Which Hasmonean ruler was the last surviving son of Mattathias?

Simon Thassi was the last surviving son of Mattathias. He was one of the five sons who led the Hasmonean revolt against the Seleucid Empire, alongside Judas Maccabeus and Jonathan Apphus.

Simon became the movement’s leader after Jonathan was captured and killed. He consolidated Judean independence, removed the Seleucid garrison from Jerusalem’s Acra fortress, and was recognized as high priest, military commander, and ruler. His leadership established the Hasmonean dynasty as an effectively independent Jewish government.

Simon was assassinated in 134 BCE at Dok near Jericho by his son-in-law Ptolemy ben Abubus, who also killed two of Simon’s sons. Simon’s surviving son, John Hyrcanus, escaped and succeeded him. The tempting alternatives are later Hasmonean rulers: Alexander Jannaeus and Aristobulus I belonged to subsequent generations, while John Hyrcanus was Simon’s son, not Mattathias’s.