Roman administration of Judaea (AD 6–135)


The administration of Judaea as a province of Rome from 6 to 135 was carried out primarily by a series of Roman prefects, procurators, and legates pro praetore. The first of these administrators coincided or were intertwined with the ostensible rule by the Herodian tetrarchy. The Roman administrators were as follows:
NameDates of administrationNumber of yearsTitle
Coponius6–93Praefectus
Marcus Ambivulus9–123Praefectus
Annius Rufus12–153Praefectus
Valerius Gratus15–2611Praefectus
Pontius Pilatus26–3610Praefectus
Marcellus36–371Praefectus
Marullus37–414Praefectus
Vacant41–443Monarchy restored
Cuspius Fadus44–462 Procurator
Tiberius Julius Alexander46–482Procurator
Ventidius Cumanus48–524Procurator
Marcus Antonius Felix52–608Procurator
Porcius Festus60–622Procurator
Lucceius Albinus62–642Procurator
Gessius Florus64–662Procurator
Marcus Antonius Julianusc. 66–c. 704Procurator
Sextus Vettulenus Cerialis70–711Legatus
Sextus Lucilius Bassus71–721Legatus
Lucius Flavius Silva Nonius Bassus72–819Legatus
Marcus Salvidienus80–855Legatus
Gnaeus Pinarius Aemilius Cicatricula Pompeius Longinus85–891Legatus
Sextus Hermentidius Campanus93–971Legatus
Gaius Julius Quadratus Bassus102–1042Legatus
Quintus Pompeius Falco105–1072Legatus
Tiberianus114–1173Legatus
Lusius Quietus117–1181Legatus
Lucius Cossonius Gallusc. 120?Legatus
Quintus Coredius Gallus Gargilius Antiquusc. 124–125 or 122–1251 Legatus
Quintus Tineius Rufusc. 130–c. 1322Legatus
Sextus Julius Severus133–1363 Legatus

"Hadrian stationed an extra legion in Judaea, renaming it Syria Palaestina." This was following the defeat of the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 135. The Syria-based legion, Legio III Gallica, took part in the quelling of the revolt from 132 to 136, and in the aftermath, the emperor Hadrian renamed the province of Judea and its extra legion Syria Palaestina. The province of Syria Palaestina was divided into Palaestina Prima and Palaestina Salutaris in about 357, and by 409 Palaestina Prima had been further split into a smaller Palaestina Prima and Palaestina Secunda, while Salutaris was named Tertia or Salutaris. Palæstina Prima or Palaestina I existed from the late 4th century until it was temporarily lost to the Sassanid Empire in 614, but re-conquered in 628 and finally until the Muslim conquest of the Levant in the 630s.