Jewish scholar, physician, diplomat, and patron of science
915 CE
to 970 CE
Hasdai (Abu Yusuf ben Yitzhak ben Ezra) ibn Shaprut born about 915 at Jaén; died about 970 at Córdoba in Spain, is a Jewish scholar, physician, diplomat, and patron of science.
His father, Isaac Benjamin Ezra, is a wealthy and learned Jew of Jaén.
Hasdai acquirea in his youth a thorough knowledge of Hebrew, Arabic, and Latin, the last-named language being at thia time known only to the higher Christian clergy of Spain.
He also studies medicine, and is said to have discovered a universal panacea, called Al-Faruk.
Appointed physician to the Caliph Abd ar-Rahman III (912-961), he, by his engaging manners, knowledge, character, and extraordinary ability, gains his master's confidence to such a degree that he becomes the caliph's confidant and faithful counselor.
Without bearing the title of vizier he is in reality minister of foreign affairs; he has also control of the customs and ship-dues in the port of Córdoba.
Hasdai arranges the alliances formed by the caliph with foreign powers, and he receives the envoys sent by the latter to Córdoba.
In 949, an embassy is sent by Constantine VII.
to form a diplomatic league between the hard-pressed Byzantine empire and the powerful ruler of Spain.
Among the presents brought by the embassy is a magnificent codex of Dioscorides' work on botany, which the Arabic physicians and naturalists value highly.
Hasdai, with the aid of a learned Greek monk named Nicholas, translates it into Arabic, making it thereby the common property of the Arabs and of medieval Europe.
