Diary of a Black Jewish Messiah: The Sixteenth-Century Journey of David Reubeni through Africa, the Middle East, and Europe

David Reubeni, an alleged Jewish ambassador from an Arabian kingdom, arrived in Venice in 1524. He promised to deliver Jews to the Holy Land with an army of desert warriors but was believed to favor the Ottomans. His diary, written in Hebrew, reveals the desperation of Renaissance Jewish communities and his struggles as a diplomat and dreamer.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2023
Publisher: Stanford University Press

In 1524, a man named David Reubeni emerged in Venice, presenting himself as the ambassador of a mighty Jewish kingdom nestled within the heart of Arabia. This era, characterized by fierce rivalries among great powers, remarkable voyages of discovery, and ruthless conquests of new lands, instilled a sense of impending apocalypse among people throughout the Mediterranean. They envisioned a future war, which would ultimately result in a decisive victory for either Christianity or Islam. Reubeni, with his army of resilient desert warriors hailing from lost Israelite tribes, pledged to forcibly deliver the Jews to the Holy Land and restore their pride and autonomy. He embarked on a decade-long journey, shuttling between European rulers in Italy, Portugal, Spain, and France, seeking weaponry in exchange for the support of his hitherto unknown but formidable Jewish kingdom. However, many believed that Reubeni held a preference for the relatively tolerant Ottomans over the oppressive Christian regimes. Despite this, Reubeni was revered as a messiah by many wealthy Jews and the oppressed conversos of Iberia. His grand ambitions, however, came to a halt in Regensburg when the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, handed him over to the Inquisition, and it is believed that he was likely burned at the stake in 1538.

Diary of a Black Jewish Messiah is the first English translation of Reubeni's Hebrew-language diary, offering a firsthand account of his travels and personal struggles. Written in a Hebrew influenced by everyday speech, distinct from other literary works of the period, Reubeni's diary unveils the dramatic desperation of Renaissance Jewish communities and the challenges faced by the diplomat, trickster, and dreamer who yearned to save them.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503634435