Solomon Molcho
| Solomon Molcho | |
|---|---|
Stylized signature of Solomon Molcho.
Source: Manuscript owned by the Alliance Israélite Universelle |
|
| Born |
Diogo Pires 1500 Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died | 13 December 1532 (aged 32) Mantua, Duchy of Mantua |
| Cause of death | Executed (burning at stake) |
Solomon Molcho (Hebrew: שלמה מולכו Shelomo Molkho), or Molko, originally Diogo Pires, (1500 – 13 December 1532) was a Portuguese mystic and pseudomessiah. A "New Christian" who converted to Judaism, Molcho declared himself the Messiah, was convicted of apostasy by the Inquisition and was ordered burned at the stake.
Molcho was born a Christian to Marrano parents in Portugal about 1500. His baptismal name probably was Diogo Pires. He held the post of secretary in one of the higher courts of his native country. When the Jewish adventurer David Reubeni came ostensibly on a political mission from Khaibar (Peshawar) to Portugal, Molcho wished to join him, but was rejected. He then circumcised himself, though without thereby gaining Reubeni's favor, and emigrated to Turkey.
Molcho was a believer in dream interpretation who studied the Kabbalah with Joseph Taitazak and became acquainted with Joseph Caro. He then wandered as a preacher through Italy, Turkey and Ottoman Syria, where he achieved a great reputation and announced that the Messianic kingdom would come in 1540. In 1529 Molcho published a portion of his sermons under the title Derashot, or Sefer ha-Mefo'ar. Going to Italy, he was opposed by prominent Jews including Jacob Mantino ben Samuel, who feared that he might mislead other Jews. He was given an audience before Pope Clement VII, having gained his favor, as well as that of some Judeophile cardinals at Rome. He was said to have predicted a certain flood which inundated Rome and various other places. After his many cabalistic and other strange experiments, Molcho felt justified in proclaiming himself the Messiah, or his precursor.
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