Athaliah

Athaliah . 1 The only queen to occupy the throne of Judah, daughter of Ahab of Israel, wife of Jehoram 2 of Judah, and mother of Ahaziah 2 of Judah, whom she succeeded. She had the males of the royal family murdered, but her stepdaughter Jehosheba hid away a baby son of Ahaziah. Some years later, Jehosheba and her husband Jehoiada 1 effected a coup in favor of this baby, Jehoash 2. Athaliah they killed. These events are the subject of Racine's Athalie. 2 Benjamite. 3 Father of one who returned with Ezra.

Athaliah The only queen to rule Judah (843–837 BCE); she organized a purge of male rivals—except one, Joash, who murdered her and succeeded to the throne (2 Kgs. 11: 16).

queen In Israel there was no right of succession to the throne by daughters of a deceased king, or by his widow; but a queen mother, Athaliah, ruled for seven years when her son died (2 Kgs. 8: 26; 11: 1–4). A foreign queen, of Sheba, visited Solomon and was impressed by his wealth (1 Kgs. 10: 6). Candace, queen of the Ethiopians (Acts 8: 27) was a queen mother and effective ruler: ‘Candace’ was a generic title borne by other queen mothers. In the ancient world the queen mother was often a much more prominent figure than the king's wife.