Monobaz I

Monobaz I was a king of Adiabene, a kingdom located in northern Mesopotamia, during the 1st century CE. He is primarily known through the writings of Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian who provides the main source of information about his reign. Monobaz I is believed to have ruled in the first half of the 1st century CE, though the exact dates of his reign are uncertain.

According to Josephus, Monobaz I was married to his sister, Helena, a practice that was not uncommon in some ancient royal families to preserve the royal lineage. After Monobaz's death, Helena converted to Judaism, which had a significant impact on Adiabene. She and her son, Izates, who succeeded Monobaz I as king, became patrons of Jerusalem and were noted for their acts of charity towards the Jewish people, particularly during times of famine.

While details of Monobaz I's reign are scarce, he is historically significant primarily due to the subsequent conversion of his wife and son to Judaism, and the role Adiabene played in supporting the Jewish community in Judea during the Roman period. His legacy is therefore intertwined with the history of Judaism and the political landscape of the ancient Near East.