A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Berenice
BERENICE,
Daughter of Herod Agrippa the First, King of Judea, grandson of Herod the Great, was the sister of Herod Agrippa the Second, before whom Paul preached, and married her uncle, Herod, king of Chalcis, at whose death she signified her willingness to become the wife of Polemon, King of Cilicia, if he would embrace Judaism. Polemon, induced by her wealth, consented; but Berenice soon deserted him, and he returned to his former faith.
Scrupulous in all religious observances, she made a journey to Jerusalem, where she spent thirty days in fasting and prayer. While thus engaged, she suffered a thousand indignities from, the Roman soldiers. She also went barefoot to the Roman governor to intercede for her people, but he treated her with open neglect. Berenice then resolved to apply to Vespasian, emperor of Rome, or his son Titus, to avoid being involved in the ruin of her nation. She accordingly went, with her brother, to Rome, and soon gained Vespasian by her liberality, and Titus by her beauty. Titus wished to marry her; but the murmurs of the Roman people prevented him; he was even obliged to banish her, with a promise of a recall when the tumult should be appeased. Some historians assert that Berenice returned and was again banished.
She is mentioned in the 26th. chapter of the Acts of the Apostles as coming with her brother Agrippa to Cesarea, to salute Festus.