Lazarus and Abraham, our Jews of Eggenburg

Transcription

Rural Space in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Age
http://www.degruyter.com/view/books/9783110285420/9783110285420.639/9783110285420.639.xml?format=EBOK
Fundamentals of Medieval
and Early Modern Culture
Edited by
Albrecht Classen and Marilyn Sandidge
9
De Gruyter
Bereitgestellt von | De Gruyter / TCS
Rural Space in the Middle Ages
and Early Modern Age
The Spatial Turn in Premodern Studies
Edited by
Albrecht Classen
with the collaboration of
Christopher R. Clason
De Gruyter
ISBN 978-3-11-028536-9
e-ISBN 978-3-11-028542-0
ISSN 1864-3396
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Printing and binding: Hubert & Co. GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen
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TableȱofȱContents
Introduction
AlbrechtȱClassen
RuralȱSpaceȱinȱtheȱMiddleȱAgesȱandȱEarlyȱModernȱTimes:ȱ
AȱSignificantȱDomainȱIgnoredȱForȱTooȱLongȱbyȱModernȱResearch? . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.ȱCriticalȱInquiry:ȱTheȱRelevanceȱofȱRuralȱSpace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.ȱNaturalȱSpaceȱandȱtheȱMedievalȱEncyclopedia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.ȱTheȱSpatialȱTurnȱinȱMedievalȱandȱPremodernȱStudies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.ȱRuralȱSpaceȱandȱEcocriticism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.ȱSpaceȱandȱHistoricalȬLiteraryȱInvestigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.ȱPerceptionȱofȱRuralȱSpaceȱinȱTheȱVoyageȱofȱSt.ȱBrendan:
AnȱEarlyȬMedievalȱVoiceȱ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
7.ȱNatureȱinȱaȱSpanishȱMedievalȱEpicȱPoem:ȱ
ElȱPoemaȱdeȱMíoȱCid:ȱHumanȱDramaȱinȱtheȱWilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
8.ȱTheȱMountainȱinȱtheȱArtȱandȱLiteratureȱofȱtheȱMiddleȱAgesȱ
andȱtheȱEarlyȱModernȱAge:ȱ
TheȱMostȱMassiveȱChallengeȱinȱNature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
9.ȱClimbingȱtheȱMountain,ȱorȱAscendingȱtoȱtheȱRenaissance?
FrancesoȱPetrarca’sȱReflectionsȱonȱNature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
10.ȱOswaldȱvonȱWolkenstein:ȱTheȱAristocratȱversusȱtheȱPeasant
SecretȱLongingȱforȱLifeȱinȱRuralȱSpace? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
11.ȱTheȱPerceptionȱofȱtheȱNaturalȱWorld:ȱTheȱTestimonyȱofȱ
MedievalȱCourtlyȱLiterature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
12.ȱȱGrowingȱupȱinȱtheȱWilderness:ȱYouthfulȱExperiencesȱinȱ
theȱForest:ȱPerceval/ParzivalȱinȱtheȱRomancesȱbyȱChrétienȱ
deȱTroyeȱandȱWolframȱvonȱEschenbach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
13.ȱOminousȱApproaches:ȱWolframȱvonȱEschenbach’sȱTiturel:ȱ
SeekingȱRefugeȱfromȱSocietyȱinȱtheȱForest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
14.ȱNatureȱandȱtheȱCourtlyȱWorld:ȱLiteraryȱReflectionsȱonȱRuralȱ
SpaceȱinȱHighȱMedievalȱLiterature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
15.ȱTheȱProtagonist’sȱExistentialȱTestȱinȱNature:ȱSirȱGawainȱandȱ
theȱGreenȱKnight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
vi
TableȱofȱContents
16.ȱLoveȱ(?)ȱinȱtheȱMountains:ȱJuanȱRuiz’sȱLibroȱdeȱbuenȱamor
LateȬMedievalȱSpanishȱReflectionsȱonȱRuralȱSpace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
17.ȱRuralȱSpaceȱinȱLateȬMedievalȱShortȱVerseȱNarratives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
18.ȱTheȱCourt,ȱtheȱCity,ȱandȱtheȱRuralȱSpaceȱinȱBoccaccio’sȱDecameron . . . . . . . 69
19.ȱWilliamȱLangland’sȱPiersȱtheȱPlowman:ȱLateȬMedievalȱEnglishȱ
ReligiousȱandȱSocialȱReflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
20.ȱJohannesȱvonȱTepl’sȱAckermann:ȱAȱGermanȬCzechȱWriter’sȱ
ReferenceȱtoȱtheȱMetaphoricalȱPeasant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
21.ȱHugoȱvonȱTrimberg’sȱRenner:ȱAȱThirteenthȬCenturyȱDidacticȱ
PerspectiveȱTowardȱPeasants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
22.ȱWernherȱderȱGartenære’sȱHelmbrecht:ȱTheȱAttemptedȱBreakȱ
OutȱofȱtheȱSocialȱOrder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
23.ȱTheȱTestimonyȱofȱMedievalȱandȱLateȬMedievalȱArt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
24.ȱPeasants,ȱRuralȱExistence,ȱtheȱProtestantȱReformationȱandȱ
Farmer’sȱSelfȬExpressionȱUntilȱtheȱSeventeenthȱCentury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
25.ȱEconomicȱAspectsȱPertainingȱtoȱRuralȱSpace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
26.ȱHeinrichȱWittenwiler’sȱRing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
27.ȱRuralȱSpaceȱandȱtheȱSupportiveȱPeasantȱFigureȱinȱQueenȱ
Sibilleȱ(ElisabethȱvonȱNassauȬSaarbrücken) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
28.ȱCollaborationȱofȱtheȱGoodȱPeasantȱwithȱtheȱNobleȱLady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
29.ȱExplorationȱofȱRuralȱSpaceȱinȱSixteenthȬCenturyȱLiterature:
TillȱEulenspiegelȱandȱMargueriteȱdeȱNavarre’sȱHeptaméron . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
30.ȱTheȱTestimonyȱofȱLateȬMedievalȱArtȱOnceȱAgain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
31.ȱAcknowledgmentȱandȱSummariesȱofȱ
AllȱContributionsȱinȱthisȱVolume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
32.ȱConclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Chapterȱ1
KathrynȱL.ȱJasper
ReformingȱtheȱMonasticȱLandscape:ȱPeterȱDamian’sȱDesignȱ
forȱPersonalȱandȱCommunalȱDevotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Chapterȱ2
SherriȱOlsonȱ
Women’sȱPlaceȱandȱWomen’sȱSpaceȱinȱtheȱMedievalȱVillage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Chapterȱ3
ChristopherȱR.ȱClason
“Gebrochenȱbluomenȱundeȱgras”:ȱMedievalȱEcologicalȱConsciousnessȱ
inȱSelectedȱPoemsȱbyȱWaltherȱvonȱderȱVogelweide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
TableȱofȱContents
vii
Chapterȱ4
AlbrechtȱClassen
UtopianȱSpaceȱinȱtheȱCountryside:ȱLoveȱandȱMarriageȱbetweenȱaȱKnightȱ
andȱaȱPeasantȱGirlȱinȱMedievalȱGermanȱLiterature.ȱHartmannȱ
vonȱAue’sȱDerȱarmeȱHeinrich,ȱAnonymous,ȱ“Disȱistȱvonȱ
demȱHeselin,”ȱWaltherȱvonȱderȱVogelweide,ȱOswaldȱvonȱ
Wolkenstein,ȱandȱLateȬMedievalȱPopularȱPoetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Chapterȱ5
SarahȱGordon
RuralȱSpaceȱandȱAgriculturalȱSpaceȱinȱtheȱOldȱFrenchȱFabliauxȱ
andȱtheȱRomanȱdeȱRenart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Chapterȱ6
AndrewȱBreeze
Wood,ȱCourt,ȱandȱRiverȱinȱtheȱFourȱBranchesȱofȱtheȱMabinogi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Chapterȱ7
PennyȱSimons
RuralȱSpaceȱandȱTransgressiveȱSpaceȱinȱBérengerȱauȱloncȱcul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Chapterȱ8
DanielȱF.ȱPigg
LifeȱonȱtheȱManorȱandȱinȱRuralȱSpace:ȱAnsweringȱtheȱChallengesȱ
ofȱSocialȱDecayȱinȱWilliamȱLangland’sȱPiersȱPlowman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Chapterȱ9
AbigailȱP.ȱDowling
LandscapeȱofȱLuxuries:ȱMahautȱd’Artois’sȱ(1302–1329)ȱManagementȱ
andȱUseȱofȱtheȱParkȱatȱHesdin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Chapterȱ10
MarilynȱL.ȱSandidge
HuntingȱorȱGardening:ȱParksȱandȱRoyalȱRuralȱSpace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Chapterȱ11
PennyȱSimons
TheȱSignificanceȱofȱRuralȱSpaceȱinȱGuillaumeȱdeȱPalerne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
viii
TableȱofȱContents
Chapterȱ12
Rosa A. Perez
TheȱForestȱasȱLocusȱofȱTransitionȱandȱTransformationȱinȱtheȱEpicȱ
RomanceȱBerteȱausȱgransȱpies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433
Chapterȱ13
MariaȱCeciliaȱRuiz
JuanȱManuel’sȱLibroȱdeȱlaȱcazaȱ(ca.ȱ1325) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451
Chapterȱ14
JacquelineȱStuhmiller
HuntingȱasȱSalvationȱinȱGastonȱPhebus’sȱLivreȱdeȱchasse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 505
Chapterȱ15
AlbrechtȱClassen
RuralȱSpaceȱinȱLateȱMedievalȱBooksȱofȱHours:ȱBookȱIllustrationsȱasȱaȱ
LookingȬGlassȱIntoȱMedievalȱMentalityȱandȱMirrorsȱofȱEcocriticism . . . . . . . 529
Chapterȱ16
LiaȱB.ȱRoss
TheȱTameȱWildernessȱofȱPrinces:ȱImagesȱofȱNatureȱinȱExemplarsȱofȱ
BooksȱofȱHoursȱandȱinȱtheȱLivreȱduȱCœurȱd’amourȱéprisȱofȱKingȱ
RenéȱofȱAnjou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561
Chapterȱ17
JeanȱE.ȱJost
MarshyȱSpacesȱinȱtheȱMiddleȱEnglishȱAwntyrsȱoffȱArthureȱatȱtheȱ
TerneȱWathelyne:ȱPhysicalȱandȱSpiritualȱTerritory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 589
Chapterȱ18
NicolinoȱApplauso
PeasantȱAuthorsȱandȱPeasantȱHaters:ȱMatazoneȱdaȱCaliganoȱandȱtheȱ
AmbiguityȱofȱtheȱSatiraȱdelȱvillanoȱinȱHighȱandȱLateȱMedievalȱItaly . . . . . 607
Chapterȱ19
BirgitȱWiedl
“LazarusȱandȱAbraham,ȱourȱJewsȱofȱEggenburg”:ȱJewsȱinȱtheȱAustrianȱ
CountrysideȱinȱtheȱFourteenthȱCentury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639
TableȱofȱContents
ix
Chapterȱ20
EvelineȱBrugger
SmallȱTown,ȱBigȱBusiness:ȱAȱWealthyȱJewishȱMoneylenderȱinȱtheȱ
AustrianȱCountryside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 673
Chapterȱ21
ScottȱL.ȱTaylor
Usosȱrerumȱrusticarum:ȱȱMalaeȱconsuetudines,ȱmaleȱusosȱlegeȱandȱPeasantȱ
RebellionȱasȱResistanceȱorȱAdaptationȱtoȱLegalȱChange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 685
Chapterȱ22
SharonȱD.ȱKing
Village People: The Presence of the Rural in Late Medieval French Comedies . . . . 703
Chapterȱ23
ElizabethȱChesneyȱZeguraȱ
UprootedȱTreesȱandȱSlaughteredȱPeasants:ȱTheȱSavagingȱofȱRuralȱSpaceȱ
inȱAriosto’sȱOrlandoȱFuriosoȱ(1532) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 729
Chapterȱ24
KyleȱDiRoberto
RepresentationsȱofȱtheȱPlowmanȱandȱtheȱProstituteȱinȱPuritanȱandȱ
AntiȬPuritanȱSatire:ȱOrȱtheȱRhetoricȱofȱPlainnessȱandȱtheȱReformationȱ
ofȱtheȱPopularȱinȱtheȱHarveyȱNasheȱQuarrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 755
Chapterȱ25
JessicaȱTvordi
TheȱPoetȱinȱExile:ȱRobertȱHerrickȱandȱtheȱ“loathedȱCountryȬlife” . . . . . . . . . . 795
Chapterȱ26
MarthaȱMoffittȱPeacock
WomenȱatȱtheȱHunt:ȱDevelopingȱaȱGenderedȱLogicȱofȱRuralȱSpaceȱ
inȱtheȱNetherlandishȱVisualȱTradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819
Chapterȱ27
ThomasȱWillard
“TheȱfreeȱEnjoymentȱofȱtheȱEarth”:ȱGerrardȱWinstanleyȱonȱLandȱReform . . . 865
x
TableȱofȱContents
ListȱofȱIllustrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 891
Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 895
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905
Chapterȱ19
BirgitȱWiedl
(InstituteȱforȱJewishȱHistoryȱinȱAustria,ȱSt.ȱPölten,ȱAustria)
“LazarusȱandȱAbraham,ȱourȱJewsȱofȱEggenburg”:
JewsȱinȱtheȱAustrianȱCountrysideȱinȱ
theȱFourteenthȱCentury
“Itȱ neverȱenteredȱmyȱmindȱtoȱliveȱinȱaȱvillageȱwithoutȱminyanȱandȱprayer,”ȱ a
JewishȱwomanȱinȱoneȱofȱtheȱresponsaȱofȱRabbiȱMeirȱbenȱBaruchȱofȱRothenburgȱob
derȱTauberȱ(ca.ȱ1250–1293),ȱtheȱfamousȱthirteenthȬcenturyȱscholar,ȱstates.1ȱLiving
inȱ theȱ countrysideȱ was,ȱ accordingȱ toȱ Rabbiȱ Meir,ȱ trying,ȱ cumbersome,ȱ and
arduous,ȱ andȱ thereforeȱ altogetherȱ notȱ desirable.ȱ Meir,ȱ whoȱ hadȱ studiedȱ in
Würzburg,ȱMainz,ȱandȱParis,ȱhadȱfoundedȱtheȱRothenburgȱJeshiwaȱthatȱattracted
studentsȱfromȱallȱoverȱEurope,ȱandȱhadȱspentȱhisȱlaterȱyearsȱinȱhisȱhometown,
Worms,ȱnotablyȱperceivedȱurbanȱandȱruralȱlivingȱspacesȱasȱbeingȱdiametrically
opposed,ȱwithȱurbanȱexistenceȱasȱtheȱ‘real’ȱwayȱofȱliving.
Cities,ȱheȱargued,ȱwereȱtheȱonlyȱenvironmentȱthatȱsafeguardedȱtheȱnecessary
requirementsȱforȱ‘proper’ȱJewishȱlife,ȱhence,ȱurbanȱJewishȱcommunitiesȱwereȱthose
thatȱprovidedȱtheirȱmembersȱwithȱinstitutionsȱandȱfacilitiesȱsuchȱasȱsynagogues,
mikhvot,ȱandȱcemeteries,ȱwhereasȱinȱtheȱcountryside,ȱtheȱlivingȱconditionsȱforȱthe
BeneiȱhaKefarim,ȱtheȱJewishȱpeopleȱinȱtheȱvillages,ȱwereȱtroublesomeȱatȱbest.ȱLiving
inȱtheȱcountrysideȱmeantȱlivingȱaway,ȱand,ȱmoreȱoftenȱthanȱnot,ȱtooȱfarȱawayȱfrom
theseȱessentialȱstructuresȱtoȱmakeȱuseȱofȱthemȱonȱaȱregularȱbasis,ȱorȱevenȱatȱany
1
MichaelȱToch,ȱ“EconomicȱActivitiesȱofȱGermanȱJewsȱinȱtheȱMiddleȱAges,”ȱWirtschaftsgeschichteȱder
mittelalterlichenȱ Juden:ȱ Fragenȱ undȱ Einschätzungen,ȱ ed.ȱ id.ȱ Schriftenȱ desȱ Historischenȱ Kollegs,
Kolloquien,ȱ71ȱ(Munich:ȱR.ȱOldenbourgȱVerlag,ȱ2008),ȱ180Ȭ210;ȱhereȱ207.ȱTheȱresearchȱforȱthis
articleȱwasȱfundedȱbyȱtheȱAustrianȱScienceȱFundȱ(FWF)ȱwhoȱalsoȱfinancesȱtheȱongoingȱpublication
projectȱ“RegestenȱzurȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱÖsterreich.”ȱTwoȱvolumesȱthatȱcoverȱtheȱtimeȱuntil
1365ȱ haveȱ alreadyȱ beenȱ publishedȱ (seeȱ notesȱ 4ȱ andȱ 40),ȱ theȱ thirdȱ volumeȱ (1366–1386)ȱ is
forthcomingȱinȱ2012.
