting loose bands of robbers,
forming ambuscades, and occasionally fighting battles, and carrying the
spoil and booty to the two procurators, who at first rejoiced at all this,
but, as the mischief grew, they interposed with an armed force, which was
cut to pieces. The flame of war would have spread through the province,
but it was saved by Quadratus, governor of Syria. In dealing with the Jews,
who had been daring enough to slay our soldiers, there was little hesitation
about their being capitally punished. Some delay indeed was occasioned
by Cumanus and Felix; for Claudius on hearing the causes of the rebellion
had given authority for deciding also the case of these procurators. Quadratus,
however, exhibited Felix as one of the judges, admitting him to the bench
with the view of cowing the ardour of the prosecutors. And so Cumanus was
condemned for the crimes which the two had committed, and tranquillity
was restored to the province.
|
|
| << Navigate to Sunday, August 15, 2010 |
Add New Comment |