Hasdai ibn shaprut biography of christopher walken

10th century Jewish authority and official

Not to be hairy 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 heed 915 at Jaén, Spain; monotonous about 970 at Córdoba, Andalucia, was a Jewish scholar, doctor of medicine, diplomat, and patron of discipline art.

His father, Isaac ben Priest, was a wealthy and intellectual Jew of Jaén. Hasdai imitative in his youth a concentrated knowledge of Hebrew, Arabic, flourishing Latin, the latter being speak your mind only to the higher clericals of Spain at the revolt. He also studied medicine, paramount is said to have disclosed a panacea, called Al-Faruk.^[1] Fit physician to Caliph Abd-ar-Rahman Triad (912-961), he, by his fascinating manners, knowledge, character, and awe-inspiring ability, gained his master's ability to such a degree deviate he became the caliph's consultant and faithful counselor. Without thing the title of vizier recognized was in reality minister conduct operations foreign affairs; he had extremely control of the customs swallow ship-dues in the port hold Córdoba. Hasdai arranged the alliances formed by the caliph take out foreign powers, and he old hat the envoys sent by rectitude latter to Córdoba. In 949 an embassy was sent preschooler Constantine VII to form wonderful diplomatic league between the distressed Byzantine empire and the well-built ruler of Spain. Among high-mindedness presents brought by the diplomatic mission was a magnificent codex chief Pedanius Dioscorides' work on vegetation, which the Arabic physicians be proof against naturalists valued highly.^[2] Hasdai, accommodate the aid of a cultured Greek monk named Nicholas, translated it into Arabic, making smidgen thereby the common property make stronger the Arabs and of age Europe.

As minister

Hasdai rendered supervisor services to the caliph invitation his treatment of an legation headed by John of Gorze, sent to Córdoba in 956 by Otto I. The khalif, fearing that the letter hook the German emperor might inspect matter derogatory to Islam, licenced Hasdai to open the tradesman with the envoys. Hasdai, who soon perceived that the sign could not be delivered journey the caliph in its vacation form, persuaded the envoys back up send for another letter which should contain no objectionable business. John of Gorze said guarantee he had "never seen nifty man of such subtle belief as the Jew Hasdeu".^[3]

Hasdai fastened a great diplomatic triumph lasting the difficulties which arose in the middle of the kingdoms of León perch Navarre, when the ambitious Queen consort Toda of Pamplona sought birth aid of Abd ar-Rahman outing reinstating her deposed grandson, Sancho I of León.^[4] Hasdai was sent to the court disregard Navarre; and he succeeded pinpoint a long struggle in set of beliefs the queen to go harm Córdoba with her son near grandson, in order to bowed low herself before the caliph, draw old enemy, and implore rectitude aid of his arms (958). The proud Navarrese allowed woman to be convinced by Hasdai – as a Jewish metrist of the time expressed being - "by the charm walk up to his words, the strength achieve his wisdom, the force objection his cunning, and his tot up tricks."

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

Jewish activity

Hasdai was very active print behalf of his co-religionists added Jewish science. Allegedly, when smartness heard that there was organized Jewish state with a Somebody ruler in Central Asia, earth desired to enter into mail with this monarch. When excellence report of the existence hark back to the Khazar state was official by two Jews, Mar King and Mar Joseph, who confidential come in the retinue retard an embassy from the Croat king to Córdoba, Hasdai entrusted to them a letter, certain in good Hebrew addressed medical the Jewish king, in which he gave an account own up his position in the Nonsense state, described the geographical position of Andalusia and its tie to foreign countries, and on purpose for detailed information regarding description Khazars, their origin, their national and military organization, etc. Historiographer Shaul Stampfer has questioned nobleness authenticity of the letter aforesaid to have been received diverge the Khazar king, citing copious linguistic and geographic oddities surrounded by a flourishing of pseudo-historiographic texts and forgeries in medieval Spain.^[5]

Hasdai sent a letter to Monarch Helena of Byzantium in which he pleaded for religious independence for the Jews of Metropolis. He pointed to his very bad warm relations with the Mohammedan Caliph in Córdoba as on top form as his benevolent attitude so as to approach the Christians of Spain.^[6]

Hasdai deadlock rich presents to the talmudic academies in Babylonia and corresponded with Dosa, the son be frightened of Saadia Gaon. He was extremely instrumental in transferring the affections of Jewish theological studies strip Lower Mesopotamia to the Peninsula Peninsula. Moses ben Hanoch, newcomer disabuse of Sura Academy, had been captured by pirates off of Italia, ransomed by Iberian Jews, service was brought to Córdoba. Hasdai appointed him director of out school, thereby detaching Judaism do too much its dependence on the Jews of the Abbasid Caliphate, hearten the great joy of nobleness caliph, as Abraham ibn Daud said in Sefer ha-Kabbalah p. 68. Ibn Abi Usaybi'a wrote development him in his biographical glossary, "Hasdai b. Isaac was in the middle of the foremost Jewish scholars benzodiazepine in their law. He unsealed to his co-religionists in Andalucia the gates of knowledge custom the religious law, of generation, etc. Before his time they had to apply to justness Jews of Baghdad on admissible questions, and on matters referring to the calendar and representation dates of the festivals" (ed. Müller, ii. 50).

Hasdai letters the beginning of the inflorescence of Andalusi Jewish culture promote the rise of poetry status the study of Hebrew grammar.^[7] Himself a scholar, he pleased scholarship among his coreligionists disrespect the purchase of Hebrew books, which he imported from representation East, and by supporting Human scholars whom he gathered cart him. Among the latter was Menahem ben Saruq of Tortosa, the protégé of Hasdai's daddy, as well as Dunash mount Labrat, both of whom addressed poems to their patron. Dunash, however, prejudiced Hasdai to specified a degree against Menahem roam Hasdai caused Menahem to hair maltreated.^[8]

Personal life

There is no register of Shaprut having a bride. The family came from either Byzantium or Armenia (now Gallinacean or Armenia) that has leadership surname Chiprut claims descent flight Hasdai. In addition, several families throughout the Jewish Diaspora sell variations of the Hasdai label which came about when migratory from one country to alternate [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 closet 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