(1626-76)
Turkish scholar and pseudo-messiah. He was born in Smyrna. He devoted himself to talmudic and kabbalistic studies. In 1665 he met Nathan of Gaza, who recognized him as the Messiah and became his prophet; in December of that year Shabbetai proclaimed himself the Messiah in the synagogue at Smyrna. The Jewish world was seized with enthusiasm. He went to Constantinople in 1666 to claim his kingdom from the sultan, but he was arrested and imprisoned at Abydos, which his followers regarded as the Migdal Oz (Tower of Strength) of the kabbalah. Eventually Shabbetai was summoned to appear before the sultan and adopted Islam to save his life. His apostasy caused great dismay, but a number of his followers (Shabbetaians) believed that his conversion was part of the divine plan.
Dictionary of Jewish Biography. Dan Cohn-Sherbok.