David Alroy

1160), also known as Ibn ar-Ruhi and David El-David, was a Jewish Messiah claimant born in Amadiya, Iraq under the name Menaḥem ben Solomon (Hebrew: מְנַחֵם בֵּן שְׁלֹמֹה).

David Alroy studied Torah and Talmud under Hasdai the Exilarch, and Ali, the head of the Academy in Baghdad.

Defiant chieftains set up small independent states and heavy poll taxes were levied on all males above the age of fifteen.

[3] David Alroy led an uprising against Seljuk Sultan Muktafi and called upon the Jewish community to follow him to Jerusalem, where he would be their king and free the Jews from the hands of the Muslims.

Alroy recruited supporters in the mountains of Chaftan, and sent letters to Mosul, Baghdad, and other towns, proclaiming his divine mission.

He resolved to attack the citadel of his native town, Amadiya, and directed his supporters to assemble in that city, with swords and other weapons concealed under their robes, and to give, as a pretext for their presence, their desire to study the Talmud.

Three days later, while the Sultan and his council were engaged in considering Alroy's rebellion, he suddenly appeared in their midst, having miraculously made his escape from prison.