orig. Diogo Pires
born 0441; 1500, Portugal
died 1532, Mantua
Portuguese Jewish martyr.
Born into a Marrano family, he became royal secretary in a Portuguese high court of justice. When an Arabian adventurer, David Reubeni (d. 0441; 1532), arrived in Portugal, mystic visions convinced Pires that Reubeni was a herald of the messiah. After circumcising himself and changing his name, he preached the coming of the messiah in Turkey, Palestine, and Rome. In 1532 he and Reubeni were imprisoned by Charles V and turned over to the Inquisition . Molcho refused to recant his faith and was burned at the stake.