The Exilarchs

The Exilarchs (this list is an excerpt from this page with acknowledgment to the author, David Hughes)

Note:

There is no definitive list of Exilarchs but this one seems (to someone who is not an expert in the area) to at least have been the result of a great deal of work and it does acknowledge gaps and uncertainties.
The Exilarchate does not seem to have passed by primogeniture; it seems to have been elective amongst the Exilarch's family, meaning that an uncle, brother or other male relation might be chosen (though I am not sure by whom). I assume that where the title passed to a brother rather than the eldest male child of the last Exilarch, this was because that child was too young at the time or disqualified for other reasons.
On three separate occasions the Exilarchate seems to have passed through a woman, although in (at least) two of these cases the husband of the woman concerned was of male-line Davidic descent, that is he was a 'Nasi' (Prince) in his own right. These instances are 1st dynasty, no.2; 2nd dynasty, no.30; 3rd dynasty, no.56. David Hughes has informed me that descent can be through a woman as heiress but only if her husband is a male-line descendant of King David.
The title of 'Nasi' or 'Prince' seems to have been used by quite remote male descendants of Exilarchs (see item 3 below where the title of 'Prince' was still used, by Neriah, after 21 generations of male descent) and apparently also passes to (and through) women i.e. the son of a woman carrying the title is a 'nasi'.
The descent of Shalom, 75th Exilarch (deposed 1401 AD), from King David (reigned 1005-965 BC) is in bold.
Those listed in the genealogy in I Chronicles iii 17-24 are marked in italics (as far I have been able to match them up). The last name in the list in I Chronicles iii 24 is Anani (Hananiah), listed as 30th Exilarch of the 1st Dynasty.

1st dynasty

1. Jehoiakin or Jeconiah, King of Judah, died 559 BC
2. Shealtiel, step-son, his 'acknowledged heir' (Mt 1:12), son of the wife of King Jehoiakin (Jeconiah), namely, Tamar, the dynasty’s heiress, by a former husband, Prince Neri[ah] (Lk 3:27), was reckoned the 'royal Davidic heir' after the death of the late King, Jehoiakin, and numbered the 2nd Exilarch (d 545). Line of descent from King David is David, Nathan, Mattatha[n], Menon (Menna), Melea, Eliakim, Jonam, Joseph, Jude, Simeon, Levi, Mattatha[n], Joram, Eliezer, Jose (Joshua), Er, Elmodam, Cosam, Addi, Melchi, Neri[ah], Shealtiel.
3. Zerubabel (Zorobabel), son of 2, the 'royal Jewish heir', 3rd Exilarch at Babylon, circa 545 BC; 8th Governor of Judea, circa 537/536 BC; 1st Patriarch of Jerusalem and/or 'Prince of Judah', circa 515 BC; recalled and imprisoned 513 BC; executed 510 BC.
4. Meshullam (535), son of 3. His son, Hashubah (Hashabniah), was the father of Hattush 'Nasi', declared 'royal Davidic heir' by Ezra the Scribe, with whom he returned to Jerusalem in a second colony of Jewish Exiles in 458/457 BC, where he established himself in the Palestinian Patriarchate, or Principate, and reigned as 'Prince of Israel' ('Nasi') 455-445 BC. Hattush was the father of Hananiah (Anani), the Palestian Patriarch, that is 'Prince of Israel', 425-405 BC, who is identified with the Palestinian 'Nasi' Anani mentioned in a letter from priests from Elephantine, Egypt, in 407 BC. The twin sons of Hananiah were Tobit and Onaid, co-princes circa 400 BC, founders of the Tobaidite (seems to have failed 4 BC) and Onaidite (seems to have failed 10 BC) lines of Palestinian Princes.
5. Hananiah I, c. 510-490, son of 3
6. Birchiyah, c. 490-485, son of 4
7. Hasadiah, c. 485-480, son of 4
8. Yeshaiah, c. 480-475, son of 5
9. Hezekiah I (475), son of 7
10. Rephaiah, son of 8
11. Obadiah [I], grandson of 10 via Arnan
12. Schania I, son of 11
13. Shemaya I, son of 12
14. Shemida, son of 13
15. Hattush, son of 13
16. Igal, son of 13
17. Baraiah, son of 13
18. Neariah, c. 350-325, son of 13
19. Shaphat (325), son of 13
20. Elioenai, son of 18
21. Hezekiah II, son of 18
22. Nakhum [I], son of 21
23. Ezrikam I, son of 18
24. Hodaviah, son of 20
25. Eliashib, son of 20
26. Pelaiah, son of 20
27. Akkub (200BC), son of 20
28. Yohanna, son of 20
29. Delaiah, son of 20
30. Hananiah II, son of 20
31. name unknown
32. name unknown
33. name unknown
34. name unknown
35. name unknown
36. name unknown, c. 50-25BC
37. Ezrikam II, c. 25-13BC dep, descendant of 24
Interregnum: 13BC-AD31
38. Shemaya II, c. AD30-40, descendant of 26
39. Liunan, usurper c. 40-50
40. Schania II, c. 50-80, son of 38
41. Uvadaya [II], c. 80-90, son of 40
42. Shlomo, c. 90-120, grandson of 40
43. Pinchi, c. 120-130, last exilarch of 1st dynasty, grandson of 40

