This Man’s Unpopularity Led to the Death of Hundreds of Thousands

Do not discount the ability for bad leadership to ruin lives

The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem, by David Roberts (Public domain)

History is littered with thousands of unpopular leaders but few are so unbearable that their very existence leads to the death of multitudes. Many of the most recognizable leaders in history are kings, generals, emperors and presidents — and rightfully so. Unfortunately, for one Gessius Florus, he makes the history books for being so pungently unpopular that he caused a massive revolt. And he wasn’t even the king or governor. He was the treasurer.

So how did a mid-level Roman procurator lead to the deaths of over a quarter million people? Why did the people at the time allow one treasurer to cause the sack of one of the most important cities in the world?

Thievery and partiality

Gessius Florus had his office in Caesarea and was appointed procurator under Emperor Nero in 64CE. Almost immediately, Florus began to show partiality towards native Greeks at the expense of the local Jews. In fact, it became widely acknowledged that not only was Florus partial towards the Greeks, but he was also openly antagonistic towards the Jews. Under his watch, local vandalism and religious insults towards Jewish institutions rose and he refused to hear any…