640
BirgitȱWiedl
timeȱwhenȱtheȱneedȱarose.ȱLivingȱinȱtheȱcountrysideȱthereforeȱmeantȱforȱmedieval
Jewsȱthatȱtheyȱhadȱtoȱadaptȱtoȱmoreȱthanȱlivingȱalongȱwith,ȱandȱtogetherȱwith
anotherȱreligiousȱgroupȱthat,ȱhoweverȱcloseȱtheȱcontactsȱandȱhoweverȱintenseȱthe
culturalȱtransferȱmightȱhaveȱbeen,ȱremainedȱdifferentȱinȱmanyȱregards.2
Nevertheless,ȱ Jewishȱ existenceȱ inȱ Ashkenazicȱ Europeȱ wasȱ neverȱ exclusively
urban.ȱToȱwhichȱextentȱtheȱearlyȱmedievalȱcommercialȱbasesȱalongȱtheȱtradeȱroutes
wereȱactuallyȱsettlements,ȱisȱstillȱmuchȱdisputed;ȱforȱtheȱearlyȱMiddleȱAges,ȱweȱcan
assumeȱaȱveryȱlowȱnumberȱofȱJewsȱactuallyȱsettlingȱinȱNorthwestȱandȱCentral
Europe.3ȱTheȱJewsȱsuchȱasȱthoseȱmentionedȱinȱtheȱRaffelstettenerȱZollordnung,ȱan
earlyȱtenthȬcenturyȱtollȱregulationȱforȱUpperȱandȱLowerȱAustriaȱthatȱincludedȱthe
paymentȱobligationsȱforȱiudeiȱetȱceteriȱmercatoresȱ(“Jewsȱandȱotherȱmerchants”),
wereȱmostȱdefinitelyȱexactlyȱthat:ȱJewsȱwhoȱwereȱtravelingȱthroughȱtheȱBavarian
east,ȱ howeverȱ slowlyȱ andȱ withȱ howeverȱ manyȱ stops.4ȱ Thereȱ isȱ noȱ conclusive
evidenceȱ forȱ aȱ connectionȱ betweenȱ whatȱ isȱ referredȱ toȱ asȱ Judendörferȱ (“Jewish
villages”),ȱaȱquiteȱhighȱnumberȱofȱeleventhȬcenturyȱmarketȱtowns,ȱvillages,ȱand
farmsteadsȱinȱtheȱeasternȱAlpineȱareasȱthatȱincludeȱtheȱwordȱ‘Jud’ȱinȱtheirȱnames,
andȱactualȱJewishȱsettlementȱthatȱonlyȱgotȱgoingȱaboutȱtwoȱcenturiesȱlaterȱinȱthis
area;ȱnevertheless,ȱaȱlinkageȱtoȱstagingȱpostsȱand/orȱsheltersȱofȱJewishȱtradesmen
hasȱbeenȱsuggested.5ȱ
InȱtheȱnorthernȱandȱwesternȱareasȱofȱtheȱHolyȱRomanȱEmpireȱasȱwellȱasȱinȱthe
northȱofȱFrance,ȱmostȱofȱtheȱJewishȱruralȱsettlementsȱofȱtheȱhighȱMiddleȱAgesȱwere
setȱupȱinȱtheȱhinterlandȱofȱtheȱurbanȱcenters,ȱwhereasȱinȱtheȱsoutheast,ȱparticularly
inȱtheȱterritoriesȱofȱtoday’sȱAustria,ȱitȱshouldȱtakeȱupȱtoȱtheȱmidȬthirteenthȱcentury
thatȱanyȱJewsȱlivingȱoutsideȱtheȱcitiesȱwereȱmentionedȱatȱall–whichȱisȱaȱlotȱless
remarkableȱ ifȱ weȱ considerȱ howȱ lateȱ Jewishȱ settlementȱ inȱ theseȱ regionsȱ started
comparedȱtoȱtheȱareasȱofȱtheȱhugeȱJewishȱcommunities,ȱsuchȱasȱtheȱRhineland.
2
3
4
5
RainerȱBarzen,ȱ“BeneiȱhaKefarimȱ–ȱdieȱLeuteȱausȱdenȱDörfern:ȱZurȱjüdischenȱSiedlungȱaufȱdem
LandeȱinȱAschkenasȱundȱZarfatȱimȱhohenȱundȱspäterenȱMittelalter,”ȱCampanaȱpulsanteȱconvocati.
FestschriftȱanläßlichȱderȱEmeritierungȱvonȱProf.ȱDr.ȱAlfredȱHaverkamp,ȱed.ȱFrankȱG.ȱHirschmannȱand
GerdȱMentgenȱ(Trier:ȱKliomedia,ȱ2005),ȱ21Ȭ37;ȱhereȱ21.ȱMeirȱtriedȱtoȱleaveȱtheȱrealmȱofȱtheȱHoly
RomanȱEmpireȱaroundȱ1286ȱwhenȱKingȱRudolphȱIȱimposedȱnewȱtaxesȱonȱtheȱJewry,ȱbutȱwas
caughtȱandȱimprisonedȱuntilȱhisȱdeathȱinȱ1293.
MichaelȱToch,ȱDieȱJudenȱimȱmittelalterlichenȱReich.ȱEnzyklopädieȱdeutscherȱGeschichte,ȱ44,ȱsec.ȱed.
(1998;ȱMunch:ȱOldenburg,ȱ2003),ȱ5–6,ȱspeaksȱofȱ‘noȱmoreȱthanȱaȱfewȱdozenȱJewishȱfamilies’ȱinȱthe
ninthȱcentury,ȱandȱ‘aȱfewȱhundredȱatȱmost’ȱinȱtheȱtenthȱ(myȱtranslation).
EvelineȱBruggerȱandȱBirgitȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱzurȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱÖsterreichȱimȱMittelalter,ȱ1:
VonȱdenȱAnfängenȱbisȱ1338ȱ(Innsbruck,ȱVienna,ȱandȱBolzano:ȱStudienVerlag,ȱ2005),ȱ15,ȱn.ȱ1ȱ(forȱthe
internetȱversion,ȱseeȱhttp://www.injoest.ac.at/projekte/laufend/mittelalterliche_judenurkunden/,
lastȱaccessedȱonȱJan.ȱ16,ȱ2012).
MarkusȱWenninger,ȱ“DieȱSiedlungsgeschichteȱderȱinnerösterreichischenȱJudenȱimȱMittelalterȱund
dasȱ Problemȱ derȱ ‘Juden’ȬOrte,”ȱ Berichtȱ überȱ denȱ 16.ȱ österreichischenȱ Historikertagȱ 1984.
Veröffentlichungenȱ desȱ Verbandesȱ Österreichischerȱ Geschichtsvereine,ȱ 25ȱ (Vienna:ȱ Eigenverlagȱ des
VerbandesȱÖsterreichischerȱGeschichtsvereine,ȱ1985),ȱ190–217;ȱhereȱ194–208.
JewsȱinȱtheȱAustrianȱCountrysideȱ
641
Beforeȱtheȱyearȱ1200,ȱtheȱbeginningȱofȱaȱJewishȱcommunityȱcanȱbeȱproposedȱfor
Vienna6;ȱtheȱJewȱSchlom,ȱmasterȱofȱtheȱmint7ȱofȱDukeȱLeopoldȱVȱ(1157–1194)ȱand
mentionedȱaroundȱ1192/1196,ȱisȱtheȱfirstȱJewȱlivingȱonȱAustrianȱterritoryȱwhoȱis
knownȱbyȱname.8ȱ
Inȱtheȱ1220s,ȱRabbiȱIsaakȱbarȱMosche,ȱwhoȱcountedȱamongȱtheȱmostȱimportant
Ashkenazicȱscholars,ȱsettledȱdownȱinȱVienna9;ȱbigȬscaleȱJewishȱbusinessmen,ȱlike
theȱHungarianȱJewȱTeka,ȱextendedȱtheȱrangeȱofȱtheirȱactivitiesȱintoȱtheȱAustrian
territory;ȱandȱinȱtheȱfirstȱdecadesȱofȱtheȱthirteenthȱcenturyȱtheȱJewishȱcommunities
ofȱWienerȱNeustadtȱandȱKrems,ȱsecondȱlargestȱtoȱVienna,ȱstartedȱtoȱprosper.10ȱBy
theȱlateȱ1230s,ȱtheȱJewishȱpopulationȱinȱtheȱduchyȱofȱAustriaȱhadȱgrownȱtoȱan
extentȱthatȱitȱwarrantedȱtheȱattentionȱ ofȱ theȱ Austrianȱduke.ȱUpȱuntilȱthen,ȱthe
definitionȱofȱtheȱlegalȱandȱeconomicȱpositionȱofȱtheȱGermanȱJewryȱhadȱbeenȱthe
soleȱrightȱofȱtheȱHolyȱRomanȱEmperorȱtoȱwhoseȱtreasureȱtheyȱbelonged,ȱalthough
inȱmanyȱotherȱareasȱofȱtheȱEmpireȱtheȱEmperor’sȱprerogativeȱhadȱbyȱthenȱalready
beenȱreducedȱtoȱaȱmereȱclaimȱinȱtheȱcourseȱofȱtheȱtransitionȱofȱimperialȱrightsȱto
theȱregionalȱrulers.ȱ
TheȱAustrianȱDukeȱFredericȱIIȱ(1211–1246),ȱalreadyȱengagedȱinȱaȱpowerȱstruggle
withȱhisȱimperialȱnamesakeȱinȱtheȱ1230s,ȱmanagedȱtoȱassertȱhisȱrightsȱtoȱtheȱJews
livingȱinȱhisȱterritories,ȱevenȱthoughȱitȱshouldȱtakeȱuntilȱ1331ȱthatȱtheȱJudenregal,
theȱ ‘rightȱ toȱ theȱ Jews,’ȱ wasȱ officiallyȱ givenȱ toȱ theȱ (thenȱ Habsburg)ȱ dukesȱ of
Austria.11ȱFrederic’sȱ(asȱwellȱasȱhisȱsuccessors’)ȱinterestȱinȱ‘his’ȱJewsȱwasȱprimarily
economic,ȱandȱinȱhisȱducalȱprivilegeȱofȱ1244,ȱtheȱfirstȱencompassingȱdefinitionȱof
theȱlegalȱstandingȱofȱtheȱAustrianȱJews,ȱheȱgrantedȱtheȱAustrianȱJewryȱaȱseriesȱof
6
7
8
9
10
11
Inȱ1204,ȱtheȱ(byȱthenȱalreadyȱexisting)ȱVienneseȱsynagogueȱwasȱmentionedȱforȱtheȱfirstȱtime,
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ18–19,ȱn.ȱ5.
Jewsȱasȱmastersȱofȱaȱmintȱwereȱnotȱuncommonȱinȱtheȱtwelfthȱandȱthirteenthȱcenturies;ȱseeȱToch,
Judenȱ imȱ mittelalterlichenȱ Reichȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 3),ȱ 7;ȱ Markusȱ Wenninger,ȱ “Judenȱ alsȱ Münzmeister,
ZollpächterȱundȱfürstlicheȱFinanzbeamteȱimȱmittelalterlichenȱAschkenas,”ȱWirtschaftsgeschichte
derȱmittelalterlichenȱJudenȱ(seeȱnoteȱ1),ȱ121–38
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ16–18,ȱns.ȱ3ȱandȱ4.ȱSchlomȱandȱhisȱfamilyȱwereȱkilled
byȱcrusadersȱinȱ1196.ȱ
Avrahamȱ(Rami)ȱReiner,ȱ“FromȱRabbenuȱTamȱToȱR.ȱIsaacȱofȱVienna:ȱTheȱHegemonyȱofȱtheȱFrench
TalmudicȱSchoolȱinȱtheȱTwelfthȱCentury,”ȱTheȱJewsȱofȱEuropeȱinȱtheȱMiddleȱAgesȱ(TenthȱtoȱFifteenth
Centuries),ȱ ed.ȱ Christophȱ Cluseȱ (Turnhout:ȱ Brepols,ȱ 2004),ȱ 273–83;ȱ hereȱ 273–76;ȱ Marthaȱ Keil,
“Gemeindeȱ undȱ Kulturȱ –ȱ Dieȱ mittelalterlichenȱ Grundlagenȱ jüdischenȱ Lebensȱ inȱ Österreich,”
Evelineȱ Brugger,ȱ Marthaȱ Keil,ȱ Christophȱ Lind,ȱ Albertȱ Lichtblau,ȱ andȱ Barbaraȱ Staudinger,
GeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱÖsterreichȱ(Vienna:ȱUeberreuter,ȱ2006),ȱ15–122;ȱhereȱ27ȱandȱ64.
EvelineȱBrugger,ȱ“VonȱderȱAnsiedlungȱbisȱzurȱVertreibungȱ–ȱJudenȱinȱÖsterreichȱimȱMittelalter,”
GeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱÖsterreichȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ123–228;ȱhereȱ127–29.
OnȱMayȱ4,ȱ1331,ȱEmperorȱLudwigȱIVȱconfirmedȱaȱseriesȱofȱlegalȱtitlesȱforȱtheȱHabsburgȱdukes
AlbrechtȱIIȱandȱOtto,ȱamongȱtheseȱtheȱ‘rightsȱtoȱtheȱJews’;ȱseeȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(see
noteȱ4),ȱ278,ȱn.ȱ338.
642
BirgitȱWiedl
economicȱ privilegesȱ andȱ aȱ quiteȱ wideȬrangingȱ protectionȱ thatȱ suggestȱ thatȱ he
aimedȱatȱprovidingȱaȱfurtherȱincentiveȱforȱJewsȱtoȱsettleȱdownȱinȱAustria.12
Inȱ return,ȱ Fredericȱ andȱ hisȱ successorsȱ profitedȱ fromȱ aȱ prosperingȱ Jewish
population.ȱTheyȱsubjectedȱthemȱtoȱtaxationȱandȱmaintainedȱcontrolȱoverȱJewish
businessȱinȱgeneral,ȱwhichȱenabledȱthemȱtoȱraiseȱconsiderableȱamountsȱofȱmoney
whenverȱtheyȱneededȱto.ȱInȱadditionȱtoȱthat,ȱtheirȱcontrolȱoverȱJewishȱbusinessȱalso
helpedȱtheȱdukesȱtoȱkeepȱinȱcheckȱthoseȱmembersȱofȱtheȱnobilityȱwhoȱindebted
themselvesȱtoȱtheir,ȱtheȱdukes’,ȱJews.ȱTheȱducalȱprivilegeȱappliedȱtoȱallȱJewsȱin
Austria,ȱregardlessȱofȱtheirȱplaceȱofȱresidence.ȱWhileȱtheȱducalȱinterestȱlayȱmainly
withȱtheȱbiggerȱcommunities,ȱJewishȱsettlementȱinȱtheȱlesserȱpopulatedȱareasȱwas
notȱdisencouraged.ȱByȱmidȬthirteenthȱcentury,ȱJewsȱwereȱlivingȱinȱaȱnumberȱof
smallerȱ townsȱ inȱ theȱ countrysideȱ ofȱ today’sȱ Austria,ȱ suchȱ asȱ inȱ Tullnȱ (1267,
mentionȱofȱJewsȱinȱtheȱregulationsȱofȱtheȱbutchers’ȱguild)ȱandȱLaaȱanȱderȱThaya
(1277,ȱ townȱ charter)ȱ inȱ Lowerȱ Austria,13ȱ orȱ inȱ theȱ Carinthianȱ marketȱ townȱ of
Straßburg,ȱtheȱresidenceȱofȱtheȱbishopsȱofȱGurk.14ȱ
Apartȱfromȱlegalȱdocumentsȱsuchȱasȱroyalȱorȱducalȱprivileges,ȱtownȱchartersȱor
guildȱ regulations,ȱ theȱ documentsȱ thatȱ dealȱ withȱ dailyȱ interactionȱ between
ChristiansȱandȱJewsȱareȱmostlyȱbusinessȱcharters,ȱandȱhereinȱliesȱtheȱmajorȱsourceȬ
relatedȱproblemȱwhenȱdealingȱwithȱlow(er)ȬscaleȱJewishȱbusiness.ȱTransactions
betweenȱ membersȱ ofȱ theȱ nobilityȱ andȱ highȬrankingȱ financiers,ȱ thatȱ usually
includedȱhigh,ȱlongȬtermȱcredits,ȱwereȱmoreȱlikelyȱtoȱbeȱrecordedȱinȱwriting,ȱand,
ifȱaddedȱtoȱtheȱtreasure/archiveȱofȱaȱnobleȱfamily,ȱmoreȱlikelyȱtoȱbeȱpreserved;
thus,ȱtheȱtransmittedȱsourceȱmaterialȱfocusesȱheavilyȱonȱtheȱsocialȱandȱeconomic
eliteȱofȱbothȱChristianȱandȱJewishȱbusinessȱpartners.ȱLow,ȱshortȬtermȱloansȱandȱthe
transactionsȱofȱsmallȬscaleȱpawnȱbrokers,ȱhowever,ȱwereȱhardlyȱeverȱpreservedȱin
writing,ȱandȱwhileȱliteracyȱandȱaccessȱtoȱliterateȱpeople–as,ȱe.g.,ȱinȱtheȱ‘institution’
ofȱ townȱ writers–becameȱ moreȱ commonȱ inȱ theȱ urbanȱ centersȱ ofȱ theȱ thirteenth
century,ȱitȱremainedȱtheȱexceptionȱinȱtheȱruralȱareas.ȱDueȱtoȱthisȱscantȱappearance
ofȱ Jewsȱ dwellingȱ inȱ aȱ ruralȱ settingȱ inȱ theȱ sourceȱ material,ȱ anyȱ conclusive
12
13
14
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ35–38,ȱn.ȱ25.ȱForȱtheȱpullȱfactorsȱinȱregardȱtoȱJewish
(im)migrationȱ inȱ general,ȱ seeȱ HansȬJörgȱ Gilomen,ȱ “Jüdischeȱ Migrationȱ inȱ dieȱ Städteȱ im
Spätmittelalterȱ—ȱ‘GanzȱIsraelȱistȱfüreinanderȱverantwortlichȱbeimȱTragenȱderȱLastȱdesȱExils’,”
MigrationȱalsȱsozialeȱHerausforderung:ȱHistorischeȱFormenȱsolidarischenȱHandelnsȱvonȱderȱAntikeȱbisȱzum
20.ȱ Jahrhundert,ȱ ed.ȱ Joachimȱ Bahlcke,ȱ Rainerȱ Leng,ȱ andȱ Peterȱ Scholz.ȱ Stuttgarterȱ Beiträgeȱ zur
historischenȱMigrationsforschung,ȱ8ȱStuttgart:ȱFranzȱSteinerȱVerlag,ȱ2011),ȱ123–48;ȱhereȱ127–28.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ61–62,ȱn.ȱ46ȱ(Tulln),ȱ73,ȱn.ȱ57ȱ(Laa),ȱBirgitȱWiedl,ȱ“Jews
andȱtheȱCity.ȱParametersȱofȱJewishȱUrbanȱLifeȱinȱLateȱMedievalȱAustria,”ȱUrbanȱSpaceȱinȱtheȱMiddle
AgesȱandȱtheȱEarlyȱModernȱAge,ȱed.ȱAlbrechtȱClassen.ȱFundamentalsȱofȱMedievalȱandȱEarlyȱModern
Cultureȱ4ȱ(BerlinȱandȱNewȱYork:ȱdeGruyter,ȱ2009),ȱ273–308;ȱhereȱ293ȱandȱ297.
WilhelmȱWadl,ȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱKärntenȱimȱMittelalter.ȱMitȱeinemȱAusblickȱbisȱzumȱJahreȱ1867.
DasȱKärntnerȱLandesarchiv,ȱ9.ȱ3rdȱed.ȱ(1981;ȱKlagenfurt:ȱVerlagȱdesȱKärntnerȱLandesarchivs,
2009),ȱ227.
643
deductionsȱregardingȱtheirȱsocialȱandȱeconomicȱstatusȱandȱtheirȱChristianȱclientele
areȱproblematicȱatȱbest.
TheȱearliestȱdocumentsȱofȱJewishȱbusinessȱactivitiesȱinȱtheȱcountrysideȱgenerally
showȱanȱurbanȱinvolvementȱfromȱoneȱorȱbothȱsidesȱofȱtheȱbusinessȱpartners.ȱIn
1305,ȱtheȱVienneseȱJewȱIsakȱsoldȱrevenuesȱatȱFalkenstein,ȱthatȱhadȱbeenȱhisȱprivate
property,ȱtoȱCountȱBertholdȱofȱMaidburg.15ȱWhileȱIsak,ȱ“servant”ȱofȱtheȱQueen
Elisabethȱ (derȱ [.ȱ .ȱ .]ȱ chueniginnenȱ jude)ȱ andȱ relatedȱ toȱ theȱ wealthiestȱ andȱ most
influentialȱfamilies,ȱwasȱdoubtlesslyȱaȱmemberȱofȱtheȱhigherȱsocialȱandȱeconomic
class,ȱfourȱotherȱJewsȱservedȱasȱwitnessesȱoutȱofȱwhomȱatȱleastȱoneȱ(alsoȱnamed
Isak)ȱwasȱlivingȱinȱMautern,ȱanȱoldȱbutȱcomparativelyȱsmallȱsettlementȱopposite
Kremsȱ onȱ theȱ southȱ bankȱ ofȱ theȱ Danube.16ȱ Thisȱ documentȱ representsȱ theȱ only
knownȱmentionȱofȱJewishȱpresenceȱinȱMautern,ȱandȱoneȱofȱtheȱearliestȱJewsȱwho
livedȱinȱtheȱcountrysideȱknownȱbyȱname.ȱ
Itȱ isȱ quiteȱ likelyȱ thatȱ anyȱ Jewsȱ whoȱ livedȱ thereȱ wereȱ membersȱ ofȱ theȱ Jewish
communityȱinȱtheȱtownȱofȱKremsȱthatȱhousedȱoneȱofȱtheȱbiggestȱcommunitiesȱin
theȱduchyȱofȱAustria.ȱWhileȱIsakȱofȱMauternȱthereforeȱwouldȱhaveȱhadȱeasyȱaccess
toȱtheȱsynagogueȱandȱtheȱotherȱfacilitiesȱatȱKremsȱandȱwouldȱhaveȱbeenȱableȱto
participateȱinȱtheȱcommunityȱprayersȱandȱfestiveȱceremonies,ȱhisȱcontemporary
Leb,ȱwhoȱlivedȱinȱtheȱvillageȱofȱGarsȱatȱtheȱriverȱKamp,ȱwouldȱhaveȱhadȱtoȱcover
aȱ distanceȱ ofȱ aboutȱ 30ȱ kilometersȱ downstreamȱ theȱ riverȱ throughȱ aȱ ratherȱ hilly
landscapeȱtoȱgetȱtoȱKrems.17ȱUnlikeȱIsakȱofȱMauternȱhowever,ȱwhoȱonlyȱappears
asȱaȱwitnessȱtoȱaȱbusinessȱtransactionȱofȱaȱhighȬrankingȱbusinessman,ȱLebȱhimself
wasȱ(toȱjudgeȱbyȱhisȱfewȱappearances)ȱanȱaccomplishedȱmoneylender:ȱinȱ1312,
threeȱbrothersȱofȱtheȱnobleȱfamilyȱofȱBuchbergȱpawnedȱtheirȱcastle,ȱseveralȱplots
ofȱland,ȱandȱtheȱvillageȱofȱOttenȱwithȱallȱitsȱrevenuesȱtoȱLebȱforȱtheȱsumȱofȱ150
poundȱ pennies,ȱ aȱ loanȱ thatȱ hadȱ presumablyȱ alreadyȱ beenȱ takenȱ outȱ byȱ their
father.18ȱ
TheȱBuchbergȱfamilyȱhadȱbeenȱinȱfinancialȱtroublesȱforȱseveralȱyears,ȱcounting
someȱofȱtheȱmostȱprestigiousȱJewishȱmoneylendersȱamongȱtheirȱcreditors,ȱand
continuedȱtoȱincurȱdebtsȱwithȱJewishȱbusinessȱpartnersȱinȱtheȱfollowingȱyears.ȱTied
15
16
17
18
EvelineȱBrugger,ȱAdelȱundȱJudenȱinȱNiederösterreich.ȱDieȱBeziehungenȱniederösterreichischerȱAdelsȬ
familienȱzurȱjüdischenȱFührungsschichtȱvonȱdenȱAnfängenȱbisȱzurȱPulkauerȱVerfolgungȱ1338ȱ(St.ȱPölten:
NiederösterreichischesȱInstitutȱfürȱLandeskunde,ȱ2004),ȱ51–53ȱandȱ119–20;ȱKlausȱLohrmann,ȱDie
WienerȱJudenȱimȱMittelalterȱ(BerlinȱandȱVienna:ȱPhilo,ȱ2000),ȱ131–32.
Seeȱ1100ȱJahreȱcivitasȱMutarensis.ȱMauternȱinȱMittelalterȱundȱfrüherȱNeuzeit.ȱAusstellungskatalog,
2nd.ȱed.ȱ(Mautern:ȱVerlagȱderȱGemeindeȱ1999).
AȱmedievalȱsynagogueȱatȱHadersdorfȱamȱKampȱ(whichȱwouldȱhaveȱshortenedȱLeb’sȱjourneyȱby
aboutȱ 5ȱ kilometers)ȱ isȱ onlyȱ reportedȱ byȱ theȱ veryȱ unreliableȱ Leopoldȱ Moses,ȱ Dieȱ Judenȱ in
Niederösterreichȱ(mitȱbesondererȱBerücksichtigungȱdesȱXVII.ȱJahrhunderts).ȱ(Vienna:ȱVerlagȱHeinrich
Glanz,ȱ1935),ȱ129;ȱseeȱalsoȱPierreȱGenée,ȱSynagogenȱinȱÖsterreichȱ(Vienna:ȱLöckerȱVerlag,ȱ1992),ȱ28.ȱ
644
BirgitȱWiedl
toȱtheȱdocumentȱfromȱ1312ȱwasȱaȱHebrewȱcharterȱfromȱafterȱ133019ȱthatȱwasȱissued
byȱtheȱJewishȱbrothersȱRachemȱandȱManoach,ȱsonsȱofȱJehudaȱhaKohen,ȱwhoȱsold
halfȱ ofȱ theȱ castleȱ Buchberg,ȱ thatȱ hadȱ fallenȱ toȱ them,ȱ toȱ Dukeȱ Albrechtȱ II
(1298–1358).ȱUnfortunately,ȱnoȱinformationȱasȱtoȱhowȱitȱhadȱcomeȱtoȱpassȱthat
RachemȱandȱManoachȱwereȱentitledȱtoȱsellingȱtheȱpawnȱorȱasȱtoȱwhereȱtheyȱlived
isȱ providedȱ inȱ theȱ textȱ ofȱ theȱ document,ȱ butȱ theȱ additionalȱ corroborationȱ by
MoscheȱbarȱGamliel,ȱtheȱVienneseȱRabbi,20ȱgivesȱevidenceȱtoȱtheȱfactȱthatȱtheyȱwere
membersȱofȱtheȱVienneseȱcommunity.ȱ
AnȱidentificationȱofȱLebȱwithȱRachemȱandȱManoach’sȱfatherȱJehuda,ȱasȱargued
forȱbyȱSpitzer,ȱisȱatȱleastȱproblematic21:ȱwhileȱnamesȱmeaningȱ‘lion’ȱwereȱusedȱas
kinnuim,ȱthatȱis,ȱvernacularȱorȱprofaneȱnames,ȱforȱJehudaȱ(dueȱtoȱtheȱcomparison
ofȱ Judahȱ toȱ aȱ youngȱ lionȱ inȱ Jacob’sȱ benediction,ȱ Genesisȱ 49:9),22ȱ thereȱ isȱ not
necessarilyȱanyȱconnectionȱ betweenȱtheȱ‘holyȱname,’ȱtheȱHebrewȱnameȱthatȱis
givenȱtoȱtheȱJewishȱboyȱatȱhisȱcircumcision,ȱandȱtheȱnameȱthatȱisȱusuallyȱused.23
AnotherȱappearanceȱofȱLebȱofȱGarsȱaȱfewȱyearsȱlaterȱfurtherȱspeaksȱagainstȱthis
identification;ȱandȱwhileȱitȱdisprovesȱanyȱconnectionȱofȱLebȱwithȱtheȱbigȱViennese
community,ȱitȱpointsȱatȱaȱmoreȱcontinuousȱpresenceȱofȱatȱleastȱoneȱJewishȱfamily
inȱGars:ȱinȱ1324,ȱLebȱhadȱmovedȱtoȱRetz,24ȱaȱsmallȱtownȱcloseȱtoȱMoraviaȱthatȱhad
beenȱnewlyȱfoundedȱonlyȱaȱfewȱdecadesȱearlier.ȱInȱhisȱbusinessȱdocumentsȱwith
theȱlocalȱlowerȱnobility,ȱheȱwasȱcalledȱ“LebȱtheȱJewȱofȱRetz,ȱsonȱofȱMenleinȱof
Gars”,ȱindicatingȱthatȱnotȱonlyȱheȱbutȱalsoȱhisȱfather–andȱthereforeȱpresumablyȱthe
wholeȱ family–hadȱ takenȱ upȱ residenceȱ inȱ Garsȱ forȱ atȱ leastȱ severalȱ years.ȱ The
wordingȱofȱtheȱcharterȱallowsȱtheȱassumptionȱthatȱMenleinȱwasȱnotȱonlyȱstillȱalive
inȱ1324ȱbutȱstillȱlivingȱinȱtheȱsmallȱLowerȱAustrianȱvillage.ȱ
Lebȱisȱaȱratherȱtypicalȱexampleȱ(ifȱweȱcanȱdeduceȱanyȱ‘typical’ȱcharacteristicsȱof
sourceȱ materialȱ thatȱ scarce)ȱ ofȱ aȱ Jewȱ livingȱ inȱ theȱ countrysideȱ whoȱ wasȱ yet
19
20
21
22
23
24
TheȱHebrewȱcharterȱwasȱtiedȱtoȱtheȱcharterȱfromȱ1312ȱwithȱaȱstringȱthatȱhasȱbeenȱremoved;ȱthe
charterȱisȱnowȱfiledȱunderȱtheȱdateȱ1330–1347ȱatȱtheȱAustrianȱStateȱArchivesȱatȱViennaȱ(HausȬ,
HofȬȱundȱStaatsarchivȱWien,ȱAURȱ1330–1347);ȱseeȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),
266–67,ȱ n.ȱ 317ȱ (fullȱ Hebrewȱ textȱ andȱ Germanȱ translation);ȱ Brugger,ȱ Adelȱ undȱ Judenȱ (seeȱ note
15),65–66.
Keil,ȱ“GemeindeȱundȱKultur”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ65.
ShlomoȱSpitzer,ȱ“NiederösterreichischeȱhebräischeȱUrkundenȱausȱdemȱ14.ȱJahrhundert,”ȱUnsere
Heimatȱ51ȱ(1980),ȱ185–91;ȱhereȱ187,ȱwithȱfn.ȱ5.
AlexanderȱBeider,ȱAȱDictionaryȱofȱAshkenazicȱGivenȱNames:ȱTheirȱOrigins,ȱStructure,ȱPronunciation,
andȱMigrationsȱ(Bergenfield,ȱNJ:ȱAvotaynu,ȱ2001),ȱ358.
Marthaȱ Keil,ȱ “‘Petachja,ȱ genanntȱ Zecherl’:ȱ Namenȱ undȱ Beinamenȱ vonȱ Judenȱ imȱ deutschen
SprachraumȱdesȱSpätmittelalters,”ȱPersonennamenȱundȱIdentität.ȱNamengebungȱundȱNamengebrauch
alsȱAnzeigerȱindividuellerȱBestimmungȱundȱgruppenbezogenerȱZuordnung,ȱed.ȱReinhardȱHärtel.ȱGrazer
grundwissenschaftlicheȱ Forschungen,ȱ 3,ȱ Schriftenreiheȱ derȱ Akademieȱ Friesach,ȱ 2ȱ (Graz:
AkademischeȱDruckȬȱundȱVerlagsanstalt,ȱ1997),ȱ119–146;ȱhereȱ120–21ȱandȱ133–35.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ225–26,ȱn.ȱ256ȱ(1324)ȱandȱ276,ȱn.ȱ334ȱ(1331,ȱwithȱno
mentionȱofȱtheȱfather);ȱBrugger,ȱAdelȱundȱJudenȱ(seeȱnoteȱ15),64,ȱ125–26ȱandȱ130–31ȱ(edition).
645
financiallyȱstrongȱenoughȱtoȱbeȱofȱinterestȱtoȱaȱnobleȱclientele,ȱalthoughȱheȱwasȱno
matchȱtoȱhisȱurbanȱcontemporaries,ȱsuchȱasȱtheȱVienneseȱJewessȱGutmanin,ȱor
Nachmanȱ ofȱ theȱ Carinthianȱ townȱ ofȱ Friesachȱ thatȱ wasȱ underȱ theȱ rulershipȱ of
Salzburg.25ȱLeb’sȱlaterȱbusinessȱdealingsȱsuggestȱatȱleastȱconsiderableȱwealth;ȱin
1324,ȱheȱboughtȱaȱfeudalȱestateȱforȱ62ȱpoundȱpennies,ȱsevenȱyearsȱlater,ȱaȱtitheȱfor
95ȱpoundȱpennies,ȱbothȱlocatedȱinȱtheȱimmediateȱsurroundingsȱofȱhisȱresidence,
whichȱshedsȱnotȱonlyȱ(some)ȱlightȱonȱhisȱfinancialȱbackgroundȱbutȱalsoȱonȱhisȱclose
tiesȱwithȱtheȱruralȱareaȱheȱlivedȱin.26
AnotherȱsourceȬrelatedȱproblemȱthatȱaffectsȱbothȱurbanȱandȱruralȱJewsȱliesȱinȱthe
typeȱofȱtheȱtransmittedȱsourceȱmaterial.ȱBusinessȱcharters—ifȱtheȱtransactionȱwas
deemedȱimportantȱenoughȱtoȱwarrantȱaȱwrittenȱrecordȱatȱall—suchȱasȱobligations,
debentureȱ bonds,ȱ lettersȱ givenȱ outȱ toȱ theȱ guarantors,ȱ orȱ quittances,ȱ were
documentsȱthatȱlostȱtheirȱvalidityȱwhenȱeitherȱtheȱdebtȱhadȱbeenȱpaidȱbackȱorȱnew
arrangementsȱhadȱbeenȱmadeȱ(includingȱtheȱincreasinglyȱpopularȱ‘killing’ȱofȱthe
debtȱinȱtheȱlateȱfourteenthȱcentury—anȱannulmentȱofȱtheȱdebtȱbyȱducalȱorder).
Thisȱ meansȱ thatȱ evenȱ withȱ regardȱ toȱ theȱ ratherȱ randomȱ traditionȱ ofȱ written
documentsȱofȱtheȱlateȱMiddleȱAges,ȱtheȱpercentageȱofȱbusinessȱdocumentsȱlostȱto
usȱisȱparticularlyȱhigh.ȱSometimes,ȱaȱVȬshapedȱincisionȱwasȱcutȱintoȱanȱobligation
asȱaȱsignȱofȱcassation,ȱwhichȱwasȱkeptȱbyȱtheȱ(former)ȱdebtorsȱasȱaȱproofȱforȱthe
paybackȱ ofȱ theȱ debtȱ orȱ theȱ redemptionȱ ofȱ theȱ pawn;ȱ yetȱ theȱ majorityȱ ofȱ these
documentsȱ isȱ irrevocablyȱ lost.ȱ Anȱ exceptionȱ toȱ thisȱ areȱ monasteries,ȱ inȱ whose
archivesȱtheȱexpensiveȱparchmentȱwasȱsometimesȱputȱtoȱanotherȱuse:ȱmanyȱhigh
andȱlateȱmedievalȱchartersȱfoundȱtheirȱwayȱintoȱbookȱcovers,ȱeitherȱasȱaȱ‘filling’ȱor
asȱtheȱinsideȱpageȱofȱtheȱcover.27ȱ
TheȱpresenceȱofȱseveralȱJewsȱinȱtheȱWaldviertelȱarea,ȱtheȱnorthȬwestȱofȱtoday’s
LowerȱAustria,ȱinȱtheȱyearsȱ1316/1321ȱisȱdocumentedȱinȱaȱratherȱuniqueȱway:ȱat
someȱpointȱinȱtime,ȱannulledȱobligationsȱwereȱcutȱupȱandȱsewnȱtogetherȱtoȱform
pouchesȱ forȱ theȱ sealsȱ ofȱ chartersȱ thatȱ wereȱ deemedȱ moreȱ important.ȱ Onȱ these
snippetsȱcanȱbeȱfoundȱtheȱonlyȱevidenceȱthatȱtheȱJewȱAbraham,ȱwhoȱhadȱbeen
25
26
27
Nachman,ȱforȱexample,ȱgaveȱoutȱaȱloanȱofȱ(about)ȱ800ȱmarkȱsilver,ȱtheȱfamily,ȱoriginatingȱfromȱthe
StyrianȱtownȱofȱJudenburg,ȱownedȱhousesȱinȱViennaȱandȱhadȱ‘branchȱoffices’ȱinȱSalzburgȱand,
presumably,ȱ Regensburg;ȱ seeȱ Wadl,ȱ Geschichteȱ derȱ Judenȱ inȱ Kärntenȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 14),ȱ 209–22;
Gutmanin,ȱwidowȱandȱdaughterȬinȬlawȱofȱtwoȱprestigiousȱVienneseȱmoneylenders,ȱGutmanȱand
Lebman,ȱhadȱborrowedȱ430ȱpoundȱpenniesȱtoȱtheȱnobleȱfamilyȱofȱHagenbergȱ(BruggerȱandȱWiedl,
Regestenȱ1ȱ[seeȱnoteȱ4],ȱ308,ȱn.ȱ392ȱ[Nachman],ȱ233,ȱn.ȱ268ȱ[Gutmanin];ȱseeȱtheȱindexȱthereȱfor
furtherȱexamples).
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ225–26,ȱn.ȱ256,ȱ276,ȱn.ȱ334.
SeeȱforȱexampleȱtheȱtwoȱobligationsȱtoȱtheȱVienneseȱJewȱEfferleinȱthatȱwereȱreȬusedȱasȱaȱbook
coverȱbyȱtheȱmonasteryȱofȱZwettl,ȱ
http://www.momȬca.uniȬkoeln.de/mom/ATȬStiAZ/Urkunden/1323Ȭ1325/charterȱ
andȱhttp://www.momȬca.uniȬkoeln.de/mom/ATȬStiAZ/Urkunden/1306_III_22/charterȱ
(lastȱaccessedȱonȱJan.ȱ16,ȱ2012).
646
BirgitȱWiedl
livingȱwithȱhisȱfatherȱatȱEggenburgȱaroundȱ1311,ȱhadȱmovedȱtoȱZwettlȱinȱorȱbefore
1316.ȱFurthermore,ȱtheseȱsealȱpouchesȱaddȱtoȱourȱknowledgeȱaboutȱthreeȱother
Jewsȱinȱtheȱarea:ȱSybotoȱandȱhisȱsonȱJoseph,ȱwhoȱlivedȱinȱtheȱsmallȱtownȱofȱHorn
(40ȱkilometersȱnorthȱofȱKrems)ȱandȱdidȱbusinessȱwithȱtheȱmonasteryȱofȱZwettl,28
andȱ Hendleinȱ ofȱ Gmündȱ (70ȱ kilometersȱ northwestȱ ofȱ Kremsȱ atȱ theȱ Bohemian
border),ȱwhoȱappearsȱasȱaȱbusinessȱpartnerȱofȱtheȱmonasteryȱofȱZwettlȱandȱthe
nunneryȱofȱSt.ȱBernhardȱinȱtheȱvicinityȱofȱZwettlȱ(seeȱFig.ȱ2).29
InȱtheȱarchivesȱofȱtheȱabbeyȱofȱLilienfeld,ȱanotherȱJewishȱfamilyȱcanȱbeȱtraced
thatȱhadȱtakenȱupȱresidenceȱinȱtheȱcountrysideȱinȱtheȱfirstȱhalfȱofȱtheȱfourteenth
century.ȱ Inȱ 1317,ȱ theȱ Jewessȱ Hadas,ȱ herȱ sonsȱ Sechleinȱ andȱ Smerilȱ andȱ “other
relativesȱlivingȱinȱTraiskirchen,”ȱaȱvillageȱaboutȱ25ȱkilometersȱsouthȱofȱVienna,ȱgot
intoȱaȱdisputeȱwithȱtheȱAbbeyȱofȱLilienfeldȱoverȱfourȱvineyardsȱwhichȱtheȱJews
claimedȱhadȱbeenȱpawnedȱtoȱthemȱpriorȱtoȱtheȱdonationȱtoȱtheȱmonasteryȱbyȱthe
formerȱowner.ȱByȱanȱarbitralȱverdictȱofȱKingȱFrederic’sȱrepresentatives,ȱtheȱJews
wereȱgrantedȱ16ȱpoundȱpennies,ȱplusȱhalfȱofȱtheȱvineyards’ȱharvestȱuntilȱHadas’s
death.30ȱAtȱleastȱherȱsonȱSmerilȱstayedȱinȱTraiskirchen,ȱwhereȱheȱcanȱbeȱtraced
doingȱbusinessȱwithȱtheȱlocalȱgentryȱandȱVienneseȱcitizens,ȱwhereasȱnoneȱofȱthe
otherȱfamilyȱmembersȱareȱmentionedȱagain.31ȱ
However,ȱtransactionsȱbetweenȱJewsȱandȱvillagers,ȱletȱaloneȱpeasants,ȱwhich
presumablyȱmadeȱupȱtheȱmajorityȱofȱtheȱclienteleȱofȱtheȱruralȱJewry,ȱwereȱhardly
everȱ evenȱ notedȱ down.ȱ Itȱ isȱ thereforeȱ difficult,ȱ ifȱ notȱ impossible,ȱ toȱ giveȱ a
conclusiveȱjudgmentȱasȱtoȱhowȱextensiveȱtheȱbusinssesȱofȱmostȱofȱtheȱruralȱJews
(asȱwellȱasȱtheirȱlowȬscaleȱurbanȱcounterparts)ȱwere.ȱTheȱ(preserved)ȱbusiness
documentsȱofȱJewsȱsuchȱasȱIsakȱofȱRaabs,32ȱLazarusȱandȱhisȱsonȱAbraham,ȱcalled
‘ourȱJews’ȱbyȱtheȱtownȱcouncilȱofȱEggenburg,33ȱAbrahamȱandȱJeschemȱofȱZwettl,34
Smerleinȱ ofȱ Krut,35ȱ andȱ theȱ Jewessesȱ Sternaȱ ofȱ Wolkersdorf36ȱ andȱ Hendleinȱ of
Stockstall37ȱhardlyȱeverȱincludeȱreferencesȱtoȱtoȱmoreȱthanȱ20–30ȱpoundȱpennies,
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Bruggerȱ andȱ Wiedl,ȱ Regestenȱ 1ȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 4),ȱ 213–14,ȱ n.ȱ 234.ȱ Sybotoȱ andȱ Josephȱ areȱ otherwise
documentedȱinȱaȱmanuscriptȱkeptȱatȱtheȱlibraryȱofȱZwettl,ȱid.,ȱ209–10,ȱns.ȱ228–29.ȱ
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ237–39,ȱns.ȱ275–76,ȱ265–66,ȱn.ȱ316.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ246,ȱn.ȱ288ȱ(1328),ȱandȱ259,ȱn.ȱ306ȱ(1329).
1330,ȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ269,ȱn.ȱ322.
1311,ȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ179–80,ȱn.ȱ178.
1315–1317ȱ(Abraham),ȱ1337ȱ(Jeschem),ȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ190,ȱn.ȱ196,ȱ
1390,ȱ Rudolfȱ Geyerȱ andȱ Leopoldȱ Sailer,ȱ Urkundenȱ ausȱ Wienerȱ Grundbüchernȱ zurȱ Geschichteȱ der
Wienerȱ Judenȱ imȱ Mittelalter.ȱ Quellenȱ undȱ Forschungenȱ zurȱ Geschichteȱ derȱ Judenȱ in
Deutschösterreichȱ10ȱ(Vienna:ȱDeutscherȱVerlagȱfürȱJugendȱundȱVolk,ȱ1931),ȱ112,ȱn.ȱ335.ȱKrutȱis
eitherȱGroßkrutȱorȱDürnkrut,ȱbothȱlocatedȱinȱtheȱnorthernȱWeinviertel,ȱnorthwestȱofȱVienna.
1383ȱandȱ1387,ȱGeyerȱandȱSailer,ȱUrkundenȱausȱWienerȱGrundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ19,ȱn.ȱ55,ȱ70–71,
647
oftenȱ less,ȱ whileȱ Sybotoȱ ofȱ Horn,ȱ aboutȱ whoseȱ otherȱ businessȱ transactionsȱ we
knowȱnothing,ȱhadȱatȱleastȱbeenȱableȱtoȱgiveȱoutȱaȱloanȱthatȱhad,ȱwithȱinterest,
addedȱupȱtoȱaȱsumȱofȱ130ȱpoundȱpennies.ȱInȱ1305,ȱaȱseferȱmizwotȱkatanȱ(“smallȱbook
ofȱregulations”)ȱwasȱwrittenȱforȱaȱJewȱJacobȱofȱHorn.38ȱWhetherȱthisȱJacobȱmight
beȱidentifiedȱwithȱaȱJewȱJacobȱwhoȱappearsȱinȱaȱbusinessȱcharterȱthatȱwasȱissued
inȱ Hornȱ inȱ 132739ȱ isȱ unclear,ȱ yetȱ possible,ȱ whichȱ wouldȱ suggestȱ aȱ continuous
presenceȱofȱ(somewhatȱwealthy)ȱJewsȱinȱtheȱtownȱforȱseveralȱdecades.
NoneȱofȱtheȱearlyȱbusinessȱdealingsȱofȱtheȱJewȱMosche,ȱsonȱofȱIsak,ȱwhoȱlived
inȱ theȱ marketȱ townȱ ofȱ Perchtoldsdorfȱ (ca.ȱ 15ȱ kilometersȱ southȱ ofȱ theȱ centerȱ of
Vienna,ȱ rightȱ atȱ today’sȱ cityȱ border)ȱ sinceȱ 1355,ȱ suggestȱ anyȱ highȱ financial
capacity.ȱTheȱpurchaseȱofȱaȱfarmstead,ȱandȱtheȱreȬsellingȱofȱitȱaȱyearȱlaterȱnever
exceedȱtheȱamountȱofȱ50ȱpounds,ȱandȱhisȱpossessionȱofȱaȱhouseȱatȱPerchtoldsdorf
onlyȱindicateȱaȱsufficientȱlivelihood.40ȱHisȱcorroborativeȱsignatureȱonȱaȱHebrew
charterȱofȱtheȱCarinthianȱJewȱAbrechȱofȱFriesachȱinȱ1357,ȱhowever,ȱpointsȱatȱmore
farȬreachingȱ businessȱ contacts,41ȱ andȱ aȱ documentȱ fromȱ 1361ȱ givesȱ proofȱ of
Mosche’sȱconsiderableȱcapacityȱasȱaȱmoneylender:ȱinȱaȱsettlementȱwithȱtheȱnoble
familyȱofȱSchaunberg,ȱtheȱAustrianȱDukeȱRudolphȱIVȱ(1339–1365)ȱagreedȱtoȱpay
offȱsomeȱofȱhisȱdebtsȱbyȱtakingȱoverȱtheȱSchaunbergs’ȱobligationsȱtowardȱMosche
ofȱPerchtoldsdorfȱthatȱhadȱamountedȱtoȱnoȱlessȱthanȱ1.200ȱpoundȱpennies.42ȱAȱnote
scribbledȱatȱtheȱbottomȱofȱtheȱdocumentȱsuggestsȱthatȱMoscheȱdidȱindeedȱgetȱhis
moneyȱfromȱthe—habituallyȱbroke—Austrianȱduke,ȱindicatingȱthatȱRudolphȱIV
didȱ notȱ wantȱ toȱ impairȱ theȱ financialȱ capacitiesȱ ofȱ someoneȱ heȱ deemedȱ useful.
38
39
40
41
42
n.ȱ197.
GermaniaȱJudaica,ȱII:ȱVonȱ1238ȱbisȱzurȱMitteȱdesȱ14.ȱJahrhunderts,ȱpartȱ1:ȱAachenȱ–ȱLuzern,ȱpartȱ2:
Maastrichtȱ–ȱZwolle,ȱed.ȱZviȱAvneriȱ(Tübingen:ȱJ.ȱC.ȱBȱMohr/PaulȱSiebeck,ȱ1968);ȱhereȱII/1,ȱ370.
1355,ȱ1358,ȱ1360ȱ(mentionȱofȱhisȱhouseȱinȱPerchtoldsdorf),ȱEvelineȱBruggerȱandȱBirgitȱWiedl,
RegestenȱzurȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱÖsterreichȱimȱMittelalter,ȱ2:ȱ1339–1365ȱ(Innsbruck,ȱVienna,ȱand
Bolzano:ȱStudienVerlag,ȱ2010);ȱforȱtheȱinternetȱversion,ȱsee
http://www.injoest.ac.at/projekte/laufend/mittelalterliche_judenurkunden/,ȱlastȱaccessedȱonȱJan.
16,ȱ2012),ȱ172,ȱn.ȱ808,ȱ200,ȱn.ȱ868,ȱ241,ȱn.ȱ948.ȱTheȱentriesȱinȱGermaniaȱJudaica,ȱII/2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ38),
648–49ȱ andȱ Germaniaȱ Judaica,ȱ III:ȱ 1350–1519,ȱ partȱ 1:ȱ Ortschaftsartikelȱ Aachȱ –ȱ Lychen,ȱ partȱ 2:
Ortschaftsartikelȱ MährischȬBudwitzȱ –ȱ Zwolle,ȱ partȱ 3:ȱ partȱ 3:ȱ Gebietsartikel,ȱ Einleitungsartikelȱ und
Indices,ed.ȱ Aryeȱ Maimon,ȱ Mordechaiȱ Breuer,ȱ andȱ Yacovȱ Guggenheimȱ (Tübingen:ȱ J.ȱ C.ȱ B
Mohr/PaulȱSiebeck,ȱ1987,ȱ1995,ȱ2003),ȱhereȱIII/2,ȱ1094–95ȱandȱ1605,ȱwithȱfn.ȱ189,ȱareȱsomewhat
problematicȱsinceȱtheyȱplaceȱMoscheȱfirmlyȱinȱVienna,ȱwithȱPerchtoldsdorfȱasȱhisȱ“secondary
residence;”ȱyetȱalthoughȱtheȱsourceȱmaterialȱgivesȱevidenceȱthatȱMoscheȱenjoyedȱstrongȱtiesȱtoȱthe
Vienneseȱcommunity,ȱheȱisȱalwaysȱcalledȱ“from/ofȱPerchtoldsdorf”ȱinȱtheȱsources.ȱ
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ266,ȱn.ȱ999;ȱseeȱBirgitȱWiedl,ȱ“DieȱKriegskassenȱvoll
jüdischenȱ Geldes?ȱ Derȱ Beitragȱ derȱ österreichischenȱ Judenȱ zurȱ Kriegsfinanzierungȱ imȱ 14.
Jahrhundert,”ȱ Kriegȱ undȱ Wirtschaftȱ vonȱ derȱ Antikeȱ bisȱ insȱ 21.ȱ Jahrhundert,ȱ ed.ȱ Wolframȱ Dornik,
Walterȱ Iber,ȱ andȱ Johannesȱ Giessaufȱ (Innsbruck,ȱ Vienna,ȱ andȱ Bolzano:ȱ StudienVerlag,ȱ 2010),
241–60;ȱhereȱ244ȱandȱ250–51.
648
BirgitȱWiedl
Mosche’sȱfurtherȱbusinessȱcontactsȱmainlyȱconcernedȱmembersȱofȱtheȱViennese
citizenryȱ butȱ extendedȱ alsoȱ toȱ highȬrankingȱ noblemenȱ suchȱ asȱ theȱ Countsȱ of
OrtenburgȱandȱPfannberg,ȱtheȱAustrianȱlordȱsteward,ȱand,ȱagain,ȱtheȱAustrian
dukesȱRudolphȱIVȱandȱAlbrechtȱIIIȱ(1349/1350–1395).43ȱAȱdocumentȱfromȱ1367
givesȱevidenceȱofȱMosche’sȱhighȱrankȱalsoȱinȱaȱsocialȱcontext:ȱtogetherȱwithȱthree
JewsȱfromȱVienna,ȱandȱoneȱofȱKorneuburgȱandȱÖdenburg/Sopronȱrespectively,
Moscheȱ isȱ namedȱ “Jewishȱ master”ȱ (Judenmeister)ȱ byȱ theȱ Austrianȱ dukesȱ who
demandedȱtheȱpaymentȱofȱ20.000ȱflorinȱfromȱtheȱJewsȱwhoȱhadȱstoodȱsuretyȱfor
anotherȱ Mosche,ȱ aȱ highȬrankingȱ moneylenderȱ fromȱ theȱ townȱ ofȱ Cilliȱ (Celje,
Slovenia).ȱ
Sinceȱ Moscheȱ ofȱ Cilliȱ (andȱ hisȱ brotherȱ Chatschim)ȱ hadȱ fledȱ fromȱ theȱ ducal
territory,ȱ theseȱ judenmeisterȱ wereȱ responsibleȱ forȱ collectingȱ theȱ money,
while—quiteȱuntypicalȱforȱguarantors—theȱdukesȱpromisedȱthemȱthatȱtheyȱwould
notȱ beȱ liableȱ forȱ theȱ sumȱ withȱ theirȱ ownȱ properties.44ȱ Theȱ statusȱ ofȱ theseȱ six
judenmeisterȱ isȱ notȱ clear—itȱ isȱ quiteȱ unlikelyȱ thatȱ theyȱ wereȱ rabbisȱ butȱ more
probableȱthatȱtheyȱwereȱparnassim,ȱtheȱheadsȱofȱtheȱrespectiveȱJewishȱcommunities,
whichȱ givesȱ possibleȱ evidenceȱ ofȱ anȱ establishedȱ Jewishȱ communityȱ at
Perchtoldsdorfȱaroundȱ1360.ȱTheȱcommunityȱatȱPerchtoldsdorfȱflourishedȱfromȱthe
1370sȱonward,ȱaȱsynagogueȱwasȱestablished,ȱandȱmoneylendersȱsuchȱasȱPatusch45
joinedȱMosche,ȱwhoȱcontinuedȱdoingȱbusinessȱtogetherȱwithȱhisȱsonȱMankutȱand
hisȱgrandsonȱNassan.ȱ
Theȱ presenceȱ ofȱ atȱ leastȱ twoȱ Jewishȱ familiesȱ engagedȱ inȱ moneylending
warrantedȱtheȱappearanceȱofȱJewishȱjudges,ȱChristiansȱwhoȱwereȱresponsibleȱfor
businessȱdealingsȱbetweenȱJewsȱandȱChristians,ȱthatȱcanȱbeȱtracedȱinȱtheȱsources
fromȱ1377ȱonwardȱuntilȱtheȱ1420sȱwhenȱJewishȱlifeȱwasȱbroughtȱtoȱaȱviolentȱend
inȱAustria.ȱLikeȱMosche’s,ȱPatusch’sȱfamilyȱwasȱbusinessȬwiseȱorientedȱtoward
43
44
45
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ271,ȱn.ȱ1010ȱ(1362,ȱtheȱCountȱofȱPfannbergȱstands
suretyȱforȱaȱdebtȱofȱtheȱCountȱofȱOrtenburg),ȱ275,ȱn.ȱ1019ȱ(RudolphȱIVȱsettlesȱaȱdisputeȱbetween
hisȱservantȱCasparȱofȱAltmannsdorfȱandȱMosche),ȱHausȬ,ȱHofȬȱundȱStaatsarchivȱWienȱ(Austrian
StateȱArchivesȱVienna),ȱAURȱUk.ȱ1369ȱIȱ18ȱ(AlbrechtȱIIIȱannulsȱtheȱdebtsȱofȱhisȱlordȱstewartȱwith
theȱJewsȱMoscheȱofȱPerchtoldsdorfȱandȱJudmanȱofȱVienna).ȱMoscheȱmakesȱhisȱlastȱappearanceȱin
1381ȱ whenȱ sellingȱ aȱ vineyardȱ toȱ aȱ Vienneseȱ citizenȱ (Quellenȱ zurȱ Geschichteȱ derȱ Stadtȱ Wien,ȱ II:
RegestenȱausȱdemȱArchiveȱderȱStadtȱWien,ȱpartȱ1:ȱVerzeichnisȱderȱOriginalurkundenȱdesȱstädtischen
Archivsȱ1239–1411ȱ[Vienna:ȱVerlagȱdesȱAlterthumsȬVereinesȱzuȱWienȱbeiȱCarlȱKonegen,ȱ1898],ȱ243,
n.ȱ1019).
HausȬ,ȱ HofȬȱ undȱ Staatsarchivȱ Wienȱ (Austrianȱ Stateȱ Archivesȱ Vienna),ȱ AURȱ Uk.ȱ 1367ȱ VIȱ 16;
Christianȱ Lackner,ȱ Regestaȱ Habsburgica.ȱ Regestenȱ derȱ Grafenȱ vonȱ Habsburgȱ undȱ derȱ Herzogeȱ von
ÖsterreichȱausȱdemȱHauseȱHabsburg,ȱ5:ȱDieȱRegestenȱderȱHerzogeȱvonȱÖsterreichȱ(1365–1395),ȱpartȱ1:
1365–1370ȱ(ViennaȱandȱMunich:ȱOldenbourg,ȱ2007),ȱ97,ȱn.ȱ199.ȱKlausȱLohrmann,ȱJudenrechtȱund
JudenpolitikȱimȱmittelalterlichenȱÖsterreichȱ(ViennaȱandȱCologne:ȱBöhlauȱVerlag,ȱ1990),ȱ226.
PatuschȱisȱmentionedȱasȱJewȱofȱPerchtoldsdorfȱfromȱ1373ȱtoȱ1377,ȱQuellenȱzurȱGeschichteȱderȱStadt
Wien,ȱIII:ȱGrundbücherȱderȱStadtȱWien,ȱpartȱ1ȱ(Vienna:ȱVerlagȱdesȱAlterthumsȬVereinesȱzuȱWienȱbei
CarlȱKonegen,ȱ1898),ȱns.ȱ521,ȱ522,ȱ694,ȱandȱ909.
649
Vienna,ȱnamelyȱhisȱnephewȱLesirȱwhoȱcountedȱmanyȱcitizensȱofȱViennaȱamongȱhis
clienteleȱandȱquiteȱpossiblyȱlivedȱthereȱatȱleastȱpartȬtime.46ȱLesirȱservedȱasȱaȱparnass
inȱtheȱVienneseȱcommunityȱinȱ1386ȱandȱ1398,ȱforȱtheȱsecondȱtimeȱtogetherȱwithȱhis
sonȱ Chadgim,47ȱ andȱ oneȱ ofȱ Patusch’sȱ daughtersȱ wasȱ marriedȱ toȱ Tenichlein,ȱ a
Vienneseȱ moneylenderȱ andȱ rabbi.48ȱ Itȱ attestsȱ toȱ theȱ importanceȱ ofȱ the
Perchtoldsdorfȱ‘branch’ȱofȱtheȱfamilyȱthat,ȱwhenȱdoingȱbusinessȱwithȱtheȱPrioryȱof
Klosterneuburg,ȱTenichleinȱwasȱcalledȱ“JewȱofȱVienna,ȱsonȬinȬlawȱofȱPatuschȱof
Perchtoldsdorf,”49ȱjustȱasȱLesirȱwasȱreferredȱtoȱasȱ“Patusch’sȱnephew”ȱinȱmostȱof
theȱdocuments.
Residingȱinȱaȱruralȱareaȱdidȱthereforeȱnotȱnecessarilyȱequalȱhavingȱtoȱekeȱoutȱa
living,ȱnorȱdidȱitȱmeanȱaȱlimitationȱofȱtheȱclienteleȱtoȱsmallȬtownȱcitizenryȱand
peasants.ȱ BigȬdealȱ moneylendersȱ suchȱ asȱ Moscheȱ ofȱ Perchtoldsdorfȱ and,
particularly,ȱHetschelȱofȱHerzogenburg50ȱmightȱhaveȱbeenȱtheȱexception,ȱbutȱJews
likeȱNechlein,ȱsonȱofȱMaymon,ȱwhoȱ(both?)ȱlivedȱinȱWeiten,ȱwhichȱwasȱnothing
butȱaȱhamletȱaboutȱ15ȱkilometersȱnorthȱofȱMelk,ȱcouldȱatȱleastȱmusterȱtheȱfinancial
capacityȱtoȱlendȱaȱhundredȱpoundȱpenniesȱtoȱtheȱnobleȱfamilyȱofȱReichenstein.51
TheirȱappearanceȱisȱtheȱonlyȱevidenceȱofȱJewishȱpresenceȱapartȱfromȱtheȱmention
ofȱWeitenȱamongȱtheȱlistȱofȱbloodȱsitesȱofȱ1338ȱinȱtheȱNürnbergȱmemorialȱbook;ȱthe
allegedȱexistenceȱofȱaȱmedievalȱsynagogueȱwasȱalreadyȱinterpretedȱasȱaȱlegendȱin
theȱnineteenthȱcentury.52ȱSomeȱruralȱJewsȱwouldȱestablish,ȱorȱjoin,ȱcompaniesȱwith
highȬprofileȱmoneylenders,ȱsuchȱasȱtheȱJewȱSchebleinȱwhoȱlivedȱinȱtheȱStyrian
marketȱtownȱofȱSchwanberg,ȱaboutȱ50ȱkilometersȱsouthȬwestȱofȱGraz,ȱbutȱinȱ1340
appearsȱtogetherȱwithȱhisȱnamesakeȱSchebleinȱofȱCilliȱ(Celje,ȱtoday’sȱSlovenia)ȱand
MendleinȱofȱGraz,ȱtwoȱfinanciersȱofȱtheȱhighȱnobility.53
Butȱevenȱifȱducalȱandȱnobleȱcustomersȱwereȱtooȱupscaleȱaȱtargetȱgroupȱforȱmost
ofȱtheȱJewishȱmoneylendersȱinȱtheȱcountryside,ȱtheyȱmanagedȱtoȱbuiltȱupȱtheir
ownȱcircle(s)ȱofȱclienteleȱwhichȱoftenȱextendedȱbeyondȱtheȱresidentsȱofȱtheȱtheir
immediateȱsurroundingsȱintoȱtheȱlowerȱsocialȱstrataȱofȱtheȱurbanȱcenters.ȱInȱthe
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
GeyerȱandȱSailer,ȱUrkundenȱausȱWienerȱGrundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ600ȱ(listȱofȱentriesȱforȱLesir);
Lohrmann,ȱJudenrechtȱundȱJudenpolitikȱ(seeȱnoteȱ44)ȱ176–77;
GeyerȱandȱSailer,ȱUrkundenȱausȱWienerȱGrundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ55,ȱn.ȱ147ȱ(1386),ȱ293,ȱn.ȱ959
(1398).
Keil,ȱ“GemeindeȱundȱKultur”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ65;ȱLohrmann,ȱJudenrechtȱundȱJudenpolitikȱ(seeȱnoteȱ44)
176–77,ȱ211ȱ(onȱTenichelsȱbusiness).
StiftsarchivȱKlosterneuburgȱ(ArchivesȱofȱtheȱMonasteryȱofȱKlosterneuburg),ȱUk.ȱ1372ȱIIIȱ2.
SeeȱtheȱcontributionȱofȱEvelineȱBruggerȱinȱthisȱvolume.
Genée,ȱSynagogenȱinȱÖsterreichȱ(seeȱnoteȱ17),ȱ28.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ15–16,ȱns.ȱ468–69,ȱtheȱidentificationȱofȱtheȱScheblein
thatȱ appearsȱ fromȱ 1342–1344ȱ withȱ eitherȱ Schebleinȱ ofȱ Cilliȱ orȱ Schebleinȱ ofȱ Schwanbergȱ is
questionable.
650
BirgitȱWiedl
JudenbuchȱderȱScheffstrasse,54ȱaȱmanuscriptȱrecordingȱtheȱdebtsȱofȱtheȱinhabitantsȱof
theȱScheffstrasse,ȱanȱareaȱoutsideȱtheȱVienneseȱcityȱwallsȱmostlyȱpopulatedȱby
craftsmen,ȱforȱtheȱyearsȱ1389–1420,ȱnonȬVienneseȱJewsȱappearȱinȱhighȱnumber:
Josepinȱ(Sara)ȱofȱFeldsbergȱandȱDavidȱofȱDrauburgȱ(Dravograd,ȱSlovenia)ȱgranted
asȱ manyȱ loansȱ asȱ localȱ Jews,ȱ andȱ farȱ moreȱ thanȱ theȱ membersȱ ofȱ theȱ most
prestigiousȱandȱwealthyȱSteussȱfamilyȱwhoȱwereȱpossiblyȱ‘outȱofȱrange’ȱforȱthe
averageȱcraftsman.ȱ
TheȱVienneseȱGrundbücherȱ(landȱregistersȱandȱrentȱrolls)ȱshowȱanȱonlyȱslightly
differentȱpicture—whileȱmoreȱbusinessȱdealingsȱofȱVienneseȱJews,ȱincludingȱhighȬ
rankingȱfinanciersȱsuchȱasȱRabbiȱMeirȱofȱErfurt,ȱDavidȱSteuss’sȱsonȬinȬlaw,ȱandȱhis
wifeȱHansüß,ȱareȱrecordedȱandȱmakeȱupȱtheȱbetterȱpartȱofȱtheȱentries.ȱJewsȱlike
HirschȱofȱLengbach,ȱSlomleinȱofȱZistersdorf,ȱand,ȱagain,ȱtheȱFeldsbergȱfamilyȱof
theȱJewessȱJosepinȱfigureȱprominently.ȱAȱcloserȱanalysisȱofȱtheseȱsources,ȱhowever,
uncoversȱaȱmainȱproblemȱthatȱarisesȱwhenȱdealingȱwithȱ‘countrysideȱJews’:ȱforȱa
goodȱpartȱofȱtheȱentries,ȱitȱisȱimpossibleȱtoȱdetermineȱwhereȱtheȱJewsȱinȱquestion
actuallyȱ lived.ȱ Denominationȱ byȱ originȱ isȱ quiteȱ commonȱ forȱ bothȱ Jewsȱ and
Christians,ȱmeaningȱthatȱtheȱ‘location’ȱthatȱusuallyȱfollowsȱtheirȱnames—“Slomlein
theȱJewȱofȱZistersdorf”—mightȱasȱwellȱhaveȱreferredȱonlyȱtoȱtheirȱoriginȱinstead
ofȱ theirȱ actualȱ placeȱ ofȱ residence.ȱ Evenȱ moreȱ problematicȱ areȱ documentsȱ that
identifyȱ Jewsȱ byȱ meansȱ ofȱ namingȱ aȱ prominentȱ relative,ȱ suchȱ asȱ “theȱ Jew
Schäftlein,ȱJosepinȱofȱFeldsberg’sȱsonȬinȬlaw,”ȱsinceȱ“ofȱFeldsberg”ȱcouldȱveryȱwell
beȱreferringȱtoȱJosepinȱonly.ȱThis,ȱnevertheless,ȱoffersȱevidenceȱsupportingȱthe
importanceȱofȱtheȱFeldsbergȱJewess,ȱwereȱitȱnotȱforȱtheȱfactȱthatȱJosepinȱherself,
whoȱisȱonlyȱdocumentedȱinȱVienneseȱsources,ȱmightȱhaveȱlivedȱinȱViennaȱatȱleast
partȬtimeȱasȱwell.55
Jewishȱsettlementȱinȱruralȱvillagesȱwasȱwithȱaȱfewȱexceptionsȱlimitedȱevenȱinȱthe
lateȱfourteenthȱcentury,ȱtheȱJewishȱpopulationȱwasȱoftenȱlikelyȱtoȱconsistȱofȱno
moreȱthanȱoneȱorȱtwoȱfamilies.ȱWeȱknowȱveryȱlittleȱaboutȱtheȱdailyȱlifeȱofȱthese
Jews,ȱandȱhowȱtheyȱcopedȱwith,ȱandȱovercameȱtheȱdifficultiesȱtheyȱhadȱtoȱface
whenȱlivingȱnotȱonlyȱdoorȱtoȱdoor,ȱbutȱquiteȱoftenȱtogetherȱinȱoneȱhouseȱwithȱtheir
Christianȱneighbors.ȱWhileȱitȱisȱtantamountȱtoȱaȱcommonplaceȱbyȱnowȱevenȱto
mentionȱtheȱnumerous,ȱandȱmanifoldȱdailyȱcontactsȱbetweenȱChristiansȱandȱJews
livingȱinȱaȱcity,ȱandȱtheȱculturalȱtranslationȱthatȱcameȱasȱanȱinevitableȱresultȱof
theseȱ contacts,ȱ Jewishȱ urbanȱ spaceȱ was,ȱ evenȱ ifȱ theȱ Jewsȱ wereȱ byȱ noȱ means
confinedȱtoȱit,ȱmoreȱclearlyȱdefinedȱthanȱinȱtheȱruralȱareas.ȱJewsȱinȱtheȱcountryside,
54
55
Arthurȱ Goldmann,ȱ Dasȱ Judenbuchȱ derȱ Scheffstraßeȱ zuȱ Wienȱ (1389–1420),ȱ mitȱ einerȱ Schriftprobe.
QuellenȱundȱForschungenȱzurȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱDeutschȬÖsterreich,ȱ1ȱ(ViennaȱandȱLeipzig:
WilhelmȱBraumüller,ȱ1908);ȱonȱJudenbücherȱinȱAustriaȱinȱgeneral,ȱseeȱWiedl,ȱ“JewsȱandȱtheȱCity”
(seeȱnoteȱ13),ȱ291–92.
Keil,ȱ“NamenȱundȱBeinamen”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ23),ȱ124–25.
651
however,ȱoftenȱhadȱtoȱcelebrateȱtheirȱfeastsȱinsideȱaȱhouseȱ thatȱ wasȱ otherwise
occupiedȱbyȱChristians,ȱandȱtoȱrelyȱonȱtheirȱChristianȱneighborsȱthatȱtheyȱwould
atȱleastȱpartlyȱprovideȱtheirȱdailyȱneedsȱandȱaidȱthemȱinȱtheirȱdailyȱwork.ȱ
Apartȱ fromȱ houses,ȱ Jewishȱ ownershipȱ ofȱ vineyardsȱ wasȱ perhapsȱ theȱ most
commonȱformȱofȱJewishȱlandownershipȱinȱtheȱMiddleȱAgesȱthatȱintegratedȱthe
owner,ȱbeȱtheyȱurbanȱorȱrural,ȱatȱleastȱpartlyȱintoȱtheȱcycleȱofȱruralȱwork.56ȱAlready
theȱearliestȱdocumentsȱonȱJewishȱexistenceȱinȱAustriaȱdealȱwithȱvineyards:57ȱthe
twelfthȬcenturyȱJewȱSchlom,ȱmasterȱofȱtheȱducalȱmint,ȱwasȱinvolvedȱinȱaȱlegal
disputeȱwithȱtheȱBavarianȱmonasteryȱofȱVornbachȱoverȱtheȱpropertyȱtitlesȱtoȱa
vineyard.ȱSchlomȱstatedȱthatȱtheȱvineyardȱhadȱbeenȱinȱhisȱpossessionȱandȱthatȱthe
Christianȱwhoȱhadȱsoldȱitȱtoȱtheȱmonasteryȱhadȱbeenȱhisȱofficialȱwhoȱhadȱonly
cultivatedȱtheȱvineyard.58ȱ
Theȱpossessionȱofȱaȱvineyardȱ(theȱlocationȱofȱwhichȱisȱunclear)ȱdoes,ȱhowever,
notȱmakeȱSchlomȱaȱcountryȬdweller.ȱWhileȱSchlomȱwasȱlivingȱinȱVienna,ȱwhere
aroundȱthisȱtimeȱtheȱfirstȱJewishȱcommunityȱwasȱbeingȱestablished,ȱtheȱcaseȱisȱnot
soȱclearȱforȱotherȱthirteenthȬcenturyȱJewsȱwho,ȱatȱleastȱtemporarily,ȱwereȱinȱthe
possessionȱofȱvineyards.ȱInȱ1239,ȱtheȱsubdeaconȱBlasiusȱconfirmedȱtheȱsurrender
ofȱ severalȱ estatesȱ toȱ theȱ monasteryȱ ofȱ Saintȱ Nicolaȱ atȱ Passau,ȱ includingȱ two
vineyardsȱatȱRossatzȱ(onȱtheȱsouthernȱbankȱofȱtheȱDanube,ȱca.ȱ10ȱkilometersȱwest
ofȱ Krems).ȱ Beforeȱ theȱ monasteryȱ couldȱ fullyȱ takeȱ possessionȱ ofȱ theȱ vineyards,
however,ȱtheyȱneededȱtoȱredeemȱthemȱforȱtheȱamountȱofȱtenȱpoundȱViennese
penniesȱfromȱtheȱJewȱBibas,ȱtoȱwhomȱBlasiusȱhadȱpledgedȱthem.59ȱInȱ1275,ȱthe
Prioryȱ ofȱ Klosterneuburgȱ soldȱ aȱ vineyardȱ toȱ Konradȱ ofȱ Tulln,ȱ theȱ Austrian
landschreiberȱ(“countyȱscribe”),ȱandȱhisȱwife,ȱwhoȱhadȱredeemedȱtheȱvineyardȱfrom
theȱJewessȱDreslinnaȱforȱ100ȱpoundȱpennies.60ȱBothȱtransactionsȱareȱexamplesȱfor
vineyardsȱthatȱhadȱbeenȱpledgedȱtoȱJewsȱbyȱtheirȱformerȱ(Christian)ȱownersȱwho,
inȱfailingȱtoȱredeemȱthem,ȱhadȱtoȱsellȱthemȱtoȱotherȱChristiansȱwhoȱwereȱableȱto
comeȱupȱwithȱtheȱrequiredȱamountȱofȱmoney.ȱVineyardsȱwereȱaȱpopularȱpawnȱof
Christianȱ debtors,ȱ particularlyȱ withȱ theȱ manifoldȱ varietiesȱ ofȱ possibilitiesȱ they
offered.ȱ
56
57
58
59
60
ForȱtheȱearliestȱnotionȱofȱJewishȱownershipȱofȱvineyardsȱinȱtheȱAshkenazicȱregion,ȱseeȱToch,
“EconomicȱActivities”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ1),ȱ205–06.ȱSeeȱalsoȱGerdȱMentgen,ȱStudienȱzurȱGeschichteȱderȱJuden
imȱmittelalterlichenȱElsaß.ȱForschungenȱzurȱGeschichteȱderȱJuden,ȱAbteilungȱA:ȱAbhandlungen,ȱ2
(Hanover:ȱVerlagȱHahnscheȱBuchhandlung,ȱ1995),ȱ557–74.
Marthaȱ Keil,ȱ “Veltliner,ȱ Ausstich,ȱ Tribuswinkler:ȱ Zumȱ Weingenussȱ österreichischerȱ Judenȱ im
Mittelalter,”ȱ„Undȱwennȱschon,ȱdannȱBischofȱoderȱAbt”.ȱImȱGedenkenȱanȱGüntherȱHödlȱ(1941–2005),ȱed.
Christianȱ Domenig,ȱ Johannesȱ Grabmayer,ȱ Reinhardȱ Stauber,ȱ Karlȱ Stuhlpfarrer,ȱ andȱ Markus
Wenningerȱ(Klagenfurt:ȱKärntnerȱDruckerei,ȱ2006),ȱ53–72;ȱhereȱ55–56.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ16–17,ȱn.ȱ3.ȱSchlomȱwasȱmurderedȱbyȱcrusadersȱin
1196;ȱseeȱead.,ȱ17–18,ȱn.ȱ4.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ33,ȱn.ȱ22.
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BirgitȱWiedl
Theȱ vineyardȱ itselfȱ couldȱ beȱ pawned,ȱ butȱ inȱ doingȱ soȱ theȱ ownerȱ facedȱ the
imminentȱ dangerȱ ofȱ losingȱ hisȱ propertyȱ ifȱ itȱ remainedȱ unredeemed,ȱ asȱ the
examplesȱaboveȱshow.ȱToȱavoidȱthis,ȱsomeȱdebtorsȱonlyȱpledgedȱtheȱannualȱcrop
yieldȱwhileȱtheȱestateȱitselfȱremainedȱinȱtheirȱpossession.61ȱInȱtheȱwineȬgrowing
partsȱofȱAustria,ȱparticularlyȱalongȱtheȱeasternȱDanube,ȱandȱinȱtheȱhinterlandȱof
theȱtownsȱofȱWienerȱNeustadtȱandȱMarburgȱ(Maribor,ȱSlovenia),ȱvineyardsȱwere
theȱmostȱcommonȱpledges.62ȱIfȱtheȱunredeemedȱvineyardȱ(orȱatȱleastȱcertainȱrights
toȱit)ȱhadȱpassedȱintoȱtheȱownershipȱofȱtheȱJewishȱcreditors,ȱtheyȱwere,ȱhowever,
underȱnoȱobligationȱtoȱresellȱitȱtoȱChristians,ȱbutȱquiteȱoftenȱkeptȱtheȱvineyardȱfor
someȱtimeȱandȱcultivatedȱitȱthemselves.ȱVineyardsȱwereȱincludedȱinȱtheȱproperty
onȱwhichȱtheȱtaxȱobligationsȱofȱtheȱJewsȱwereȱbasedȱon,63ȱandȱtheȱobligationȱofȱa
Jewishȱownerȱtowardȱtheȱrespectiveȱlordȱofȱtheȱvineyardȱdifferedȱinȱnoȱwayȱfrom
thoseȱofȱtheirȱChristianȱneighbors.ȱ
TheȱsonȱofȱtheȱwealthyȱJewishȱbusinessmanȱSchwärzlein,ȱMordechai,ȱhadȱmoved
fromȱ theȱ family’sȱ mainȱ seatȱ inȱ Vienna,ȱ whereȱ heȱ hadȱ beenȱ involvedȱ inȱ highȬ
rankingȱ businessȱ dealingsȱ withȱ hisȱ fatherȱ andȱ brothers,ȱ toȱ theȱ smallȱ townȱ of
Zistersdorf,ȱcloseȱtoȱtheȱHungarianȱborder,ȱandȱhadȱacquiredȱaȱvineyardȱthere
whichȱheȱseemedȱtoȱhaveȱcultivatedȱhimself.ȱInȱ1319,ȱheȱwasȱaccusedȱbyȱtheȱAbbey
ofȱHeiligenkreuzȱofȱnotȱhavingȱhandedȱoverȱhisȱannualȱdueȱofȱoneȱeimerȱ(‘bucket’,
ca.ȱ58ȱliters)ȱtoȱthemȱforȱseveralȱyears.ȱTheȱarbitrators,ȱtheȱAustrianȱcellarerȱ(who
wasȱresponsibleȱforȱdisputesȱconcerningȱvineyards)ȱKonradȱofȱKyburgȱandȱthe
Vienneseȱ Jewȱ Marusch,ȱ orderedȱ Mordechaiȱ toȱ payȱ anȱ annualȱ feeȱ ofȱ fifteen
Vienneseȱpenniesȱfromȱthisȱyearȱon,ȱyetȱthereȱisȱnoȱmentionȱofȱanyȱcompensation
paymentȱ forȱ theȱ pastȱ years.ȱ Theȱ involvementȱ ofȱ highȬprofileȱ officialsȱ (the
documentȱisȱcorroboratedȱwithȱtheȱsealȱofȱtheȱAustrianȱtreasurer,ȱresponsibleȱfor
theȱ Austrianȱ Jewry)ȱ andȱ theȱ surprisinglyȱ lenientȱ decisionȱ inȱ regardȱ toȱ any
compensationȱ wereȱ possiblyȱ dueȱ toȱ Mordechai’sȱ (andȱ hisȱ family’s)ȱ prominent
status,64ȱyetȱtheȱgeneralȱprocedureȱdiffersȱinȱnoȱwayȱfromȱsimilarȱdisputes,ȱeven
thoughȱ notȱ onlyȱ theȱ accusedȱ butȱ alsoȱ oneȱ ofȱ theȱ arbitratorsȱ wereȱ Jewish.ȱ The
verdictȱalsoȱhintsȱatȱMordechai’sȱcontinuingȱstayȱatȱZistersdorf;ȱunfortunately,ȱit
isȱhisȱlastȱappearanceȱinȱtheȱsources.ȱWhetherȱtheȱJewsȱthatȱlivedȱinȱZistersdorf
aroundȱ 1400,ȱ Yzckaȱ andȱ theȱ brothersȱ Josephȱ andȱ Slomlein,ȱ wereȱ relatedȱ to
Mordechai,ȱisȱunknown.65
61
62
63
64
65
Keil,ȱ“ZumȱWeingenussȱösterreichischerȱJuden”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ57),ȱ56.ȱThisȱpracticeȱwasȱgenerally
common;ȱseeȱMentgen,ȱJudenȱimȱmittelalterlicheȱElsaßȱ(seeȱnoteȱ56),ȱ566–68.
Keil,ȱ“ZumȱWeingenussȱösterreichischerȱJuden”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ57),ȱ57ȱ(onȱWienerȱNeustadt).
Keil,ȱ“ZumȱWeingenussȱösterreichischerȱJuden”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ57),ȱ58–60.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ203–04,ȱn.ȱ219;ȱLohrmann,ȱWienerȱJudenȱ(seeȱnoteȱ15),
45.
Geyerȱ andȱ Sailer,ȱ Urkundenȱ ausȱ Wienerȱ Grundbüchernȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 35),ȱ 14–15,ȱ n.ȱ 45ȱ (Yzckaȱ of
Zistersdorf,ȱtogetherȱwithȱHeskleinȱofȱRaabs),ȱ598ȱ(entriesȱofȱJoseph),ȱ608ȱ(entriesȱofȱSlomlein).ȱ
653
Apartȱfromȱbeingȱaȱvaluableȱpawn,ȱvineyardsȱandȱtheirȱfruitȱwereȱofȱvitalȱritual
importanceȱforȱmedievalȱJews.ȱKosherȱwineȱwasȱrequiredȱforȱallȱJewishȱfeasts,
weddings,ȱandȱcircumcisionsȱandȱwasȱthusȱneededȱbyȱbothȱruralȱandȱurbanȱJews.
Theȱproductionȱproceduresȱofȱkosherȱwineȱhadȱtoȱbeȱcarriedȱoutȱeitherȱbyȱthe
JewishȱownersȱthemselvesȱorȱotherȱJewsȱwhoȱwereȱcapableȱofȱmaintainingȱthe
ritualȱpurityȱofȱtheȱproduct.66ȱWhereasȱnonȬJewsȱwereȱoftenȱemployedȱasȱhelping
handsȱforȱthoseȱvineyardsȱinȱJewishȱpossessionȱthatȱwereȱnotȱintendedȱforȱpersonal
use,ȱvineyardsȱthatȱwereȱtoȱyieldȱkosherȱwineȱwereȱtoȱbeȱmaintainedȱbyȱJewsȱonly.
Otherȱthanȱthat,ȱhowever,ȱJewishȱviticultureȱfollowedȱtheȱsameȱrulesȱasȱthoseȱthat
appliedȱtoȱtheirȱChristianȱcontemporaries.ȱJewishȱwinemakersȱcultivatedȱtheȱsame
typesȱofȱvineȱasȱtheirȱChristianȱneighbors,ȱandȱweȱmustȱcertainlyȱnotȱdisregardȱthe
possibilityȱofȱaȱhelpingȱhandȱbeingȱofferedȱeveryȱnowȱandȱthenȱifȱneedȱarose.ȱIn
theȱ areasȱ dominatedȱ byȱ agriculture,ȱ theȱ organizationȱ ofȱ laborȱ wasȱ veryȱ much
governedȱbyȱtheȱcalendar:ȱharvestȱtimes,ȱsuchȱasȱgrapeȱgathering,ȱwereȱtheȱsame
forȱJewsȱandȱChristians,ȱandȱwereȱoftenȱorganizedȱ“byȱtheȱvineyard”,ȱmeaning
thatȱallȱthoseȱwhoȱownedȱaȱvineyardȱinȱaȱcertainȱareaȱwentȱtoȱgatherȱtheȱgrapes
together,ȱevenȱif,ȱasȱalreadyȱeleventhȬcenturyȱRabbiȱIsaakȱbarȱJehudaȱofȱMainz
confirmedȱinȱoneȱofȱhisȱresolutions,ȱtheȱdaysȱforȱharvestingȱwouldȱcollideȱwithȱthe
halfȬholidaysȱofȱsukkot.67ȱ
Evenȱmoreȱpragmaticȱsolutionsȱwereȱfoundȱforȱtheȱproblemȱthatȱoccurredȱwhen
Jewsȱwereȱoutȱharvestingȱtheirȱgrapesȱandȱhadȱnoȱpossibilityȱtoȱtakeȱtheirȱmeals
atȱ theȱ sukkah,ȱ theȱ temporary,ȱ twigȬcoveredȱ hutȱ constructedȱ forȱ theȱ holiday,ȱ as
rituallyȱrequired.ȱFifteenthȬcentury’sȱMoscheȱbarȱJakobȱMulinȱ(Maharil),ȱtheȱlater
RabbiȱofȱMainz,ȱreportedȱofȱhisȱteacher,ȱtheȱfamousȱRabbiȱShalomȱbarȱIsaakȱof
WienerȱNeustadt,ȱthatȱheȱhadȱtoldȱhimȱofȱJewsȱwhoȱwereȱworkingȱinȱtheȱvineyards
duringȱsukkotȱandȱsimplyȱtookȱtheirȱmealsȱ“inȱtheȱhutsȱtheȱpeasantsȱhadȱerectedȱin
theirȱfarmsteadsȱbecauseȱofȱtheȱheat”;ȱandȱevenȱShalomȱhimself,ȱwhenȱheȱwas
harvestingȱtheȱgrapesȱinȱhisȱvineyards,ȱsatȱ“underȱtheȱsameȱroofȱmadeȱofȱtwigsȱas
theȱnonȬJewsȱwhoȱdrankȱtheirȱwineȱthere.”ȱTheseȱpracticesȱdidȱnotȱonlyȱrootȱin
the—generallyȱimmenselyȱpractical—approachȱofȱaȱreligiousȱminorityȱbutȱalsoȱin
ritualȱconsiderations,ȱsinceȱproducingȱrituallyȱpureȱwine,ȱwhichȱcouldȱnotȱbeȱdone
byȱnonȬJewsȱbutȱhadȱtoȱbeȱaccomplishedȱaccordingȱtoȱtheȱseasonalȱworkȱcycle,ȱwas
consideredȱmoreȱimportantȱthanȱobservingȱtheȱrulesȱofȱsukkot.ȱNevertheless,ȱthese
scenesȱ alsoȱ giveȱ evidenceȱ ofȱ closeȱ everydayȱ contactsȱ thatȱ wentȱ farȱ beyondȱ the
66
67
SeeȱHaymȱSoloveitchik,ȱ“Halakhah,ȱTabooȱandȱtheȱOriginȱofȱJewishȱMoneylendingȱinȱGermany,”
TheȱJewsȱofȱEuropeȱinȱtheȱMiddleȱAgesȱ(TenthȱtoȱFifteenthȱCenturies),ȱed.ȱChristophȱCluseȱ(Turnhout:
Brepols,ȱ 2004),ȱ 295–304,ȱ onȱ theȱ “tabooȱ ofȱ Gentileȱ wine”ȱ 296;ȱ Keil,ȱ “Zumȱ Weingenuss
österreichischerȱ Juden”ȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 57),ȱ 63–66ȱ (onȱ theȱ precautionsȱ takenȱ toȱ preventȱ ritual
contamination);ȱMentgen,ȱJudenȱimȱmittelalterlichenȱElsaßȱ(seeȱnoteȱ56),ȱ559–60.
Barzen,ȱ“LeuteȱausȱdenȱDörfern”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ2),ȱ28–29.
654
BirgitȱWiedl
occasionalȱmeetingȱonȱtheȱstreetsȱbutȱextendedȱtoȱsharingȱtheȱbreaksȱduringȱwhat
wasȱtypicalȱruralȱwork.68ȱ
Whenȱ Dukeȱ Rudolphȱ IVȱ settledȱ aȱ disputeȱ betweenȱ hisȱ servantȱ Casparȱ of
AltmannsdorfȱandȱMoscheȱofȱPerchtoldsdorfȱoverȱoutstandingȱdebts,ȱheȱordered
thatȱtheȱpaymentȱbeȱnotȱinȱmoneyȱbutȱinȱkind—Casparȱshouldȱhandȱoverȱtwoȱfuder
(1ȱfuderȱ=ȱ1811ȱliters)ȱofȱwineȱtoȱMosche.69ȱWhetherȱtheȱwineȱwasȱforȱconsumption
orȱresellingȱwasȱnotȱmentionedȱ(andȱneitherȱRudolph’sȱnorȱCaspar’sȱconcern);ȱand
althoughȱtheȱhandlingȱofȱChristianȱwineȱposedȱaȱcertainȱhalachicȱproblem,ȱthe
acceptanceȱofȱitȱasȱaȱformȱofȱdebtȱretirementȱwasȱexplicitelyȱallowedȱbyȱAshkenazic
rabbis.70ȱRepaymentȱofȱdebtsȱorȱinterestȱratesȱinȱtheȱformȱofȱwine,ȱorȱtheȱpawning
ofȱtheȱharvest,ȱwasȱsoȱcommonȱthatȱDukeȱAlbrechtȱIII,ȱwhenȱheȱfixedȱtheȱtaxȱrates
onȱmustȱandȱmashȱforȱViennaȱinȱ1374,ȱexplicitlyȱexemptedȱtheȱVienneseȱJewsȱfrom
thisȱobligationȱforȱbothȱtheirȱownȱwineȱ(pawȱwein)ȱandȱ“theȱwineȱthatȱwasȱgiven
toȱthemȱbecauseȱofȱdebts.”71ȱThatȱJewsȱwereȱpaidȱinȱkind—alreadyȱaȱdwindling
but,ȱparticularlyȱinȱtheȱruralȱareas,ȱstillȱprevailingȱmethodȱofȱpayment—alsoȱshows
theirȱintegrationȱintoȱbothȱtheȱregionalȱeconomyȱandȱtheȱseasonalȱcycleȱofȱrural
work.ȱWhenȱinȱ1311ȱtheȱjudgeȱandȱcouncilȱofȱEggenburgȱmediatedȱbetweenȱ“their
Jews”ȱLazarusȱandȱAbrahamȱandȱtheȱPrioryȱofȱZwettlȱwhoȱquarrelledȱoverȱthe
claimsȱtoȱaȱfarm,ȱtheȱcompromiseȱtheyȱreachedȱarrangedȱforȱaȱpaymentȱofȱoneȱmut
ofȱ cornȱ (i.e.ȱ rye,ȱ 1ȱ mutȱ =ȱ ca.ȱ 1844ȱ liters)ȱ toȱ theȱ Jews.72ȱ Inȱ 1376ȱ theȱ Jewessȱ Sara,
widowȱofȱJosephȱofȱFeldsberg,ȱwasȱtoȱreceiveȱcensumȱetȱfructus,ȱasȱnotedȱinȱthe
rentȬrollsȱofȱtheȱScottishȱAbbeyȱofȱVienna—presumablyȱaȱsortȱofȱrevenueȱfrom
eitherȱvineyardsȱand/orȱhousesȱsheȱowned.73
JewishȱpossessionȱofȱestatesȱandȱfarmsteadsȱdidȱnotȱnecessarilyȱimplyȱJewish
agriculturalȱactivity.74ȱTheȱtabooȱonȱGentileȱwineȱdidȱnotȱextendȱtoȱtheȱproduction
ofȱotherȱaliments;ȱaȱsufficientȱsupplyȱwithȱstapleȱfoodȱdidȱthereforeȱnotȱnecessitate
theȱdevelopmentȱofȱanȱextendedȱJewishȱagriculturalȱengagement.75ȱWhileȱurban
Jewsȱ engagedȱinȱaȱgreatȱvarietyȱofȱeconomicȱactivities,ȱsuchȱasȱcraftsmenȱ who
workedȱforȱbothȱtheȱJewishȱcommunityȱmembersȱandȱforȱaȱnonȬJewishȱclientele,
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
Keil,ȱ“ZumȱWeingenussȱösterreichischerȱJuden”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ57),ȱ61–63.
Keil,ȱ“ZumȱWeingenussȱösterreichischerȱJuden”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ57),ȱ54;ȱSoloveitchik,ȱ“Halakhah,ȱTaboo
andȱtheȱOriginȱofȱJewishȱMoneylending”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ66),ȱ296.
WienerȱStadtȬȱundȱLandesarchivȱ(MunicipalȱArchivesȱofȱVienna),ȱHauptarchivȱUrkundeȱn.ȱ842;
Christianȱ Lackner,ȱ Regestaȱ Habsburgica.ȱ Regestenȱ derȱ Grafenȱ vonȱ Habsburgȱ undȱ derȱ Herzogeȱ von
ÖsterreichȱausȱdemȱHauseȱHabsburg,ȱ5:ȱDieȱRegestenȱderȱHerzogeȱvonȱÖsterreichȱ(1365–1395),ȱpartȱ2:
1371–1375ȱ(ViennaȱandȱMunich:ȱBöhlauȱandȱOldenbourg,ȱ2010),ȱ199–200,ȱn.ȱ1154ȱ(withȱaȱlistȱof
fullȬtextȱeditions).
GeyerȱandȱSailer,ȱUrkundenȱausȱWienerȱGrundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ551,ȱn.ȱ1837.
Toch,ȱ“EconomicȱActivities”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ1),ȱ206–07,ȱwithȱanȱanalysisȱofȱtheȱfewȱknownȱexceptions.
Toch,ȱJudenȱimȱmittelalterlichenȱReichȱ(seeȱnoteȱ3),ȱ6.
655
JewishȱagriculturalȱactivitiesȱareȱscarcelyȱdocumentedȱforȱtheȱMiddleȱAges76;ȱand
whileȱ partȬtimeȱ farmingȱ ofȱ Jewsȱ livingȱ inȱ theȱ countrysideȱ isȱ highlyȱ likely,ȱ itȱ is
barelyȱtraceableȱinȱtheȱsources.ȱJewsȱwhoȱcameȱintoȱpossessionȱofȱruralȱestates,
suchȱasȱtheȱbrothersȱLubinȱandȱNekelo,ȱtaxȱfarmersȱofȱtheȱAustrianȱdukeȱ(andȱlater
Bohemianȱking)ȱPìemyslȱOtakarȱIIȱ(1232–1278),ȱoftenȱdidȱsoȱinȱtheȱcourseȱofȱaȱ(in
thisȱcaseȱsomewhatȱunclear)ȱbusinessȱtransaction.ȱTheȱtwoȱbrothersȱmanagedȱto
defendȱtheirȱtitleȱtoȱtheȱsixteenȱfeudalȱestatesȱagainstȱtheȱbishopȱofȱFreising,ȱyetȱthe
(continuous?)ȱ possessionȱ ofȱ theseȱ estatesȱ meantȱ additionalȱ income,ȱ notȱ rural
activity,ȱ forȱ theȱ twoȱ highȬrankingȱ Jewsȱ whoȱ enjoyedȱ notȱ onlyȱ closeȱ tiesȱ toȱ the
Austrianȱ ducalȱ butȱ alsoȱ theȱ Hungarianȱ royalȱ court.77ȱ Nevertheless,ȱ Jewish
possessionȱofȱ(evenȱfeudal)ȱruralȱestates,ȱannualȱduesȱandȱrents,ȱandȱevenȱtithes,
isȱdocumentedȱ(albeitȱscarcely)ȱthroughoutȱtheȱMiddleȱAges,ȱbothȱacquiredȱas
unredeemedȱ pledgesȱ andȱ boughtȱ property.ȱ Asȱ farȱ asȱ theȱ legalȱ proceduresȱ are
concerned,ȱJewsȱbought,ȱsold,ȱandȱreȬsoldȱtheseȱpossessionsȱjustȱasȱ‘normally’ȱas
Christiansȱdid,ȱsometimesȱevenȱinȱcompanyȱwithȱthem.78ȱ
Jewsȱwhoȱlivedȱinȱtheȱcloselyȱknitȱneighborhoodsȱofȱruralȱareasȱorȱsmallȱtowns
orȱ villagesȱ wereȱ oftenȱ participatingȱ inȱ theȱ dutiesȱ ofȱ theseȱ communities.ȱ By
royal/ducalȱconsent,ȱtheȱJewsȱofȱtheȱsmallȱLowerȱAustrianȱtownȱofȱLaaȱanȱder
Thayaȱ(ca.ȱ65ȱkilometersȱnorthȱofȱVienna,ȱatȱtheȱborderȱtoȱtoday’sȱCzechȱRepublic)
wereȱ requiredȱ fromȱ 1277ȱ onwardȱ toȱ shareȱ theȱ taxȱ loadȱ withȱ theȱ Christian
inhabitants,79ȱ theirȱ taxesȱ beingȱ includedȱ intoȱ theȱ town’sȱ taxesȱ insteadȱ of—as
usual—beingȱ aȱ partȱ ofȱ theȱ collectiveȱ Jewishȱ taxȱ theȱ levyingȱ ofȱ whichȱ wasȱ the
responsibilityȱofȱtheȱrespectiveȱJewishȱcommunities.80ȱ
Howeverȱ closeȱ andȱ peacefulȱ theȱ neighborlyȱ contactsȱ mightȱ haveȱ been,ȱ the
relationsȱbetweenȱJewsȱandȱChristiansȱinȱaȱsmallȱcommunityȱremainedȱvolatileȱat
best.ȱUnlikeȱtheȱpogromsȱofȱtheȱlateȱthirteenthȱandȱearlyȱfourteenthȱcenturiesȱinȱthe
76
77
78
79
80
SeeȱinȱgeneralȱtheȱcollectionȱofȱarticlesȱbyȱMichaelȱToch,ȱPeasantsȱandȱJewsȱinȱMedievalȱGermany:
StudiesȱinȱCultural,ȱSocialȱandȱEconomicȱHistory.ȱVariorumȱcollectedȱstudiesȱseries,ȱ757ȱ(Aldershot:
AshgateȱVariorum,ȱ2003);ȱforȱanȱoverviewȱoverȱtheȱliterature,ȱseeȱToch,ȱ“EconomicȱActivities”ȱ(see
noteȱ1),ȱ179–80,ȱfn.ȱ*;ȱandȱ207–08,ȱwithȱaȱlistȱofȱoccupationsȱ208.
Whenȱ resellingȱ halfȱ ofȱ aȱ farmsteadȱ inȱ 1358,ȱ Moscheȱ ofȱ Perchtoldsdorfȱ confirmedȱ inȱ hisȱ sales
documentȱthatȱtheȱfarmsteadȱwasȱhisȱ‘boughtȱpossession’ȱ(Kaufgut)ȱandȱthatȱheȱhadȱaȱ‘regularȱbill
ofȱsale’ȱforȱit;ȱaȱcommonȱphraseȱtoȱcorroborateȱtheȱlegalityȱofȱtheȱtransactionȱ(BruggerȱandȱWiedl,
Regestenȱ 2ȱ [seeȱ noteȱ 40],ȱ 200,ȱ n.ȱ 868).ȱ Inȱ theȱ sameȱ year,ȱ Nikolausȱ Goldener,ȱ aȱ citizenȱ of
Marburg/MariborȱandȱtheȱJewȱChatschimȱsoldȱaȱrentȱofȱfourȱpoundsȱandȱaȱdutyȱofȱchickenȱand
eggsȱtoȱtheȱhospitalȱofȱMarburgȱ(id.,ȱ199,ȱn.ȱ867).
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ74,ȱn.ȱ57.ȱTheȱprivilegeȱtoȱLaaȱwasȱissuedȱbyȱKing
RudolphȱI,ȱwhoȱwasȱdeȱfactoȱrulingȱtheȱduchyȱofȱAustriaȱinȱ1277,ȱwithȱaȱreferenceȱtoȱtwoȱolder,
ducalȱprivileges.
Lohrmann,ȱ Judenrechtȱ undȱ Judenpolitikȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 44)ȱ 113–14ȱ (onȱ Laa)ȱ andȱ 281–98ȱ (general
development);ȱKeil,ȱ“GemeindeȱundȱKultur”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ44–47;ȱBrugger,ȱ“JudenȱinȱÖsterreichȱim
Mittelalter”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ10),ȱ147–148;ȱWiedl,ȱ“JewsȱandȱtheȱCity”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ13),ȱ293.
656
BirgitȱWiedl
westernȱpartsȱofȱtheȱHolyȱRomanȱEmpireȱthatȱtookȱtheirȱoriginsȱinȱtheȱcitiesȱand
subsequentlyȱ wreakedȱ havocȱ onȱ bothȱ urbanȱ andȱ ruralȱ Jewishȱ settlement,81ȱ the
persecutionsȱ ofȱ Jewsȱ inȱ theȱ southȬeastȱ sprungȱ upȱ inȱ exactlyȱ theseȱ closeȬknit
communitiesȱofȱtheȱruralȱarea:ȱtheȱsmallȱtownsȱofȱLaaȱanȱderȱThaya,ȱKorneuburg,
andȱPulkauȱwereȱtheȱfirstȱplacesȱofȱpersecutionȱaroundȱ1300.ȱInȱthisȱtime,ȱnew
accusationsȱagainstȱJewsȱhadȱemerged,ȱsuchȱasȱtheȱbloodȱlibelȱthatȱforȱtheȱfirstȱtime
sinceȱ antiquityȱ hadȱ appearedȱ inȱ midȬtwelfthȬcenturyȱ England,ȱ andȱ theȱ host
desecrationȱ accusationȱ thatȱ quicklyȱ spreadȱ fromȱ Parisȱ fromȱ 1290ȱ onwards
throughoutȱtheȱHolyȱRomanȱEmpire.82ȱ
WithȱtheȱtransubstantiationȱdoctrineȱhavingȱbeenȱdeclaredȱaȱChurchȱdogmaȱat
theȱFourthȱLateranȱCouncilȱinȱ1215,ȱtheseȱaccusationsȱagainstȱJewsȱofȱdesecrating
hostsȱbyȱstealingȱthemȱ(orȱhavingȱthemȱstolen)ȱandȱsubsequentlyȱmaltreatingȱthem
wereȱreinforcedȱinȱtheȱpublicȱmindȱandȱbecameȱinȱtheȱregionsȱofȱtoday’sȱAustria
theȱmostȱcommonȱtriggerȱforȱantiȬJewishȱoutbreaks.ȱAlreadyȱfourȱyearsȱafterȱthe
emergenceȱ ofȱ theȱ Parisȱ legend,ȱ theȱ firstȱ ofȱ theseȱ persecutionsȱ hitȱ theȱ Jewish
inhabitantsȱofȱaȱsmallȱtownȱinȱtheȱLowerȱAustrianȱcountryside:ȱInȱ1294,ȱtheȱJews
ofȱLaaȱanȱderȱThayaȱwereȱaccusedȱofȱhavingȱhiddenȱaȱstolenȱhostȱinȱaȱstable,ȱand,
sinceȱtheȱmereȱpossessionȱofȱaȱhostȱwaferȱwarrantedȱtheirȱguilt,ȱtheyȱwereȱkilled
immediately.83ȱ
81
82
83
Forȱtheȱvastȱliteratureȱonȱthisȱtopic,ȱseeȱtheȱoverviewsȱJudenȱundȱChristenȱzurȱZeitȱderȱKreuzzüge,
ed.ȱAlfredȱHaverkamp.ȱKonstanzerȱArbeitskreisȱfürȱmittelalterlicheȱGeschichte,ȱVorträgeȱund
Forschungen,ȱ47ȱ(Sigmaringen:ȱJanȱThorbeckeȱVerlag,ȱ1999);ȱandȱJörgȱR.ȱMüller,ȱ“Erezȱgeserahȱ–
‘LandȱofȱPersecution’:ȱPogromsȱagainstȱtheȱJewsȱinȱtheȱregnumȱTeutonicumȱfromȱc.ȱ1280ȱtoȱ1350,”
JewsȱofȱEuropeȱinȱtheȱMiddleȱAgesȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ245–60.
