Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)

Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)
Part of the First Jewish–Roman War
Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by Francesco Hayez. Oil on canvas, 1867.
Date 14 April – 8 September 70 CE Location Jerusalem, Judaea 31°46′41″N 35°14′9″E / 31.77806°N 35.23583°E / 31.77806; 35.23583 Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Empire	Jewish rebels
Commanders and leaders
Titus Julius Alexander	Simon bar Giora  John of Giscala (POW) Eleazar ben Simon †
Strength
50,000	Unknown

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Jerusalem
History Timeline City of David 1000 BCE Second Temple Period 538 BCE–70 CE Aelia Capitolina 130–325 CE Byzantine 325–638 CE Early Muslim 638–1099 Crusader 1099–1187 Late Medieval 1187–1517 Ottoman 1517–1917 British Mandate 1917–1948 Modern period (Jordanian and Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem) 1948-
Sieges Before Common Era 701 BCE 597 BCE 587 BCE 63 BCE 37 BCE Common Era 70 614 637 1099 1187 1244 1834 1917 1948
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The siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE was the decisive event of the First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 CE), a major rebellion against Roman rule in the province of Judaea. Led by Titus, Roman forces besieged the Jewish capital, which had become the main stronghold of the revolt. After months of fighting, they breached its defenses, destroyed the Second Temple, razed most of the city, and killed, enslaved, or displaced a large portion of its population. The fall of Jerusalem marked the effective end of the Jewish revolt and had far-reaching political, religious, and cultural consequences.

In the winter of 69/70 CE, following a pause caused by the Roman succession war, the campaign in Judaea resumed as Titus led at least 48,000 troops—including four legions and auxiliary forces—back into the province. By spring, this army had encircled Jerusalem, whose population had surged with refugees and Passover pilgrims. Inside the city, rival factions led by John of Gischala, Simon bar Giora and Eleazar ben Simon fought each other, destroying food supplies and weakening defenses. Although the factions eventually united and mounted fierce resistance, Roman forces breached the city walls and pushed the defenders back into the temple precincts.

When the Romans finally took the Temple Mount in the summer month of Av (July/August), they destroyed the Second Temple—an event mourned annually in Judaism on Tisha B'Av. The rest of Jerusalem fell soon after, with tens of thousands killed, enslaved, or executed. The Romans systematically razed the city, leaving only three towers of the Herodian citadel and sections of the wall to showcase its former greatness. A year later, Vespasian and Titus celebrated a triumph in Rome, parading temple spoils—including the menorah—and hundreds of captives. Monuments such as the Arch of Titus were erected to commemorate the victory.

The destruction of Jerusalem and its temple marked a turning point in Jewish history. With sacrificial worship no longer possible, Judaism transformed, giving rise to Rabbinic Judaism focused on Torah study, good deeds and synagogue worship. The fall of the city also influenced early Christianity, accelerating its separation from Judaism. After the war, Legio X Fretensis established a permanent garrison on the ruins. Decades later, the Romans re-founded the city as Aelia Capitolina, dedicated to Jupiter, dashing Jewish hopes for a restored temple and paving the way for another major Jewish rebellion—the Bar Kokhba revolt.