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The Duke of Naxos of the House of Nasi
Read the story of Joseph Nasi, Duke of Naxos, Lord of Tiberias, a heroic leader who profoundly affected the history of sixteenth-century Jews of Eastern Europe. A biography based on meticulous research, a study of human character and the effect of a hero upon his age.
- GenresJewish
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
About the author
Cecil Roth
123 books8 followersCecil Roth (5 March 1899 – 21 June 1970),[1] was a British Jewish historian.
A prolific writer, Roth published more than 600 books and articles, which have been translated into many languages, including histories of the Jews in England (1941) and Italy (1946), A History of the Marranos (3d ed. 1966), The Jews in the Renaissance (1959), Jewish Art (1961), and The Dead Sea Scrolls (1965).
He was educated at Merton College, Oxford (Ph.D., 1924)[1] and later returned to Oxford as Reader in Post-Biblical Jewish Studies from 1939 to 1964.[2] Thereafter he was visiting professor at Bar-Ilan University, Israel (1964–1965), and at the City University of New York (1966–1969).
Roth was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 1925 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1941.[1] He died, aged 71, on 21 June 1970 in Jerusalem.[2]
A prolific writer, Roth published more than 600 books and articles, which have been translated into many languages, including histories of the Jews in England (1941) and Italy (1946), A History of the Marranos (3d ed. 1966), The Jews in the Renaissance (1959), Jewish Art (1961), and The Dead Sea Scrolls (1965).
He was educated at Merton College, Oxford (Ph.D., 1924)[1] and later returned to Oxford as Reader in Post-Biblical Jewish Studies from 1939 to 1964.[2] Thereafter he was visiting professor at Bar-Ilan University, Israel (1964–1965), and at the City University of New York (1966–1969).
Roth was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 1925 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1941.[1] He died, aged 71, on 21 June 1970 in Jerusalem.[2]
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 19, 2010
The Tiberias chapter was interesting, but all in all, the book didn't hold my attention. Don Yosef just isn't as admirable a person as was his aunt, Dona Gracia.
February 11, 2019
"Who hateth me but for my happiness?
Or who honour'd now but for his wealth?
Rather had I, a Jew, be hated thus,
Than pitied in a Christian poverty...
The man that dealeth righteously shall live;
And which of you can charge me otherwise?"
(C. Marlowe, "The Jew of Malta")
Although this book is written in a typical Cecil Roth dry, scientific manner, meant to be rather a scientific publication than historical fiction, it takes us to the times immediately following Jews' expulsion from Spain and Portugal, and later on persecution in Papal States of what is now Italy. "The House of Nasi: The Duke of Naxos" is a companion book to "Dona Gracia Nasi", the aunt and mother-in-law to Joseph Nasi - although "The Duke of Naxos" can be read on its own.
The book starts with Joao Miguez, the nephew of Dona Gracia Nasi, one of the outstanding Jewish women of all time, escaping the persecution in Spain by moving to Antwerp with her family in 1536. There, he becomes a familiar face at the court of Charles V and a friend of future Emperor Maximilian. He handles the business of Dona Gracia’s firm even after she escapes from Venice to Constantinople, and joins her in Turkey in 1553 with a caravan of 500 Marranos. There Joao Miguez returns to Jewish faith and becomes Joseph Nasi.
Just like at court of Charles V, Joseph soon becomes an excellent and profitable company at court of Suleiman the Magnificent and soon makes friends with Suleiman’s oldest son and successor Selim. Joseph took Selim’s side very early on, during the power struggle for succession, and quickly became an indispensable advisor to the young Sultan, reinforcing the favor with constant supply of wine, then forbidden to Muslims, and delicacies. Selim became attached to Joseph the trusted advisor. Joseph kept his business agents, correspondents and acquintances at many European courts and got news faster than the official Turkish sources. For that, Joseph was rewarded with Duchy of Naxos and surrounding islands in the Aegean Sea.
Striving to provide a refuge from the Inquisition for the fellow Marranos, Joseph gains control over Tiberias, the last seat of the Jewish kingdom, in Palestine, and offers safe transport to whole Italian Jewish communities to settle the land. The once-desolate land flourishes, the artisans prosper, and men of higher learning come to Tiberias. However, the Sultan would not grant any Jewish autonomy to Tiberias, and the first attempt to establish a Jewish mini-state in Palestine has not survived.
