Tristan Hughes

The journey across the Mediterranean was uncomfortable and storm-ridden.

Never before, to our knowledge, had Herod crossed the seas to Italy.

But his desperate situation gave him little choice.

Rome was his last hope.

Herod's venture to Rome proved incredibly successful.

From refugee to royal ruler.

The Romans had thrown their whole support behind Herod.

With money and men in hand, in 39 BC Herod sailed back to Judea, determined to wrestle control back from Antigonus.

In the meantime, his brother, Phazeol, had died in Antigonus' captivity.

There would be no negotiations.

Civil war beckoned.

The war between Herod and Antigonus was fierce and it wasn't without personal loss.

Although Herod successfully rescued his family from Masada, Joseph, one of his younger brothers, was ambushed and killed fighting for Herod.

Nevertheless, despite bribes, betrayals and a brother's demise, Herod and his Roman allies slowly made progress.

Cities were conquered, regions were subdued, and the Parthians were repelled.

Finally, their forces marched on the ultimate prize, Antigonus' capital, Jerusalem.

With more than 30,000 soldiers at his disposal, including 11 Roman legions, Herod's forces laid siege to Jerusalem.

They created great siege engines to assault the city's walls and tunnels to undermine them.

Despite being vastly outnumbered, Antigonus' men repelled these assaults for more than a month.

But finally, Herod's Roman juggernaut prevailed.