David Messer Leon

David ben Judah Messer Leon was born in Venice, the descendant of an Italian Jewish family. In his youth he studied first with his father, Judah Messer Leon, in Naples and later with Judah Minz in Padua. David Messer Leon received a thorough religious and secular education, and was recognized as a talmudic authority. Following the French conquest of Naples in 1495, he fled to the Ottoman Empire. He spent some time in Constantinople (where he composed his work Shevaḥ ha-nashim, which records some of his tribulations) and Salonika, before being appointed chief rabbi of Vlorë (Avilona). Messer Leon was a prolific writer, composing works on a wide range of topics, including both scientific and religious themes, as well as sermons and responsa. Most of his writings were never published and some (especially those composed in Italy) have not survived. Messer Leon was also a keen philosopher and was versed in kabbalah.