Alexander the Alabarch was a Jew -- and almost certainly -- a Roman citizen who lived in Alexandria, Egypt during the first half of the first century A.D. His influence is known to have spanned three continents touching on Rome, Alexandria (Egypt), and Jerusalem (Palestine).

According to ancient sources, Alexander appears to have been well known among the imperial family in Rome. He was "old friends" with the Emperor Claudius, was the "guardian" for Claudius' mother Antonia Minor (daughter of Marc Antony and niece of Augustus), and was thrown into prison by the Emperor Gaius (Caligula) for some unknown dissension. Concurrently in the Jewish world, Alexander had the gates of the Temple in Jerusalem gold and silver plated and his son Marcus married the eldest daughter of King Agrippa of Judea forming a royal alliance between the families. In Egypt, Alexander was a large land owner and held the prominent (but confusing) position of Alabarch.

• Alexander the Alabarch: Roman and Jew (summary of seminar paper delivered at American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature)

• Alexander's Social World (Image Library): Rome: The People, The Places, The Coinage

• Alexander's Lineage: the family tree

• Alexander the Alabarch in fiction

This Web site on Alexander the Alabarch has been assembled by Kass Evans to complement her historical fiction works that feature Alexander. All information on this site is based on historical evidence except where otherwise indicated.