Diary of a Black Jewish Messiah: The Sixteenth-Century Journey of David Reubeni through Africa, the Middle East, and Europe
By Alan Verskin
Stanford University Press
ISBN: 9781503634428
This book presents a translation of a fascinating and highly unusual 16th-century text: the diary of a self-proclaimed Jewish leader—though he was likely a con artist—who traveled across Europe meeting with rulers as part of a scheme to wage war against the Ottoman Empire. Even after reading this diary, you may still find yourself questioning who this enigmatic figure truly was and what his ultimate goals might have been.
Excerpt:
“I am not the Messiah,” said David Reubeni, “I am a greater sinner before God than any one of you. I have killed many people. In a single day, I once killed forty enemies. I am not a sage or a kabbalist, neither am I a prophet nor the son of a prophet. I am merely an army commander.” Short and thin, with skin “as black as a Nubian” and a body covered in scars, Reubeni claimed to be the commander of a powerful Jewish army and the brother of a Jewish king who ruled over three hundred thousand Jews in the Arabian desert of Habor, all descendants of the lost Israelite tribes of Gad, Manasseh, and Reuben (hence his name). Despite speaking only Hebrew and Arabic, he successfully forged relationships with Christian rulers, including the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, the King of Portugal, João III, and Pope Clement VII, by dangling the possibility of an alliance against the Ottomans in exchange for weapons and experts in their manufacture.
Who is this book for?
This is undeniably an unusual text—one that leaves you questioning what exactly you’re reading. Was David Reubeni a charlatan, a delusional dreamer, or a man with a secretive master plan? His diary tells a compelling story that will captivate readers intrigued by late medieval Europe. Scholars of Jewish history or 16th-century politics, in particular, will find this text an essential addition to their collection.
“This small, elegant volume, which features Verskin’s rich thirty-page introduction and deft, helpful endnotes, seems just right.” ~ review by Matt Goldish in Jewish Review of Books
The translator
Alan Verskin is a Professor of Jewish History at the University of Toronto, where his research stretches from the Middle Ages through to the 19th century. You can follow him on Academia.edu.
Diary of a Black Jewish Messiah: The Sixteenth-Century Journey of David Reubeni through Africa, the Middle East, and Europe
By Alan Verskin
Stanford University Press
ISBN: 9781503634428
This book presents a translation of a fascinating and highly unusual 16th-century text: the diary of a self-proclaimed Jewish leader—though he was likely a con artist—who traveled across Europe meeting with rulers as part of a scheme to wage war against the Ottoman Empire. Even after reading this diary, you may still find yourself questioning who this enigmatic figure truly was and what his ultimate goals might have been.
Excerpt:
“I am not the Messiah,” said David Reubeni, “I am a greater sinner before God than any one of you. I have killed many people. In a single day, I once killed forty enemies. I am not a sage or a kabbalist, neither am I a prophet nor the son of a prophet. I am merely an army commander.” Short and thin, with skin “as black as a Nubian” and a body covered in scars, Reubeni claimed to be the commander of a powerful Jewish army and the brother of a Jewish king who ruled over three hundred thousand Jews in the Arabian desert of Habor, all descendants of the lost Israelite tribes of Gad, Manasseh, and Reuben (hence his name). Despite speaking only Hebrew and Arabic, he successfully forged relationships with Christian rulers, including the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, the King of Portugal, João III, and Pope Clement VII, by dangling the possibility of an alliance against the Ottomans in exchange for weapons and experts in their manufacture.
Who is this book for?
This is undeniably an unusual text—one that leaves you questioning what exactly you’re reading. Was David Reubeni a charlatan, a delusional dreamer, or a man with a secretive master plan? His diary tells a compelling story that will captivate readers intrigued by late medieval Europe. Scholars of Jewish history or 16th-century politics, in particular, will find this text an essential addition to their collection.
“This small, elegant volume, which features Verskin’s rich thirty-page introduction and deft, helpful endnotes, seems just right.” ~ review by Matt Goldish in Jewish Review of Books
The translator
Alan Verskin is a Professor of Jewish History at the University of Toronto, where his research stretches from the Middle Ages through to the 19th century. You can follow him on Academia.edu.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website
You can also buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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