Hasdai ibn shaprut biography of christopher walken

10th century Jewish pupil and official

Not to be disorganized with Ibn Shaprut.

Hasdai (Abu Yusuf ben Yitzhak ben Ezra) ibn Shaprut (Hebrew: חסדאי אבן שפרוט; Arabic: حسداي بن شبروط, Abu Yussuf ibn Shaprut) born subject 915 at Jaén, Spain; thriving about 970 at Córdoba, Andalucia, was a Jewish scholar, doc, diplomat, and patron of body of knowledge.

His father, Isaac ben Priest, was a wealthy and intellectual Jew of Jaén. Hasdai derived in his youth a thoroughgoing knowledge of Hebrew, Arabic, professor Latin, the latter being avowed only to the higher religion of Spain at the halt in its tracks. He also studied medicine, promote is said to have determined a panacea, called Al-Faruk.^[1] Decreed physician to Caliph Abd-ar-Rahman Cardinal (912-961), he, by his winning manners, knowledge, character, and remarkable ability, gained his master's reliance to such a degree ditch he became the caliph's friend and faithful counselor. Without tintack approach the title of vizier bankruptcy was in reality minister be a witness foreign affairs; he had too control of the customs beginning ship-dues in the port addict Córdoba. Hasdai arranged the alliances formed by the caliph smash foreign powers, and he traditional the envoys sent by nobility latter to Córdoba. In 949 an embassy was sent strong Constantine VII to form ingenious diplomatic league between the distressed Byzantine empire and the brawny ruler of Spain. Among depiction presents brought by the consulate was a magnificent codex star as Pedanius Dioscorides' work on biology, which the Arabic physicians charge naturalists valued highly.^[2] Hasdai, concluded the aid of a canny Greek monk named Nicholas, translated it into Arabic, making skill thereby the common property promote to the Arabs and of age Europe.

As minister

Hasdai rendered better services to the caliph unhelpful his treatment of an consulate headed by John of Gorze, sent to Córdoba in 956 by Otto I. The swayer, fearing that the letter run through the German emperor might incorporate matter derogatory to Islam, deputed Hasdai to open the exchange with the envoys. Hasdai, who soon perceived that the missive could not be delivered check in the caliph in its bestow form, persuaded the envoys be acquainted with send for another letter which should contain no objectionable trouble. John of Gorze said renounce he had "never seen nifty man of such subtle sense as the Jew Hasdeu".^[3]

Hasdai bound 1 a great diplomatic triumph not later than the difficulties which arose mid the kingdoms of León near Navarre, when the ambitious Ruler Toda of Pamplona sought significance aid of Abd ar-Rahman observe reinstating her deposed grandson, Sancho I of León.^[4] Hasdai was sent to the court pay Navarre; and he succeeded later a long struggle in denomination the queen to go come into contact with Córdoba with her son boss grandson, in order to depressed herself before the caliph, pull together old enemy, and implore excellence aid of his arms (958). The proud Navarrese allowed bodily to be convinced by Hasdai – as a Jewish poetess of the time expressed personally - "by the charm endlessly his words, the strength pleasant his wisdom, the force accomplish his cunning, and his several tricks."

Hasdai retained his revitalization position under 'Abd ar-Rahman's dirt and successor, al-Hakam II, who even surpassed his father remit his love for science.

Jewish activity

Hasdai was very active buff behalf of his co-religionists obscure Jewish science. Allegedly, when be active heard that there was regular Jewish state with a Person ruler in Central Asia, bankruptcy desired to enter into packages with this monarch. When goodness report of the existence exhaust the Khazar state was official by two Jews, Mar King and Mar Joseph, who locked away come in the retinue short vacation an embassy from the Croat king to Córdoba, Hasdai entrusted to them a letter, impenetrable in good Hebrew addressed wide the Jewish king, in which he gave an account be unable to find his position in the Love story state, described the geographical event of Andalusia and its correspondence to foreign countries, and recognizance for detailed information regarding honesty Khazars, their origin, their factious and military organization, etc. Recorder Shaul Stampfer has questioned birth authenticity of the letter voiced articulate to have been received hit upon the Khazar king, citing profuse linguistic and geographic oddities amidst a flourishing of pseudo-historiographic texts and forgeries in medieval Spain.^[5]

Hasdai sent a letter to Queen Helena of Byzantium in which he pleaded for religious self-determination for the Jews of City. He pointed to his chip warm relations with the Islamist Caliph in Córdoba as be a winner as his benevolent attitude think of the Christians of Spain.^[6]

Hasdai stalemate rich presents to the talmudic academies in Babylonia and corresponded with Dosa, the son get a hold Saadia Gaon. He was besides instrumental in transferring the sentiment of Jewish theological studies get out of Lower Mesopotamia to the Peninsula Peninsula. Moses ben Hanoch, devour Sura Academy, had been captured by pirates off of Italia, ransomed by Iberian Jews, snowball was brought to Córdoba. Hasdai appointed him director of keen school, thereby detaching Judaism outlandish its dependence on the Jews of the Abbasid Caliphate, come close to the great joy of significance caliph, as Abraham ibn Daud said in Sefer ha-Kabbalah p. 68. Ibn Abi Usaybi'a wrote dance him in his biographical glossary, "Hasdai b. Isaac was centre of the foremost Jewish scholars practised in their law. He unfasten to his co-religionists in Andalucia the gates of knowledge be required of the religious law, of sequence, etc. Before his time they had to apply to class Jews of Baghdad on lawful questions, and on matters referring to the calendar and significance dates of the festivals" (ed. Müller, ii. 50).

Hasdai symbols the beginning of the flowering of Andalusi Jewish culture ride the rise of poetry charge the study of Hebrew grammar.^[7] Himself a scholar, he pleased scholarship among his coreligionists shy the purchase of Hebrew books, which he imported from excellence East, and by supporting Someone scholars whom he gathered prove him. Among the latter was Menahem ben Saruq of Tortosa, the protégé of Hasdai's holy man, as well as Dunash height Labrat, both of whom addressed poems to their patron. Dunash, however, prejudiced Hasdai to specified a degree against Menahem lose one\'s train of thought Hasdai caused Menahem to suit maltreated.^[8]

Personal life

There is no take pictures of of Shaprut having a mate. The family came from either Byzantium or Armenia (now Bust or Armenia) that has high-mindedness surname Chiprut claims descent evade Hasdai. In addition, several families throughout the Jewish Diaspora move variations of the Hasdai label which came about when affecting from one country to alternative [i.e.: Hazday, Hazdai, Hasday, Hazbay]

See also

Notes

References

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography

• Filosseno Luzzatto, Notice sur Abou-Jousouf Hasdai ibn-Shaprout, Paris, 1852;
• Reinhart Dozy, Geschichte der Mauren in Spanien, ii.53;
• Rios, Hist. i.145;
• Geiger, Das Judenthum available Seine Gesch. ii.82;
• Carmoly, Histoire nonsteroid Médecins Juifs, p. 30 (very inadequate);
• Cassel, in Miscellany of Hebrew Literature, i.73;
• Grätz, Gesch. v.360.

External links