12th Roman
prefect of Judea, sent by Nero to replace Porcius
Festus whose death left Judea & Samaria without a
governor for several months (62
CE). Before Albinus arrived, the
Sanhedrin executed several Jewish Christians, including Jesus' brother
James, on charges of Torah violations. This led to friction between the
new governor & the temple leadership.
Once in office Albinus crushed armed
Jewish bands of sicarii. But he was more lenient than prior
governors in dealing with other Jewish dissidents. He freed many
prisoners whom he did not sentence to death, including a folk prophet
named Yeshu (Jesus) who warned of impending disaster for the temple &
Jerusalem. Josephus
credits Albinus' clemency to greed. He was easily bribed by bandits,
allowing them to go free for a share of their spoils.
Before the outbreak of the Jewish
revolt, Nero transferred Albinus to be governor of
Mauretania. In the political chaos following Nero's suicide (68
CE)
Albinus supported Otho for emperor. After Otho's death, he briefly
styled himself "king" of Mauretania until he too fell victim to an
assassin.
References:
Josephus, Antiquities
20.200-209, 215, 252-253;
_____,
War 2.272-277, 6.305;
Tacitus,
Histories 2.58-59.
Other online resources: