Izates II facts for kids
Izates II (born around 1 CE, died around 54 CE) was a king of Adiabene. Adiabene was a kingdom that worked closely with the powerful Parthian Empire. Izates is famous because he chose to become Jewish. His mother was Queen Helena of Adiabene, and his father was Monobaz I of Adiabene.
Becoming Jewish
When Izates was young, his father sent him to live at the court of King Abinergaos I. This was in a city called Charax Spasinu. While he was there, Izates met a Jewish merchant named Ananias of Adiabene. Ananias taught Izates about the Jewish religion, and Izates became very interested.
Izates married King Abinergaos' daughter, Symacho. She also became Jewish because of Ananias. What Izates didn't know was that his own mother, Queen Helena, had already become Jewish too!
When Izates returned home and became king after his father died (around 31 CE), he found out his mother was Jewish. He then decided he wanted to become Jewish himself. At first, both Ananias and his mother told him to wait. But later, another Jewish man named Eleazar convinced him to go ahead.
His Time as King
For a while, King Izates ruled peacefully. People respected him so much that he was even asked to help settle a fight. This was between the Parthian king, Artabanus II of Parthia, and some of his nobles (around 39 CE).
But then, some of Izates' relatives openly became Jewish. This made some of the nobles in Adiabene unhappy. They secretly asked Abia, an Arab king, to start a war against Izates. However, Izates defeated Abia.
The nobles then tried to get Vologases, the King of Parthia, to attack Izates. But Vologases was stopped from carrying out his plans. So, Izates continued to rule without trouble for a total of twenty-four years.
End of His Reign
Izates died around 54 CE. His mother, Queen Helena, died a short time after him. Izates had many children, twenty-four sons and twenty-four daughters!
After Izates died, his older brother, Monobaz II, became king. Monobaz II sent Izates' body and Queen Helena's body to Jerusalem to be buried there.