2nd Dynasty, from c. AD 130 to 642

1. Ahija[h], 130-145, descendant of 27 (1st dynasty). Descent from Akkub is Akkub, David, Shlomo, Shemaya, David, Schania, Hizkiah, Shalom, Nathan 'De-Zuzita', Hunya, Shlomo, Yakov, Ahija[h].
2. Nakhum [II], 145-170, son of 1
3. Johanan [II], 170-175, son of 1
4. Shaphat, 175-195, son of 3
5. Huna I, 195-210, son of 2
6. Yakob I, 210-215, son of 2
7. Mar-Ukba I [Nathan], 215-240, son of 2
8. Huna II, 240-259, son of 7
9. [C]hiyya, 259, son of 4
10. Hanan (Annan; Anani), 260, son of 4
11. Nathan I, 260-270, son of 8
12. Nosson I, 270, son of 8
13. Yakob II, 270, son of 9
14. Nehemiah I, 270-313, son of 11
15. Mar-Ukba II, 313, son of 11
16. Nahman, 313-320, son of 13
17. Mar-Ukba III, 320-337, son of 14
18. Isaac, 337-8, son of 14
19. Huna III [Huna-Mar I], 338-350, son of 14
20. Abba 'Mari', 350-370, son of 17
21. Nathan II, 370-400, son of 20
22. Hachni, 400, son of 20
23. Kahana I, 400-415, son of 20
24. Huna IV, 415-442, grandson of 23 via Nathan
25. Mar-Zutra I, 442-455, grandson of 23 via Nathan
26. Kahana II, 455-465, son of 25
27. Huna V, 465-475, son of 25
28. Nosson II, 475, son of 25
Interregnum: 475-484
29. Huna VI, 484-508, son of 26
Regency, Pachda, 508-512, descendant of 24
30. Mar-Zutra II, 512-520, descendant of 23 via Nathan. Descent goes Kahana, Nathan, Kahana (Khanai), Zutra, Maremar, Haninai, Mar-Zutra II.
interim: 520-550. His son, Sutra (I) (Mar-Zutra) 'Rav', 'Prince of Israel', founded a new dynasty of Palestinian 'Nesi'im', circa AD 550, ending the interim that followed the deposition of Gamaliel VI (House of Hillel 'The Great') in AD 425.* Apparently, Mar-Zutra II inherited the Exilarchate through his mother, Havah, daughter and heiress of 29.
31. Ahunai [Huna-Mar II], 550-560, son of 30
32. Hofnai, 560-581, son of 31
33. Haninai, 581-589, son of 32
34. Mar-Zutra III, 589, descendant of 23 via Nathan. Descent goes Kahana, Nathan, Kahana (Khanai), Zutra, Maremar, Haninai, Hizkiah, David, Mar-Zutra III
interim: 589-614
35. Nehemiah II, 614-640, son of 32
36(A) Abdullah, 640-642 dep, d 660; was opposed for his conversion to Islam; was the 'Arab Sheik' who was deposed in favor of Bostanai, who founded a new dynasty of exilarchs. Grandson of 35 via Shallum.
36(B) Heman [I], 640-642, anti-king, opposed Abdullah. Grandson of 32 via Hanamel.

