His father Jehoshaphat and grandfather Asa had been devout kings who worshiped Yahweh, the one true God, and "walked in His ways".

[6] A raid by Philistines, Arabs and Ethiopians looted the king's house, and carried off all of his family except for Jehoram and Athalia's youngest son, Ahaziah.

After Jehoram's death, Ahaziah became king of Judah, and Athaliah became gebirah (queen mother).

She rushed to stop the rebellion but, under Jehoiada’s orders, was killed by the captains outside the Temple since her blood “would defile it”.

In 1691, French tragedian Jean Racine wrote a play about this biblical queen, entitled Athalie.

One of the most frequently heard excerpts from the Mendelssohn music is titled "War March of the Priests" ("Kriegsmarsch der Priester").