Later on, Joseph is strategizing to be granted the autonomy of Cyprus, but his hopes are quashed by Turkish defeat at the Battle of Lepanto at the hands of Venetian Republic joined by Spain. Turkey would gain Cyprus much later, but for now, another dream of a Jewish state comes to nothing.
Joseph loses much of his influence after Sultan Murad comes to power. He nourishes Jewish learning by financing printing Jewish books, and supporting numerous Jewish scholars, poets, scientists of his day. He passes away in 1579, and is survived by his wife Reyna, the daughter of Gracia Nasi, by twenty years.
The last chapter, Afterglow, tells us more about numerous Jewish court advisers, adventurers and power brokers who stepped into Joseph’s shoes and attempted to ease Marranos’ suffering by influencing the policies of Turkish rulers.
Or who honour'd now but for his wealth?
Rather had I, a Jew, be hated thus,
Than pitied in a Christian poverty...
The man that dealeth righteously shall live;
And which of you can charge me otherwise?"
(C. Marlowe, "The Jew of Malta")
Although this book is written in a typical Cecil Roth dry, scientific manner, meant to be rather a scientific publication than historical fiction, it takes us to the times immediately following Jews' expulsion from Spain and Portugal, and later on persecution in Papal States of what is now Italy. "The House of Nasi: The Duke of Naxos" is a companion book to "Dona Gracia Nasi", the aunt and mother-in-law to Joseph Nasi - although "The Duke of Naxos" can be read on its own.
The book starts with Joao Miguez, the nephew of Dona Gracia Nasi, one of the outstanding Jewish women of all time, escaping the persecution in Spain by moving to Antwerp with her family in 1536. There, he becomes a familiar face at the court of Charles V and a friend of future Emperor Maximilian. He handles the business of Dona Gracia’s firm even after she escapes from Venice to Constantinople, and joins her in Turkey in 1553 with a caravan of 500 Marranos. There Joao Miguez returns to Jewish faith and becomes Joseph Nasi.
Just like at court of Charles V, Joseph soon becomes an excellent and profitable company at court of Suleiman the Magnificent and soon makes friends with Suleiman’s oldest son and successor Selim. Joseph took Selim’s side very early on, during the power struggle for succession, and quickly became an indispensable advisor to the young Sultan, reinforcing the favor with constant supply of wine, then forbidden to Muslims, and delicacies. Selim became attached to Joseph the trusted advisor. Joseph kept his business agents, correspondents and acquintances at many European courts and got news faster than the official Turkish sources. For that, Joseph was rewarded with Duchy of Naxos and surrounding islands in the Aegean Sea.
Striving to provide a refuge from the Inquisition for the fellow Marranos, Joseph gains control over Tiberias, the last seat of the Jewish kingdom, in Palestine, and offers safe transport to whole Italian Jewish communities to settle the land. The once-desolate land flourishes, the artisans prosper, and men of higher learning come to Tiberias. However, the Sultan would not grant any Jewish autonomy to Tiberias, and the first attempt to establish a Jewish mini-state in Palestine has not survived.
Later on, Joseph is strategizing to be granted the autonomy of Cyprus, but his hopes are quashed by Turkish defeat at the Battle of Lepanto at the hands of Venetian Republic joined by Spain. Turkey would gain Cyprus much later, but for now, another dream of a Jewish state comes to nothing.
Joseph loses much of his influence after Sultan Murad comes to power. He nourishes Jewish learning by financing printing Jewish books, and supporting numerous Jewish scholars, poets, scientists of his day. He passes away in 1579, and is survived by his wife Reyna, the daughter of Gracia Nasi, by twenty years.
The last chapter, Afterglow, tells us more about numerous Jewish court advisers, adventurers and power brokers who stepped into Joseph’s shoes and attempted to ease Marranos’ suffering by influencing the policies of Turkish rulers.
October 15, 2018
It is a valuable secondary source that shows you the machinations behind the scenes of the Porte, especially during the reigns of Suleyman the Magnificent and Selim II. It is a great case study for those studying Ottoman military and economic expansion, especially in Rumelia and Eastern Europe as Nasi himself became a sort of early modern magnate, and played a crucial role in the events that preceded the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus.
October 27, 2025
Funny story, embelished at manipulative levels, as expected. Thank God the Turks lost in Lepanto.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews