Joseph Nasi

Don Joseph Nasi (or Nassi; also known as João Miquez in a Portuguese variant, Giuseppe Nasi in Italian, and as Yasef Nassi in Ottoman Turkish; 1524–1579) is a Jewish diplomat and administrator, member of the House of Mendes, and influential figure in the Ottoman Empire during the rules of both Sultan Suleiman I and his son Selim II.

He is a great benefactor of the Jewish people.

A Court Jew, he is appointed the Lord of Tiberias, with the expressed aim of resettling Jews in Palestine and encouraging industry there; the attempt fails, and, later, he is appointed the Duke of Naxos and the Seven Islands.

Nasi also brings about war with the Republic of Venice, at the end of which Venice loses the island of Cyprus to the Ottomans.

After the death of Selim, he loses influence in the Ottoman Court, but is allowed to keep his titles and pension for the remainder of his life.

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