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Joseph Rabban (early Malayalam: Issuppu Irappan) was a prominent Jewish merchant chief on the Malabar Coast, India in 11th century CE.
According to the Jewish copper-plates of Cochin (CE 1000), a charter issued by the Cheras of Cranganore, Rabban was granted land (rights of Anjuvannam along with the other proprietary rights enjoyed by high-ranking Chera nobles) in the Chera kingdom.
Rabban's descendants continued to have prominence over other Jews of the Malabar coast for centuries. A conflict broke out between descendants, Joseph Azar, and his brother in the 1340s. The ensuing strife led to intervention by neighbouring potentates and the eradication of Jewish autonomy in southern India.
References
Joseph Rabban Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA