David Reubeni

David Reubeni (Hebrew: דוד הראובני, romanized: Dāvid ha‑Reʾūvenī;1490–1535/1541?) a was a Jewish mystic and adventurer. Reubeni presented military and political plans to various Christian rulers in Europe. His proposals, which combined political-military strategies with eschatological elements, along with his origin and enigmatic personality, remain partially understood. Reubeni managed to secure an audience with king John III of Portugal in November 1525, supported by a letter of recommendation from Pope Clement VII. Reubeni consistently asserted that he was the son of the deceased "King Suleiman of Ḥabor" and claimed to have served as the minister of war for that kingdom, now ruled by his elder brother, King Joseph of Ḥabor. Some scholars regard his claims of nobility as fraud. According to his accounts, this kingdom had 300,000 "Israelite" subjects. Initially, the Portuguese king was intrigued by Reubeni's proposals and agreed to provide Portuguese arms. However, after five months, Reubeni fell into ill repute with the king of Portugal, who perhaps distrusted his motives, and was asked by the king to leave his kingdom. Reubeni was subsequently taken to Spain and handed over to the Spanish Inquisition in Llerena, Badajoz, where he is presumed to have been executed c. 1541.