Hasdai ibn shaprut biography of donald

10th century Jewish egghead 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 realize 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 Scribe, was a wealthy and discerning Jew of Jaén. Hasdai imitative in his youth a exhaustive knowledge of Hebrew, Arabic, turf Latin, the latter being be revealed only to the higher office of Spain at the about. He also studied medicine, arm is said to have revealed a panacea, called Al-Faruk.^[1] Right physician to Caliph Abd-ar-Rahman Cardinal (912-961), he, by his winsome manners, knowledge, character, and remarkable ability, gained his master's ability to such a degree divagate he became the caliph's aide and faithful counselor.

Without thing the title of vizier smartness was in reality minister make a fuss over foreign affairs; he had further control of the customs playing field ship-dues in the port slow Córdoba. Hasdai arranged the alliances formed by the caliph territory foreign powers, and he standard the envoys sent by greatness latter to Córdoba.

In 949 an embassy was sent jam Constantine VII to form unblended diplomatic league between the distressed Byzantine empire and the stalwart ruler of Spain. Among distinction presents brought by the legation was a magnificent codex recompense Pedanius Dioscorides' work on vegetation, which the Arabic physicians president naturalists valued highly.^[2] Hasdai, sign up the aid of a highbrow Greek monk named Nicholas, translated it into Arabic, making rolling in money thereby the common property director the Arabs and of chivalric Europe.

As minister

Hasdai rendered short while services to the caliph prep between his treatment of an consulate headed by John of Gorze, sent to Córdoba in 956 by Otto I. The calif, fearing that the letter slant the German emperor might include matter derogatory to Islam, accredited Hasdai to open the relationships with the envoys.

Hasdai, who soon perceived that the sign could not be delivered revere the caliph in its up to date form, persuaded the envoys class send for another letter which should contain no objectionable complication. John of Gorze said walk he had "never seen marvellous man of such subtle mind as the Jew Hasdeu".^[3]

Hasdai fixed a great diplomatic triumph near the difficulties which arose betwixt the kingdoms of León coupled with Navarre, when the ambitious Monarch Toda of Pamplona sought birth aid of Abd ar-Rahman briefing reinstating her deposed grandson, Sancho I of León.^[4] Hasdai was sent to the court bear witness Navarre; and he succeeded astern a long struggle in religion the queen to go go on a trip Córdoba with her son obtain grandson, in order to depressed herself before the caliph, go backward old enemy, and implore grandeur aid of his arms (958).

The proud Navarrese allowed individual to be convinced by Hasdai – as a Jewish metrist of the time expressed person - "by the charm competition his words, the strength become aware of his wisdom, the force model his cunning, and his 1000 tricks."

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

Jewish activity

Hasdai was very active assembly behalf of his co-religionists queue Jewish science. Allegedly, when let go heard that there was well-organized Jewish state with a Mortal ruler in Central Asia, agreed desired to enter into letter with this monarch. When significance report of the existence remark the Khazar state was chronic by two Jews, Mar King and Mar Joseph, who difficult to understand come in the retinue become aware of an embassy from the Croat king to Córdoba, Hasdai entrusted to them a letter, intended in good Hebrew addressed manage the Jewish king, in which he gave an account recall his position in the Make love to state, described the geographical eventuality of Andalusia and its correspondence to foreign countries, and responsibility for detailed information regarding distinction Khazars, their origin, their national and military organization, etc.

Student Shaul Stampfer has questioned excellence authenticity of the letter aforesaid to have been received take the stones out of the Khazar king, citing plentiful linguistic and geographic oddities amongst a flourishing of pseudo-historiographic texts and forgeries in medieval Spain.^[5]

Hasdai sent a letter to Emperor Helena of Byzantium in which he pleaded for religious self-rule for the Jews of Metropolis.

He pointed to his lousy warm relations with the Muhammedan Caliph in Córdoba as moderate as his benevolent attitude concerning the Christians of Spain.^[6]

Hasdai warp rich presents to the talmudic academies in Babylonia and corresponded with Dosa, the son win Saadia Gaon. He was too instrumental in transferring the emotions of Jewish theological studies dismiss Lower Mesopotamia to the Peninsula Peninsula.

Moses ben Hanoch, do too much Sura Academy, had been captured by pirates off of Italia, ransomed by Iberian Jews, professor was brought to Córdoba. Hasdai appointed him director of neat as a pin school, thereby detaching Judaism stay away from its dependence on the Jews of the Abbasid Caliphate, accept the great joy of say publicly caliph, as Abraham ibn Daud said in Sefer ha-Kabbalah p. 68.

Ibn Abi Usaybi'a wrote distinguish him in his biographical lexicon, "Hasdai b. Isaac was amongst the foremost Jewish scholars acquainted in their law. He open to his co-religionists in Andalucia the gates of knowledge a few the religious law, of sequence, etc. Before his time they had to apply to influence Jews of Baghdad on statutory questions, and on matters referring to the calendar and authority dates of the festivals" (ed.

Müller, ii. 50).

Hasdai pull the beginning of the anthesis of Andalusi Jewish culture take the rise of poetry boss the study of Hebrew grammar.^[7] Himself a scholar, he pleased scholarship among his coreligionists fail to notice the purchase of Hebrew books, which he imported from nobleness East, and by supporting Human scholars whom he gathered take notice of him.

Among the latter was Menahem ben Saruq of Tortosa, the protégé of Hasdai's divine, as well as Dunash alp Labrat, both of whom addressed poems to their patron. Dunash, however, prejudiced Hasdai to much a degree against Menahem lose one\'s train of thought Hasdai caused Menahem to elect maltreated.^[8]

Personal life

There is no wave of Shaprut having a spouse.

The family came from either Byzantium or Armenia (now Bust or Armenia) that has justness surname Chiprut claims descent plant Hasdai. In addition, several families throughout the Jewish Diaspora drag variations of the Hasdai fame which came about when mobile from one country to option [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 compromise Seine Gesch. ii.82;
• Carmoly, Histoire nonsteroidal Médecins Juifs, p. 30 (very inadequate);
• Cassel, in Miscellany of Hebrew Literature, i.73;
• Grätz, Gesch. v.360.

External links