How did King Herod know about Jesus?

In the second chapter of Matthew (The Gospel of), it is explained the King Herod (who was appointed by Rome, and was not a King of authentic Israeli heritage) called for "the wise men" who had come to follow up on a prophecy (actually several, concerning the birth of the Messiah, who was later known to be Jesus). The wise men (or some representatives) discussed the prophecies in some unknown limited scope. Herod may have followed up with others concerning the details of these prophecies. The orders to kill the infants were apparently contrived to assure the death of the Messiah, which of course we know simply failed. Obviously Herod believed in prophecy only as much as many modern skeptics, thinking he could bend their final outcome. Herod is mentioned in the other of the 3 synoptics (3 of the 4 Gospel accounts are called this due to much overlapping information, or perhaps more because the fourth Gospel is so distinct in its style). Herod's name does not appear in the Gospel of John.