Molcho, Solomon, or Diogo Pires, as he was call- ed when a Marrauo or Xeo-Christian, was born about A.D. 1501 in Portugal. He not only received a liberal education, Avhich enabled liim to hold a state office as '■ escrivao aos ouvidores na casa da supplica(;:ao," but was i)robabIy also made acquainted in his childhood with Hebrew and Talmudic lore, as he is the author of a Hebrew work and a synagogal ]ioem written in the Aramaic language (comp. Zunz, Lileraturyesrh. d. si/iki- goff. Poesie, p. 534). About this time a man named David Ki'ubcni appeared in the court of the king of Portugal. He announced that he had come from India, and was sent by his brother, the king of the Jews, to propose an alliance in order to recover the Holy Land from the sultan Solyman. Many of the Neo-Cliristians believed in him. He passed through Spain, where he made many proselytes; into France to Avignon, and into Italy. He inscribed banners with the holy name of God. In many cities — Bologna, Ferrara, Mantua — numbers believed that he was commissioned to be the leader of the army of Israel. He even had an interview with pope Clement YII. Coming to Portugal, Molcho sought his acquaintance in order to rind out whether his visionary revelations, which liad al) Jlessianic back- ground, were in harmony with Keubeni's commission. The latter treated Molcho very coolly, and told him that his military commission had nothing to do with his cabalistic mj'sticism, being himself no adept in this branch of science. ]\Iolcho, however, misunderstood Eeubeni, believing as he did that this prince and would- be Messiah would have nothing to do with him since he had not the seal of the covenant, and he thus apos- tatized to Judaism, jierforming the rite of circumcision himself, which operation became to him the cause of a severe sickness. When Keubeni was ac(|uainted with this fact he was ver}- angry, and feared tliat he might be suspected as the author of Jlolcho's apostasy. The Jews relate that Molcho was utterly ignorant while he was a Christian ; but immediately on his circumcision "the Lord gave him wisdom, and he became wiser than all men in a very short time, and many wondered at him." His preaching was of such an insjuring elo- quence that the Jews believed it to be dictated by an- gels. He preached Judaism before kings; even pope Clement VII admitted him to an audience, and gave him the privilege to dwell wherever he would. Solo- mon Molcho seems to have been permitted to pour out his apocalyptic rhapsodies (pages of them may be read in the Chronicles of li. Joseph ben-Joshua ben-Me'ir, the Sephardi, ii, 152-189) without restraint. Kishops and princes — the bishop of Ancona and the duke of L'rbino, Francesco Maria della Kovere I — from credulity, curi- osity, or compassion, protected him against his enemies. Two of his prophecies, inundations of the Til)crin Kome and earth(iuakes in Lisbon, could hardly fail of accom- plishment (the former took place October 8, 15.S0; the latter, January 26, 1531). But he came to a woful end. He attempted to convert the emperor Charles Y. at Katisbon ; but Charles was hard-hearted, and ordered him to be put in prison with his friend Hi-idicni, whom he met after he was obliged to leave Home. When peace was restored with Sdlyman the Turk, the emperor betook himself to Italy, and both prisoners were con- veyed to Jlantua. ^Mulcho, who was an object rather for a lunatic asylum tlian the stake, was condemned to be burned as an apostate Cliristian. '• Witli a bridle on his jaw-bones to prevent his speaking to I lie people," as the Jewish chronicle relates. " they brouglit him out, and all tlie city was moved about him, and the fire burned before him. And one of the nol)les of the em- jieror said, 'Take the bridle from between his teeth, for I have a message unto him from the king;' and they did so. An<l he said unto him, ' The emperor hath sent me untothee. saying. "If thou turn from thy ways, shalt thou not be act-epted and live?" And lie will maintain thee, and thou shalt be before him ; and if not, evil is determined agaiu:^t thee.' But he answered like a
saint, like an angel of Go<J, and said, * Because I walked in that rehgion, my heart is bitter and grieved ; and now what is good in your sight do, and my soul shall return unto the Father's house as in its youth, for then it will Ijc better with it than now.' He was cast into the fire, and the Lord smelled the sweet savor, and j took to him his spotless soul, and is Avith him as one brought u]) with him, rejoicing always before him." Molcho died in November or December, 1532 ; yet there were Jews who believed that the lire had no power over j him, and that he departed— God only knows whither. ! Comp. Basnage, Histoire des Juifs (Engl, translation), I p. 722; Lindo, Ulitortj of the Jtus in Spain and I'ortu- (jdl, p. .Stil sq.; 'SVilman. II istiiiy oftheJeirs, iii, 3G7 sq.; The Chninichs of Rabbi Jvsijdi ben-Joshua ben-Mtlr, j the Sejihardi (transl. from the Hebrew into English bv I C. H. F. Hiallol)l(.tzky, London, 183t;), ii, 150-192; Jost, (I'eschichic d. Jiidiiithinus u. s. liekten, iii, 125; Kayser- ling, (Jeschirhte der Juden in Portugal, p. 17G sq., 192 sq. ; Cassel, l.tilfaden fur judische Geschichte und Literatur (Beriin, 1872), p. 92 scj. ; Flirst, Bibliolh. Jmhiica, ii, 387; Griitz, deschichte der Juden. ix. 2()4-285; the same in Frankel's M,matssrhrift (!><."»(;). p. 205,241, 2G0sq. (B.P.) Moldavia and Wallachia, two states forming the so-called Daiiubian Principalities, but since Decem- ber 23, 1801, united under one prince and administration, are now officially bearing the name Roumunia. We treat them unitedly in this article, as this is the custom generally among geographers.