The Hasmonean dynasty (/ˌhæzməˈniːən/ Hebrew: חַשְׁמוֹנַּאִים, Ḥashmona’im) was a ruling dynasty of Judea and surrounding regions during classical antiquity.

Between c. 140 and c. 116 BCE the dynasty ruled Judea semi-autonomously from the Seleucids.

From 110 BCE, with the Seleucid Empire disintegrating, the dynasty became fully independent, expanded into the neighbouring regions of Samaria, Galilee, Iturea, Perea, and Idumea, and took the title “basileus”.

Some modern scholars refer to this period as an independent kingdom of Israel.

The dynasty was established under the leadership of Simon Thassi, two decades after his brother Judas Maccabeus (יהודה המכבי Yehudah HaMakabi) defeated the Seleucid army during the Maccabean Revolt.

The Herodian dynasty takes over:

The Hasmonean dynasty had survived for 103 years before yielding to the Herodian dynasty in 37 BCE.

The installation of Herod the Great (an Idumean) as king in 37 BCE made Judea a Roman client state and marked the end of the Hasmonean dynasty.

Even then, Herod tried to bolster or support the legitimacy of his reign by marrying a Hasmonean princess, Mariamne, and planning to drown the last male Hasmonean heir at his Jericho palace.