Isaac the Jew
Isaac the Jew (Arabic: إسحاق اليهودي, Yitzhak al-Yahudi) (Hebrew: יצחק בן נחמיה השני, Isaac ben Nechemiah II) also known by his Latin name "Isaac Judaeus" was a 8th century Frankish Jew who was a favoured diplomat of Carolingian emperor Charlemagne. Isaac also served as an important community leader for the Frankish Jewish community,[1] and is a notable member of the House of Exilarchs through his paternal great grandmother, Salome bat' Hisdai Shahrijar, the daughter of the 35rd Exilarch, Hisdai I ben Bostanai, and the wife of Natronai ben Nehemiah. [2]
Early life
Isaac was born in Narbonne, (modern day France) to Natronai II Ibn Habibai, who was the Exilarch of Pumbeditha & Almeria, his mother was the daughter of Eleazar ben Kalir. Isaac's brother, Makhir of Narbonne would go on to lead the Jewish community of Narbonne. In his adult years, Isaac became a prominent merchant in the Frankish lands, eventually gaining the attention of Charlemagne who took a liking to the young Jew. Isaac was first employed by Charlemagne to go to the holy land and bring back precious merchandise, this was greatly successful and strengthened relations between the two men.[3]
Embassy to the Abbasid Caliphate
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in 797 Isaac, alongside two other diplomats (Lantfroi and Sigismond) were sent to Harun al-Rashid, the fifth Abbasid Caliph. The diplomatic mission was highly rewarding and was important in fortifying Abbasid–Carolingian relations. The Caliph gifted an Asian elephant named Abul- Abbas to Charlemagne. Being the only surviving member of the group, Isaac was sent back with the elephant. The two began the trek back by following the Egyptian coast into Ifriqiya (modern Algeria and Tunisia). Possibly with the help of Ibrahim ibn al-Aghlab, Isaac set sail with Abul-Abbas from the city of Kairouan and traveled the remaining miles to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. They landed in Genoa in October 801. The two spent the winter in Vercelli, and in the spring they started the march over the Alps to the Emperor's residence in Aachen, arriving on 1 July, 802. Abul-Abbas was exhibited on various occasions when the court was assembled, and was eventually housed in Augsburg in what is now southern Bavaria.
Legacy
Isaac died c. 836 in Nantes, and was remembered warmly by the Frankish Jews. He had one son Yehudah Zakkai ben Yitzhak and his descendants would become prominent members thorough out Francia.[1][4] Most Rabbinic dynasty's can count Issac as one of their ancestors, and many more use their descent from him to prove a connection to the Davidic line.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Dressen, Wolfgang; Oellers, Adam C.; Minkenberg, Georg (2003). Ex Oriente : Isaac and the white elephant: Baghdad-Jerusalem-Aachen: a journey through three cultures around 800 and today: Catalog book in three volumes for the exhibition in the town hall, cathedral and cathedral treasury Aachen, from June 30 to September 28, 2003 (in German). Von Zabern. ISBN 978-3-8053-3005-3.
- ^ "The Exilarchs". www.peerage.org. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ GRABOÏS, Aryeh (2000-01-01). "La chronographie hébraïque des croisades. Mémoire et rédaction des témoignages". Revue des Études Juives. 159 (1): 79–98. doi:10.2143/rej.159.1.151. ISSN 0484-8616.
- ^ McKitterick, Rosamond (1997). "Constructing the Past in the Early Middle Ages: The Case of the Royal Frankish Annals". Transactions of the Royal Historical Society. 7: 101–129. doi:10.2307/3679272. ISSN 0080-4401. JSTOR 3679272.