Anbal (Ambal) The Jassin (Ossete)

Among the many foreigners who held positions at the court of Prince Andrei Bogolyubski, in Kiev, toward the end of the twelfth century, were two of Jewish origin: (1) Ephraim Moisich, or Moisievich, who had gained the prince's confidence; (2) Anbal the Jassin (the Ossete, from the Caucasus), his all-powerful "key-watch" (chamberlain). These two and Andrei's relative Kuchkov were the instigators and ringleaders of a conspiracy against the prince. They killed him in the night of June 29, 1174, and when his naked body lay exposed in the palace garden, a faithful servant implored Anbal to permit him to cover it, reminding him that he (Anbal) had come into the service of his master clothed in rags, and that it was by the latter's bounty that he was now wearing velvet. To this remonstrance Anbal lent a ready ear. Besides its historic interest, the incident is of importance as proving the existence of Jews from the Caucasus in Great Russia in the twelfth century.

Bibliography:

  * S. M. Solovyev, Istoriya Rossiis s Drevneishikh Vremion, 2d ed., i. 512 et seq.;
  * S. Weissenberg, Die Südrussischen Juden, Brunswick, 1895;
  * Regesty i Nadpisi, Nos. 173, 174.



H. R.