In this article, we will present you the portrait of Yasef Nassi, who has an important place among the Ottoman Jews but is not well known in today's public.
Jews had an important position in the economic life of the Ottoman Empire. One of the most famous names in this context is Yasef Nassi.
Nassi, who lived during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, was one of the most influential names in the empire both during the reign of "Magnificent Suleiman" and Selim II. Nassi, the most critical banker of the period in question, played the leading role in the first inflation process called “Zuyuf Akçe” in the empire.
NASSI, COMES TO ISTANBUL, DOES NOT HIDE HIS JEWISH IDENTITY
Yasef Nassi belonged to a Jewish family living in Portugal. Nassi's family professed themselves to be Christians because Judaism was banned in Europe at that time. In the process, Nassi would first complete his education life and then go into business. As you know, trade was one of the most dominant sectors in Judaism. Nassi, who was successful in the commercial field, went to France and Venice, where he established effective contacts.
Yasef Nassi, who came to Istanbul in 1554 and married his aunt's daughter, would no longer hide his Jewish identity. Because unlike in Europe at that time, there was a comfortable environment for Jews in the Ottoman Empire. Yasef Nassi's wife's mother, aunt, had come to the Ottoman lands a few years before him and started trading activities. Establishing a partnership with his aunt upon his arrival in the Ottoman lands, Yasef would stay in Istanbul until his death and become a powerful economic actor.
IT WAS EFFECTIVE ON THE OTTOMAN STATE PERSON
Due to his strong connections in Europe, Yasef Nassi soon established connections with the Ottoman state. Nassi, who became an important actor especially in Ottoman foreign policy, also took part in the trade and peace negotiations of the state. Nassi, who gradually increased his influence in the palace, would also take over the administration of Naxos Island, which was taken from the Venetians.
On the other hand, Nassi monopolized the wine trade with Baogdan and the wax trade with Poland in the process. Nassi, who had a say in many areas in the trade with Europe, became very rich in the Ottoman lands.
KANUNİ GIVES THE TITLE “MR. FRENK” TO NASSI
Yasef Nassi, who came to Istanbul in 1554, also gained the trust of Suleiman the Magnificent.
So much so that he was given the title "Frenk Bey" (Mr. Frenk) by "Muhteşem Süleyman".
Nassi, who also developed close relations with Selim II after the death of Kanuni, received the Duchy of the Cyclades Islands as a result of this relationship. In this process, Nassi, who brought the Jews to Istanbul and settled in Galata, was leading the influence of the famous Galata bankers.
Nassi, who increased his influence on the state during the reign of Selim II, was never satisfied. Nassi had a new goal; Cyprus Island.
HE WANTED TO BE THE KING OF CYPRUS AND FOUND THE JEWISH STATE
Yasef Nassi set his sights on the island after the conquest of Cyprus. Nassi, who started to establish strong colonies on the island by placing the Jewish population in Cyprus, also demanded the title of "King of Cyprus".
Yasef Nassi, who wanted to realize this wish with a fait accompli, had the inscription "King of Cyprus Yasef" hung on the door of his house in Istanbul after the conquest in 1571. The dreams of Nassi, who had lost himself to the love of being the king of Cyprus, would soon fall into the water. The inscription that Nassi had hung on his door was to be removed as a result of the instruction given by Sokullu Mehmet Pasha.
Yasef Nassi did everything he could to become the king of Cyprus. Nassi, who made economic promises to the state officials, especially Sokullu, could not reach his goal. As a matter of fact, Nassi's concern was not to become the king of Cyprus, but rather to settle the Jews in Cyprus and establish a Jewish state there. For this reason, Yasef Nassi is also called the "First Zionist".
THE PIONEER OF ZIONISM YASEF NASSI
Yasef Nassi, whose dreams on Cyprus were shattered, also had ambitions for Palestinian lands. Nassi, who developed a project on the city of Tiberia, located in the north of today's Palestinian lands, succeeded in obtaining permission from Suleiman the Magnificent to establish a Jewish settlement here. Nassi urged all Jews to emigrate to Tiberia. From this point of view, Nassi can be described as "the pioneer of Zionism".
He died in 1579
Yasef Nassi, who left his mark on a period in the Ottoman Empire, began to lose his reputation in the palace after the death of Selim II. The Ottomans, who gave the dowry money to Nassi's widow, who died in 1579, confiscated Nassi's other properties.