Part 2/8:
Herod's accession to the throne began with a backdrop of civil war in Judea, where the Hasmonean dynasty, which had fought hard for Jewish independence, was in decline. Herod’s father, Antipater, allied with Rome, manipulating political rivalries to foster his family's influence. When both sides of the Hasmonean family turned to Rome for support, the ambitious, politically astute young Herod managed to navigate these treacherous waters by securing the backing of Roman general Mark Antony.