Sabbatai Zevi (1626-1676) was an Ottoman Jewish rabbi and mystic, born in Smyrna in present-day Turkey, who became the central figure of the largest messianic movement in Jewish history when he proclaimed himself the Jewish Messiah in 1665. His claim, promoted energetically by his self-appointed prophet Nathan of Gaza, spread rapidly across Jewish communities throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, provoking widespread excitement and upheaval. In 1666 he was arrested by Ottoman authorities and, given the choice between execution and conversion, converted to Islam, an act that shattered the movement for most of his followers even as a smaller group continued to venerate him in secret for generations afterward.
Facts
Death YearDeath date given as circa in the source (c. September 17, 1676). RoleJewish mystic and rabbi from Smyrna who converted to Islam and claimed to be the Jewish Messiah 1 Death DateSource gives this date as circa (c. September 17, 1676). BirthplaceSmyrna, Ottoman Empire (modern Izmir, Turkey) 1 Death PlaceUlcinj, Ottoman Empire (modern Montenegro) 1 Role
Role (category) FAQs
Why did Sabbatai Zevi go to see Nathan of Gaza?
He went seeking a remedy for his own soul; Nathan had already had a vision of him as Messiah.
According to the reprinted entry on Encyclopedia.com, Sabbatai Zevi arrived in Gaza around mid-April 1665 to visit Nathan, whom the entry calls the physician of the soul. He went seeking a remedy for his own troubled soul, not to be named Messiah. By then Nathan had already had, in February 1665, an ecstatic vision of Sabbatai as the Messiah.
Connections
In Era
Source Wikipedia: Sabbatai Zevi
In the Other Atlases
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Wikidata: Sabbatai Zevi
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Sabbatai Zevi
WikipediaInfobox, Born field
Born: (1626-08-01)August 1, 1626 Smyrna, Ottoman Empire
Infobox, Died field
Died: c. September 17, 1676(1676-09-17) (aged 50) Ulcinj, Ottoman Empire
Lead paragraph
or Shabtai Tzvi
Body text, follower epithet
His followers then began to refer to him as AMIRAH, a Hebrew acronym for the phrase 'Our Lord and King, his Majesty be exalted' (Adoneinu Malkeinu Yarum Hodo).
Sabbatai Zevi: Gender
Sabbatai Zevi (1626-1676) was an Ottoman Jewish rabbi and mystic, born in Smyrna in present-day Turkey, who became the central figure of the largest messianic movement in Jewish history when he proclaimed himself the Jewish Messiah in 1665.
- Wikipedia biography, role/occupation stated in lead section (w-bbfill-history3-0927)
In Era: The Early Modern Period, lead paragraph, lifespan
Sabbatai Zevi (Hebrew: שַׁבְּתַי צְבִי, romanized: Šabbəṯay Ṣəḇī, August 1, 1626 - c. September 17, 1676), or Shabtai Tzvi, was a former Jewish mystic and rabbi from Smyrna who converted to Islam.
View the Source Wikidata: Sabbatai Zevi
Wikidata Q299215, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.