The Maccabees were a group of Jewish rebel warriors who led a successful revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Their struggle began when the Seleucid king, Antiochus IV, imposed restrictions on Jewish religious practices. The Maccabees, led by Judah Maccabee and his brothers, fought to reclaim their freedom and restore the Temple in Jerusalem. The revolt culminated in the rededication of the Temple, an event celebrated during the festival of Hanukkah. The Maccabees established the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled Judea for several decades, marking a significant period of Jewish independence in history.