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Valerius Gratus

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Valerius Gratus was Roman Prefect or procurator of Judea under Tiberius, AD 15 - 26. He succeeded Annius Rufus and was replaced by Pontius Pilate.

The government of Gratus is chiefly remarkable for the frequent changes he made in the appointment of the high-priesthood. He deposed Ananus, and substituted Ismael, son of Fabi, then Eleazar, son of Arianus, then Simon, son of Camith, and lastly Joseph Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Ananus. (Id. Antiq. xviii. 2. §2.) He put down two formidable bands of robbers that infested Judaea during his government, and killed with his own hand the captain of one of them, Simon, formerly a slave of Herod the Great. (Id. Antiq. xvii. ] 0. § 6, 7 ; B. J.ii.4. § 2, 3.) Gratus assisted the proconsul Quintilius Varus in quelling an insurrection of the Jews. (B.J. ii. 5. § 2.)