3rd Dynasty, from Year 642 to 1401

1. Bostonai (Bustanai) (d 665), a Davidic prince of the '2nd' dynasty of exilarchs (above), was appointed by the Arabic Caliph as the new exilarch in 642, which began a new [3rd] dynasty of exilarchs, the Bostonaite Line. Son of 33 (2nd dynasty).
2. Hisdai I, 665-685, son of 1
3. Ishak, 685-700, deposed, d 705, represented previous [2nd] dynasty (above)
4. Hisdai II, 700-730, grandson of 1 via Haninai Baradai
5. Zakkai I, 730-733, son of 4
6. Solomon I, 733-759, son of 4
7. Isaac Iskoi I (760), son of 6
8. Hananiah (762), grandson of 4 via David. Another son of David, Anan, founded the Karaite sect.
9. Zakkai-Yehuda (d 771), great-grandson of 1. Descent goes Bostonai, Shahrijar (Prince of Tabaristan), Yomtov-Ruzbihan (Ahunai), Zakkai-Yehuda.
10. Natronai I 771-3, dep, great-great-grandson of 1. Descent goes Bostonai, Haninai Baradai, Nehemiah, Haninai, Natronai.
11. Makhir, 773 dep, great-great-grandson of 1. Descent goes Bostonai, Haninai Baradai, Nehemiah, Haninai, Makhir.
12. Zakkai II, 773 dep, great-great-grandson of 1. Descent goes Bostonai, Haninai Baradai, Nehemiah, Yitzchak, Zakkai.
13. Babawai-Moses, 773-?, great-grandson of 1. Descent goes Bostonai, Shahrijar (Prince of Tabaristan), Yomtov-Ruzbihan (Ahunai), Babawai-Moses.
14. Hisdai III (803), son of 10
15. Samuel I, 803-816, great-great-gandson of 1. Descent goes Bostonai, Haninai Baradai, Nehemiah, Haninai, Samuel.
16. Isaac Iskoi II (817), son of 13
17. Daniel I, 820, grandson of 7 via Shemaiah
18. David I, 820-840, great-great-great-grandson of 1. Descent goes Bostonai, Haninai Baradai, Nehemiah, Yitzchak, Judah, David.
19. Lucke, 840, son of 18
20. Judah I, 840-857, son of 18
21. Natronai II (857), great-grandson of 8. Descent goes Hananiah, Zakkai, Jedediah, Natronai.
22. Hisdai IV/III (875), son of 21
23. Jehoshaphat, son of 22
24. Hisdai V/IV, son of 18
25. Ukba, deposed twice, 913 & 918, son of 20
26. David II, 1st time, 921-930, grandson of 20 via Zakkai
27. Josiah I, 930-933, dep, grandson of 20 via Zakkai
28. David II, 2nd time, 933-940
29. Judah II, 940-1, son of 26
30. Chizkiya I, 1st time, 940, son of 29
31. Heman [II], 941-951, son of 26
32. Solomon II, 951-953, son of 27
33. Chizkiya I, 2nd time, 953-975
34. Azariah I (975), son of 32
35. Chizkiya I, 3rd time, ?-980
36. David III/I, 980-1001, son of 30
37. Zakkai III, 1001-1021, son of 30
38. Chizkiya II, 1021-40, dep, exec 1058, son of 36
39. David IV, 1st time, 1040, abdicated in favour of 40, son of 38
40. Solomon III 'Rosh', 1040-?, descendant of 4. Descent goes Hisdai, David, Meir, Moshe, Aaron, Meir, Aaron, Avraham, Aaron, Meir, Solomon, Judah, Solomon.
41. Zakkai IV, son of 34
42. Joseph, grandson of 34 via Solomon
43. Jedidah, ?-1081, dep, grandson of 42 via Jesse
44. David IV/II, 2nd time, 1081-1092
45. Chizkiya III, 1st time, 1092-4, son of 39
46. Solomon IV, 1094-6, son of 43
47. Chizkiya III, 2nd time, 1096-9
48. David V/III, 1099-1134, son of 45
49. Nehemiah [III], 1134, son of 48
50. Hisdai IV/V, 1134-5, son of 48
51. Solomon V, 1135-1150, son of 50
52. Daniel II, 1150-1175, son of 50
53. Natronai III, 1175, son of 48
54. Judah III, 1175, son of 53
55. Samuel II/I, usurper,1175, son of 53
56. David IV/V 1175, grandson of 50 via a daughter (name unknown)
57. Samuel II, 1175-95, son of 53
58. David VII/V, 1195-1201, son of 57
59. Azariah II, 1201-1216, son of 58
60. David VIII/VI (1216), son of 54
61. Hasdai V/VI, son of 56
62. Solomon VI, son of 61
63. Hisdai VI/VII, grandson of 54 via Joshua
64. Daniel III, ?-1240, grandson of 54 via Shlomo
65. Samuel IV/III, 1240-1270, son of 59
66. Josiah II, 1270-?, great-grandson of 53. Descent goes Natronai, David, Solomon, Josiah.
67. David IX/VII (1288), son of 63
68. Daniel IV, son of 62
69. Nissim (1295), grandson of 60 via Abraham
70. Judah IV (1300), son of 66
71. Solomon VII, son of 70
72. David X, son of 71
73. Sar-Shalom (1341), grandson of 65 via Phineas
74. Melchi 'Nasi', ?-1365, son of 73
75. Shalom, 1365-1401, son of 74, deposed by Tartar King Tamerlane. However, his descendants continued to be recognized by the Jews of the 'Diaspora' as their kings until their extinction upon the death of Pasha, called 'King of the Jews' by the Baghdad ghetto, in 1825, the last prince of the dynasty's main-line, upon which the title to the throne devolved to another Davidic descent-line.

