Bayezid II

Bayezid II, son of Mehmed the Conqueror, took the throne in 1481 and spent much of his reign stabilizing the vast Ottoman Empire. Known for his piety and patronage of culture, he often preferred diplomacy to outright conquest, though he did suppress a significant Janissary revolt and continued to expand Ottoman influence.

Regarding the Jews, Bayezid's reign is notable for the welcoming of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. He reportedly declared, "They say that Ferdinand of Aragon is a wise ruler… he has impoverished his own country and enriched mine!" These Jewish refugees brought with them valuable skills, trade networks, and intellectual capital, contributing significantly to the Ottoman economy and culture.

However, this wasn't exactly an embrace of brotherhood. The Ottoman Empire, while generally more tolerant than Christian Europe, saw its Jewish subjects as dhimmis – protected but subordinate non-Muslims who paid special taxes. Bayezid's pragmatic welcome was more about strengthening his empire than any particular affinity. Still, compared to the alternatives, it was a pretty sweet deal for the exiles.