ATHALIAH

also spelled Athalia, in the Old Testament, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and wife of Jeham, king of Judah. After the death of Ahaziah, her son, Athaliah usurped the throne and reigned for seven years. She massacred all the members of the royal house of Judah (II Kings 11:13), except Joash. A successful revolution was organized in favour of Joash, and she was killed. The story of Athaliah forms the subject of one of Jean Racine's best tragedies, Athalie.