Joseph ibn Yaḥya ben David (1425–1498)
Joseph ibn Yaḥya ben David (* 1425 ; † 1498 ) was a Jewish scholar from Portugal .
Life
Joseph ibn Yaḥya ben David was valued as a sage by Alfonso V and was supposed to mediate in conflicts between established Portuguese and exiled Spanish Jews. But when Alfonso's successor, King João , decided to christianize the Jews and Joseph ibn Yaḥya ben David was to be the first to be baptized in 1495, he and his sons David Meïr and Solomon fled. When he landed in Castile , he was threatened with death at the stake, but the intervention of Prince Alvarez de Bragança saved him. He continued his escape and came to Pisa after a five-month journey . There he and his family were taken prisoner by the troops of Charles VIII . He managed to buy himself out and put himself under the protection of the Duke of Ferrara . After a while he was accused of inciting people to return to Judaism. Although he was finally able to evade the torture to which he was subjected by paying 7,000 gold pieces, he died of the consequences in 1498.
According to legend, his tomb was near the tomb of the prophet Hosea .
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Joseph ibn Yaḥya ben David |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | ibn Jachja, Joseph ben David; ibn Yahya, Joseph ben David |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Jewish scholar |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1425 |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1498 |