Herod the Great was the king of Judea from 40 BC. e. Although he wore the royal crown, he was subordinate to Rome, and by force of arms he was elevated to the throne. Suspicious, power-hungry and cruel, he destroyed everyone in whom he saw a danger to himself, not sparing his loved ones, including his wife and two sons. Having learned about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and fearing him, Herod killed 14 thousand Bethlehem babies, hoping to destroy the Infant God among them, but soon he himself died - eaten alive by worms.