Solomon ben Nathan Ashkenazi (c. 1520 – 1602) was a Jewish physician and businessman active in Ottoman, Venetian and Polish–Lithuanian politics during the late 16th century.
[citation needed] Following the expulsion of the Jews from Udine in 1556, Ashkenazi traveled to Kraków, Poland to serve as chief physician to King Sigismund II Augustus.
[2][3] In Constantinople, Ashkenazi rose to prominence, befriending the Venetian Bailo Marcantonio Barbaro and the Ottoman Grand Vizier Mehmed Sokollu.
After Henri ascended the Polish throne, Ashkenazi sent the king his congratulations, writing, "I have rendered your majesty most important service in securing your election: I have effected all that was done here.
"[8] In 1572, the Venetian Doge, Alvise I Mocenigo, called for the re-enforcement of the 1556 decree of expulsion, inciting many Jews to leave and igniting a contentious debate in the Senate.
Ashkenazi made similar arguments to Barbaro, who relayed them to the Doge in his dispatches on the Ottoman situation[11] These factors doubtless contributed to the Senate’s decision to readmit the Jews in December 1573.
Another proposal presented to the Venetian Senate earlier that year suggested the Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal be permitted entry, provided they lived in ghettos.
While that proposal did not pass, it served to remind the Senate of the economic importance of the Jews and likely contributed to their ultimate readmission[12] Following the Polish election, the Porte named Ashkenazi envoy to Venice.