Absalom

In the Old Testament, the third and favourite son of King David. When defeated in a revolt against his father he fled on a mule, but caught his hair in a tree branch and was killed by Joab, one of David's officers.

Able, ambitious, and handsome, he prepared the way for revolt by cunningly cultivating the goodwill of the people. After four years he raised his standard at Hebron, and had such success that David fled to Mahanaim beyond Jordan. Absalom was aided by Ahithophel, but Hushai, David's friend, joined Absalom to defeat the plan of Ahithophel who, seeing his counsel ignored, hanged himself. Absalom was routed in the Forest of Ephraim and was slain, in spite of the king's order to ‘deal gently’ with him.