person · P0288

Rav Yaakov bar Natronai רב יעקב בר נטרונאי

Gaon of Sura for thirteen years in the academy's last decades — appointed, says the Iggeret, when "the matter had greatly diminished at Mata Mechasya and no sages remained in it."

I. Who

Hebrew
רב יעקב בר נטרונאי
Era
geonim

II. When

Traditional
gaon of Sura c. 4671–4684 AM
Academic
gaon c. 911–924 CE
Lifespan (traditional)
≈69 years
Precision
approximate

III. Where

Places
Sura

V. How do we know

ClaimEvidenceConfidenceSources
"The matter was greatly diminished at Mata Mechasya and no sages remained in it... and they appointed Mar Rav Yaakov bar Mar Rav Natronai, thirteen years" — placed c. 911–924 CE in the standard rosters.
His predecessor Shalom bar Mishael (seven years) and successor Yom Tov Kahana (a weaver, installed for want of scholars) are recorded in the same section; they are noted here pending entries of their own.
tradition external ★★★☆☆
No source names his teacher. Per this atlas's succession roster, Rav Nachshon bar Tzadok and Rav Tzemach bar Chaim held the headship of his academy during his formative window (c. 4630–4650 AM), making reception from them the likeliest reconstruction.
Derived by era-and-institution inference, not attested. The formative window is computed from this entry's schematic dates, hence the low confidence.
reconstruction ★☆☆☆☆