Joseph Nasi, Lord of Tiberias

De: Anthony Davis

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

This is a work of fiction inspired by the life of Joseph Mendes Nasi (1520–1579).

Like many Jewish families, the Mendes family was forced to convert to Catholicism; however, they secretly maintained their Jewish religious practices because of the danger of death if their activities were discovered. These converts were known as conversos, or new Christians.

Joseph joined the family mercantile and banking business at the age of sixteen. The House of Mendes held a monopoly, granted by King João, on pepper and spices imported into Portugal from India and Africa. With an extensive network of agents, they traded across Europe, helping conversos to transfer their assets to safer countries and city-states.

Quickly mastering the art of navigating royal circles, Joseph became indispensable, moving easily among the courts. Ultimately, he relocated to Constantinople and befriended Selim, the son of Sultan Suleiman.

Working with his Aunt Gracia, who had taken charge of the business after her husband's death, they obtained land in the Ottoman-controlled Levant for their conversos. This earned him the title of Lord of Tiberias from the Sultan.

After a bloody conflict between the heirs to the sultanate, Joseph’s friendship with Selim, who became sultan, earned him the title of Duke of Naxos. A prestigious title for a Jew.