Bobzammel

Like Jesus, this has been in dispute.


We know that around 900 B.C or so there was a "House of David" in Israel. Likewise, we also know that this family line was important to Jewish politics and religion, as written by the prophets and what-not. Judah's kings all came from the "Branch" of David, and this line continued even after the exile with Zerubabbel, governor of Jerusalem(Who Zechiriah states is the "Branch" prophecised in Isiah). The line however dropped out of Jewish history until NT times, where it was stated Jesus was heir to David's throne(At this time, the concept of messiah, originally stated to the present king, came to develop into a future cosmic saviour--this is linked mainly to the mix of Zoroastarian and Greek religion).
So we can assume that perhaps a founder David. What his precise role was remains in dispute, although it is probably more based on legend.
Then we have David's son Solomon. According to the bible, Solomon was an uber-king with hundreds of wives and was extremely wealthy powerful until his later days. Solomon is also credited with many of the Bible's wisdom literature(Some of which contradicts Christian doctrine). However, apart from the bible, archaeology and textual accounts of Solomon's reign are pretty non-existent.
Perhaps David existed in some form, and perhaps his descendants were on the throne, but Solomon still remains a mystery. Perhaps Solomon was a legend, an example/parable of how and how not to be an Israelite king?

lpetrich

I would not be surprised if there had been both a historical King David and a historical King Solomon; however, as you say, they apparently did not have a very big empire.

Badfish

How big is big?

lpetrich

As big as was described in the Bible.