Rehoboam succeeded his father Solomon as king of the united monarchy. He ignored the counsel of the elder advisors and continued the heavy taxation that Solomon had levied to maintain the administrative structure of the united kingdom. The northern kingdom therefore revolted and instituted their own monarchy, crowning Jeroboam I king of the northern tribes, which became known as Israel. Rehoboam continued to reign over the southern kingdom, Judah, for 17 years.