*The Patriachs

1. Hillel (active 30 BC to 9 AD), a descendant of King David according to the Talmud.
2. Simeon
3. Gamaliel I
4. Simeon II (d 70)
5. Gamaliel II (80-110)
6. Simeon III (c. 135-165)
7. Judah I (165-217)
8. Gamaliel III (217-c. 235)
9. Judah II (c. 235-250)
10. Gamaliel IV (c. 250-265)
11. Judah III (265-330)
12. Hillel II (330-365)
13. Gamaliel V (365-380)
14. Judah IV (380-400)
15. Gamaliel VI (400, suspended 415 by Theodosius II, the Byzantine Emperor, who abolished the Palestinian Patriarchate, d 425)

The office of Palestinian Patriarch/Prince was later revived, for we find another dynasty reigning at Tiberias, c. 550 to c. 890, and a rival dynasty at Jerusalem from 691 to 1099. There was another dynasty reigning in Palestine from 1187 to 1849.

From what I can see, there were two lines of Palestinian 'Nasim' or Princes, the Tobaidite (seems to have failed 4 BC) and Onaidite (seems to have failed 10 BC) lines, which survived until the time of Herod, then there was the line of Hillel as listed above, which lasted until 415, then another line of Princes, founded in about 550 by Sutra, son of Mar-Zutra, 30th Exilarch of the 2nd dynasty, who were apparently ancestors of the Ibn Yahya family. From what I have read, the Exilarchs took precedence over the Palestinian Nasi, though both were descendants of the House of David.

I Chronicles iii 17-24

17 And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son,
18 Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
19 And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:
20 And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five.
21 And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.
22 And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.
23 And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.
24 And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.

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