Molcho, Solomon

Molcho, Solomon
(c. 1500–32)
   Pseudo-messiah. Molcho was born Diogo Pieres in Lisbon, of Marrano parents. It seems that he studied Hebrew, rabbinic literature and maybe the Cabbala as a boy. On the arrival of David REUVENI in Portugal in 1525, Molcho was swept by messianic dreams, circumcized himself and announced himself a Jew, taking the name Molcho from the Hebrew word for king, melech. Fearing the Inquisition, he then left Portugal for Moslem Turkey, and settled in Salonika. Disciples gathered around him and he announced the coming of the Messiah for 1540. He published his messianic sermons in Salonika in 1529.
   Acting out the talmudic legend that the Messiah would be found among the sick and destitute at the gates of Rome, he dressed in rags and lived for thirty days among the beggars gathered on the bridge over the Tiber. Emboldened by a dream he had during this period, he began to preach in public, even gaining the protection of Pope Clement. When his prophecies of floods in Rome and Flanders and an earthquake in Lisbon seemed to be borne out by events in 1530– 1, he was widely regarded as the true messenger of God. Arrested by the Inquisition, Molcho was sentenced to death, but he was saved by the pope and another man was apparently burned in his place. Accompanied by Reuveni, he set off on a visit to Emperor Charles v in Regensburg for some unspecified purpose. The emperor had them clapped in chains and taken to Mantua, where Molcho was condemned to death and burned at the stake. It was widely believed by some Jews for years after that he had escaped death again and would re-emerge later.

Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament. . 2012.

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  • MOLCHO, SOLOMON — (c. 1500–1532), kabbalist and pseudomessiah. Born in Lisbon of Marrano parents, he was originally called Diogo Pires. Though details on his early life are scarce, it is clear that he received a secular education and, at the age of 21, was… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Molcho, Solomon — orig. Diogo Pires born с 1500, Portugal died 1532, Mantua Portuguese Jewish martyr. Born into a Marrano family, he became royal secretary in a Portuguese high court of justice. When an Arabian adventurer, David Reubeni (d. с 1532), arrived in… …   Universalium

  • Molcho, Solomon — (c. 1500 32)    Italian kabbalist and pseudo messiah. He was born in Lisbon of marrano parents, and his given name was Diogo Pires. He became secretary to the King of Portugal s council and recorder at the Court of Appeals. After meeting David… …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Molcho, Solomon — orig. Diogo Pires ( 1500, Portugal–1532, Mantua). Mártir judío portugués. Nació en una familia de origen marrano, se convirtió en secretario real de un tribunal superior de justicia portuguesa. Cuando un aventurero árabe, David Reubeni (m. 1532) …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Solomon Molcho — Stylized signature of Solomon Molcho. Source: Manuscript owned by the Alliance Israélite Universelle Born Diogo Pires 1500 Portugal Died …   Wikipedia

  • Solomon — /sol euh meuhn/, n. 1. fl. 10th century B.C., king of Israel (son of David). 2. an extraordinarily wise man; a sage. 3. a male given name. * * * I flourished 10th century BC Son and successor of David. Nearly all that is known about him comes… …   Universalium

  • Solomon — (as used in expressions) Alkalai, Judah ben Solomon Hai Bandaranaike, S(olomon) W(est) R(idgeway) D(ias) Elijah ben Solomon Guggenheim, Solomon (Robert) Hurok, Sol(omon Isiaevich) Solomon ben Yehuda ibn Gabirol Israeli, Isaac ben Solomon Luria,… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • AMARILLO, ḤAYYIM MOSES BEN SOLOMON — (1695–1748), halakhic authority and preacher; brother of aaron amarillo . Born in Salonika, Ḥayyim Moses studied under his father Solomon, who before his death appointed him his successor as preacher in the Talmud Torah congregation. The… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • DIENNA, AZRIEL BEN SOLOMON — (d. 1536), Italian rabbi and halakhic authority. Dienna, who came from a French family that had settled in Italy, studied under R. Nethanel Trabot. In his youth he was a teacher in Reggio and later moved to Pavia where he remained for 15 years.… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • ḤABIB, MOSES BEN SOLOMON IBN — (c. 1654–1696), Turkish rabbi and author. He was born in salonika , a descendant of , and went to Jerusalem in his youth. He studied in the yeshivah of Jacob Ḥagiz and from c. 1677 to 1679 he traveled as an emissary of Jerusalem, reaching as far… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

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