Skip to contentList of All Kings, Rulers and Invaders rule over Israel
Ancient and Biblical Period
- Canaanite City-States: The region was initially occupied by various Canaanite city-states.
- Egyptians: Periodic influence and invasions, particularly during the New Kingdom (circa 1550-1070 BCE).
- Israelite Kingdoms: The establishment of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah (circa 1020-586 BCE).
- Assyrians: Conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE.
- Babylonians: Conquered the southern Kingdom of Judah in 586 BCE, leading to the Babylonian Exile.
- Persians: Gained control after the fall of Babylon in 539 BCE, allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the Temple.
Hellenistic Period
- Macedonians/Greeks: Conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE.
- Ptolemies: Controlled the region following Alexander’s death, part of the Ptolemaic Dynasty based in Egypt (323-198 BCE).
- Seleucids: Took control after the Battle of Panion in 198 BCE, part of the Seleucid Empire.
Roman and Byzantine Period
- Hasmonean Dynasty: A period of Jewish independence from 140-37 BCE.
- Romans: Took control in 63 BCE, transitioning to Roman province status and later the Byzantine Empire.
Islamic and Medieval Period
- Byzantines: Continued control until the Muslim conquests.
- Rashidun Caliphate: Conquered the region in 638 CE.
- Umayyad Caliphate: Controlled the region from 661 to 750 CE.
- Abbasid Caliphate: Took over from the Umayyads, maintaining control until the Crusader period.
- Fatimid Caliphate: Briefly controlled the region from 969 to 1071 CE.
- Crusaders: Established the Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1099 to 1291 CE.
- Mamluks: Took control after the fall of the Crusader states, ruling from 1291 to 1517 CE.
Ottoman Period
- Ottomans: Controlled the region from 1517 to 1917 CE.
Modern Period
- British Mandate: Administered by Britain from 1917 to 1948 CE following World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
- State of Israel: Established in 1948 and has been the governing authority in the region since then.