TheȱearliestȱmurderȱofȱJewsȱinȱtoday’sȱAustrianȱterritoryȱwasȱtheȱkillingȱofȱSchlomȱandȱhisȱfamily
thatȱ tookȱ placeȱ inȱ Viennaȱ inȱ 1196;ȱ seeȱ above.ȱ Forȱ anȱ overviewȱ overȱ theȱ persecutionsȱ onȱ the
groundsȱ ofȱ allegedȱ hostȱ waferȱ desecrations,ȱ seeȱ Friedrichȱ Lotter,ȱ “Hostienfrevelvorwurfȱ und
Blutwunderfälschungȱ beiȱ denȱ Judenverfolgungenȱ vonȱ 1298ȱ (“Rintfleisch”)ȱ undȱ 1336–1338
(“Armleder”),”ȱ Fälschungenȱ imȱ Mittelalter:ȱ internationalerȱ Kongressȱ derȱ Monumentaȱ Germaniae
Historica,ȱMünchen,ȱ16.ȱ–ȱ19.ȱSeptemberȱ1986.ȱMonumentaȱGermaniaeȱHistoricaȱSchriften,ȱ33/5:
FingierteȱBriefe,ȱFrömmigkeitȱundȱFälschung,ȱRealienfälschungenȱ(Hanover:ȱHahnscheȱBuchhandlung,
1988),ȱ533–83;ȱMiriȱRubin,ȱGentileȱTales.ȱTheȱNarrativeȱAssaultȱonȱLateȱMedievalȱJewsȱ(NewȱHaven,
CT,ȱandȱLondon:ȱYaleȱUniversityȱPress,ȱ1999;ȱsec.ȱed.ȱPhiladelphia:ȱUniversityȱofȱPennsylvania
Press,ȱ2004,ȱtheȱquotesȱhereinȱreferȱtoȱtheȱfirstȱedition).ȱForȱtheȱritualȱmurderȱaccusation,ȱseeȱDie
Legendeȱ vomȱ Ritualmord.ȱ Zurȱ Geschichteȱ derȱ Blutbeschuldigungȱ gegenȱ Juden,ȱ ed.ȱ Rainerȱ Erb.
Dokumente,ȱ Texte,ȱ Materialien.ȱ Zentrumȱ fürȱ Antisemitismusforschungȱ derȱ Technischen
UniversitätȱBerlin,ȱ6ȱ(Berlin:ȱMetropol,ȱ1993);ȱJeremyȱCohen,ȱChristȱKillers:ȱtheȱJewsȱandȱtheȱPassion
fromȱtheȱBibleȱtoȱtheȱBigȱScreenȱ(NewȱYorkȱandȱOxford:ȱOxfordȱUniversityȱPress,ȱ2007),ȱandȱRichard
Utz,ȱ“RememberingȱRitualȱMurder:ȱTheȱAntiȬSemiticȱBloodȱAccusationȱNarrativeȱinȱMedievalȱand
ContemporaryȱCulturalȱMemory,”ȱGenreȱandȱRitual:ȱTheȱCulturalȱHeritageȱofȱMedievalȱRituals,ȱed.
EyolfȱØstrem,ȱMetteȱBirekdalȱBruun,ȱet.ȱal.ȱTRANSfigurationȱ1–2,ȱ2003ȱ(Copenhagen:ȱMuseum
TusculanumȱPress,ȱ2005),ȱ145–62,ȱallȱwithȱfurtherȱliterature.
657
ItȱisȱaȱsomewhatȱsadȱfactȱthatȱquiteȱaȱlotȱofȱtheȱknowledgeȱaboutȱruralȱJewish
settlementȱ stemsȱ fromȱ notesȱ onȱ Jewishȱ persecution,ȱ suchȱ asȱ theȱ reportȱ ofȱ the
AnonymusȱLeobiensisȱofȱaȱpersecutionȱofȱJewsȱinȱStyriaȱandȱCarinthiaȱinȱ1312ȱthat
wasȱcausedȱbyȱtheȱallegedȱretrievalȱofȱaȱdesecratedȱhostȱatȱaȱJew’sȱhouseȱprope
Fuerstenvelde,ȱinȱtheȱproximityȱofȱtheȱStyrianȱtownȱofȱFürstenfeldȱ(forȱwhichȱno
Jewishȱinhabitantsȱareȱdocumentedȱforȱthatȱtime84),ȱsuggestingȱaȱruralȱsetting.85
ManyȱofȱtheȱJewishȱsettlementsȱinȱtoday’sȱGermany,ȱAustriaȱandȱBohemiaȱare
mentionedȱjustȱonce,ȱinȱwhatȱisȱknownȱasȱtheȱNürnbergerȱMemorbuch,ȱtheȱNürnberg
memorialȱ book,86ȱ aȱ medievalȱ collectionȱ ofȱ mostlyȱ namesȱ andȱ locations.ȱ The
memorialȱbookȱstartsȱitsȱlistsȱwithȱtheȱlocationsȱofȱ(thenȱformer)ȱJewishȱpresence
(Blutstätten,ȱ “bloodȱ sites”)ȱ thatȱ hadȱ fallenȱ preyȱ toȱ theȱ crusadersȱ inȱ 1096,ȱ and
continuesȱwithȱlistsȱofȱformerȱJewishȱsettlementsȱthatȱhadȱbeenȱaffectedȱbyȱthe
persecutionȱwavesȱdueȱtoȱallegedȱhostȱdesecrationsȱandȱbloodȱlibels,ȱsuchȱasȱthose
identifiedȱwithȱtheȱnamesȱArmleder,ȱRintfleisch,ȱandȱtheȱtownȱofȱDeggendorf,ȱand
theȱdevastatingȱpogromsȱthatȱfollowed,ȱandȱoftenȱpreceded,ȱoutbreaksȱofȱtheȱBlack
PlagueȱinȱmidȬfourteenthȱcentury.87ȱ
Theȱ geographicalȱ patternȱ ofȱ theseȱ settlements—ifȱ identifiable—suggestsȱ a
considerablyȱ moreȱ widespreadȱ Jewishȱ presenceȱ inȱ theȱ countrysideȱ than
documentedȱ byȱ otherȱ sources,ȱ particularlyȱ inȱ regardȱ toȱ theȱ settlementȱ ofȱ Jews
outsideȱofȱurbanȱcenters.ȱTheseȱpersecutionsȱandȱtheirȱconsequencesȱwouldȱchange
JewishȱsettlementȱpatternsȱinȱmanyȱareasȱofȱtheȱHolyȱRomanȱEmpire,ȱforȱinȱtheir
courseȱnotȱonlyȱtheȱlivesȱofȱmany,ȱmostȱof,ȱorȱevenȱallȱtheȱJewsȱlivingȱinȱaȱtownȱor
villageȱhadȱbeenȱwipedȱout,ȱbutȱalsoȱtheȱexistingȱcommunityȱstructures,ȱhowever
smallȱ andȱ ‘improvised’ȱ theyȱ mightȱ haveȱ been,ȱ hadȱ beenȱ destroyed.ȱ Chapels,
monasteriesȱorȱchurchesȱwereȱerectedȱatȱtheȱsitesȱofȱformerȱsynagogues,88ȱandȱin
smallȬscaleȱsettlementsȱtheȱsizeȱofȱwhichȱhadȱnotȱwarrantedȱtheȱestablishingȱofȱa
Jewishȱcommunity,ȱhousesȱthatȱhadȱbeenȱownedȱand/orȱinhabitedȱbyȱJewsȱwere
turnedȱintoȱsitesȱofȱChristianȱworship,ȱsuchȱasȱitȱwasȱtheȱcaseȱinȱtheȱsmallȱLower
84
85
86
87
88
Inȱ1342,ȱaȱJewȱMuschleinȱofȱFürstenfeldȱisȱdocumented,ȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnote
40),ȱ31,ȱn.ȱ500.
SiegmundȱSalfeld,ȱDasȱMartyrologiumȱdesȱNürnbergerȱMemorbuches.ȱQuellenȱzurȱGeschichteȱder
JudenȱinȱDeutschland,ȱ3ȱ(Berlin:ȱLeonhardȱSimion,ȱ1898).ȱTheȱtermȱ“Memorbuch”ȱoriginatesȱfrom
theȱmidȬseventeethȱcentury;ȱseeȱAubreyȱPomerance,ȱ“‘BekanntȱinȱdenȱToren’:ȱNameȱundȱNachruf
inȱ Memorbüchern,”ȱ Erinnerungȱ alsȱ Gegenwart.ȱ Jüdischeȱ Gedenkkulturen,ȱ ed.ȱ Sabineȱ Hödlȱ and
EleonoreȱLappinȱ(BerlinȱandȱVienna:ȱPhilo,ȱ2000),ȱ33–54;ȱhereȱ24.ȱForȱtheȱlistȱofȱtheȱbloodȱsites
relatedȱtoȱPulkau,ȱseeȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ348–49,ȱn.ȱ455;ȱfurtherȱBarzen,
“LeuteȱausȱdenȱDörfern”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ2),ȱ25–26.
Müller,ȱ“LandȱofȱPersecution”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ81);ȱLotter,ȱ“Hostienfrevelvorwurf”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ82);ȱRubin,
GentileȱTalesȱ(seeȱnoteȱ82),ȱ48–57.
Rubin,ȱGentileȱTalesȱ(seeȱnoteȱ82),ȱ89–92.
658
BirgitȱWiedl
AustrianȱtownȱofȱKorneuburg.89ȱThus,ȱitȱwasȱmadeȱsureȱthatȱtheȱJewsȱ(andȱtheir
allegedȱcrimes)ȱstayedȱinȱtheȱcollectiveȱmemoryȱofȱtheȱChristianȱcommunityȱwhen
theirȱrealȱpresenceȱwasȱaȱthingȱofȱtheȱpast.
TheȱeventsȱthatȱbefellȱtheȱJewsȱofȱtheȱsmallȱAustrianȱtownȱofȱKorneuburgȱinȱ1305
areȱaȱmodelȱexampleȱofȱhowȱvolatileȱandȱprecariousȱtheȱ(upȱuntilȱthen)ȱpeaceful
neighborshipȱbetweenȱJewsȱandȱChristiansȱinȱaȱvillageȱcommunityȱwas.90ȱWhenȱa
bloodiedȱhostȱwaferȱwasȱfoundȱonȱtheȱthresholdȱofȱtheȱJewȱZerkel’sȱhouse,ȱthe
enragedȱmobȱkilledȱtheȱhouseȬowner,ȱZerkel,ȱandȱtenȱmoreȱJews,ȱpresumablyȱthe
entireȱ Jewishȱ populationȱ ofȱ Korneuburg.ȱ Theȱ courseȱ ofȱ eventsȱ andȱ its
consequencesȱareȱquiteȱrevealingȱinȱregardȱtoȱtheȱlivingȱconditionsȱofȱwhatȱwas
presumablyȱaȱsomewhatȱextendedȱJewishȱfamilyȱandȱtheirȱservantsȱinȱaȱsmallȱtown
inȱtheȱvicinityȱofȱVienna.ȱTheȱhouseȱatȱwhich’sȱdoorstepȱtheȱhostȱwasȱfoundȱis
throughoutȱ theȱ sourcesȱ calledȱ “theȱ Jew’sȱ house”,ȱ orȱ “Zerkel’sȱ house”,ȱ clearly
definingȱitȱasȱtheȱJew’sȱproperty.ȱ
Also,ȱseveralȱtestimoniesȱgivenȱatȱtheȱhugeȱinvestigationȱthatȱwasȱlaunchedȱby
theȱbishopȱofȱPassau,ȱindicateȱthatȱtheȱChristianȱpopulationȱofȱKorneuburg—the
Jews’ȱ immediateȱ neighbors—hadȱ notȱ shiedȱ awayȱ fromȱ enteringȱ theȱ “Jewish”
house,ȱnorȱwasȱthereȱanyȱcautionȱorȱreluctanceȱonȱtheȱChristianȱsideȱofȱallowing
theȱJewsȱtoȱenterȱtheirȱhouses,ȱandȱtheȱwayȱtheyȱaddressedȱeachȱotherȱspeaksȱof
moreȱthanȱjustȱoccasionalȱcontact.ȱTheseȱcloseȱrelationsȱnotwithstanding,ȱtheȱJews
knewȱ immediatelyȱ thatȱ theyȱ wereȱ inȱ mortalȱ dangerȱ whenȱ theyȱ foundȱ the
bloodstainedȱhostȱonȱtheirȱdoorstep,ȱandȱtheyȱwereȱjustifiedȱinȱfearingȱthatȱthe
mereȱaccusationȱofȱaȱ“typicallyȱJewish”ȱcrimeȱwasȱenoughȱforȱtheȱKorneuburg
citizensȱtoȱturnȱagainstȱtheirȱneighborsȱandȱmurderȱthemȱwithinȱwhatȱcouldȱnot
haveȱbeenȱmoreȱthanȱaȱfewȱhours.ȱ
WhileȱtheȱKorneuburgȱpersecutionȱremainedȱaȱlocalȱincident,ȱtheȱaccusationȱof
aȱhostȱdesecrationȱraisedȱagainstȱtheȱJewsȱofȱPulkau,ȱaȱtownȱaboutȱ80ȱkilometers
northȬwestȱ ofȱ Vienna,ȱ inȱ 1338ȱ broughtȱ aboutȱ theȱ firstȱ waveȱ ofȱ persecutionȱ in
Austriaȱthatȱwentȱbeyondȱtheȱlocalȱscope.91ȱPriorȱtoȱthat,ȱJewishȱpresenceȱatȱPulkau
89
90
91
BirgitȱWiedl,ȱ“TheȱHostȱonȱtheȱDoorstep.ȱPerpetrators,ȱVictims,ȱandȱBystandersȱinȱanȱAllegedȱHost
DesecrationȱinȱFourteenthȬCenturyȱAustria,”ȱCrimeȱandȱPunishmentȱinȱtheȱMiddleȱAgesȱandȱtheȱEarly
ModernȱAge,ȱed.ȱConnieȱScarborough.ȱFundamentalsȱofȱMedievalȱandȱEarlyȱModernȱCulture,ȱ11
(BerlinȱandȱNewȱYork:ȱDeGruyter,ȱforthcoming,ȱ2012),ȱRubin,ȱGentileȱTalesȱ(seeȱnoteȱ82),ȱ57–65.
andȱ89–91ȱonȱtheȱerectionȱofȱsitesȱofȱChristinȱworshipȱoverȱformerȱJewishȱplaces;ȱforȱaȱgeneral
discussionȱofȱ‘culturalȱmemory’ȱandȱitsȱwaysȱofȱrememberingȱJews,ȱseeȱUtz,ȱ“RememberingȱRitual
Murder”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ82),ȱandȱCohen,ȱChristȱKillersȱ(seeȱnoteȱ82),ȱwithȱfurtherȱliterature.
Wiedl,ȱ“HostȱonȱtheȱDoorstep”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ89).
TheȱNürnbergȱmemorialȱbookȱnamesȱaltogetherȱ20ȱLowerȱAustrianȱtowns,ȱmarketȱtowns,ȱand
villagesȱ asȱ placesȱ ofȱ persecutionȱ (Pulkau,ȱ Eggenburg,ȱ Retz,ȱ Znaim,ȱ Horn,ȱ Zwettl,ȱ Raabs,
Falkenstein,ȱHadersdorfȱamȱKamp,ȱGarsȱamȱKamp,ȱRastenfeld,ȱMistelbach,ȱWeiten,ȱEmmersdorf,
Tulln,ȱKlosterneuburg,ȱPassau,ȱSt.ȱPölten,ȱLaaȱanȱderȱThaya,ȱandȱDrosendorf),ȱwithȱtheȱ(somewhat
questionable)ȱ additionȱ ofȱ theȱ Carinthianȱ townȱ ofȱ Villach,ȱ theȱ Moravianȱ townsȱ ofȱ Budweis,
659
isȱonlyȱdocumentedȱonce,ȱandȱitȱisȱhighlyȱlikelyȱthatȱtheȱJewȱMerchlein,ȱwhoȱis
recordedȱasȱhavingȱboughtȱaȱfieldȱinȱ1329,92ȱisȱtheȱsameȱMarquardusȱiudeusȱinȱfront
ofȱ whoseȱ houseȱ theȱ desecratedȱ hostȱ hadȱ allegedlyȱ beenȱ found.ȱ Althoughȱ the
AustrianȱdukesȱAlbrechtȱIIȱandȱOttoȱ(1301–1339)ȱwereȱableȱtoȱprotectȱtheȱhuge
communityȱinȱViennaȱ(who,ȱatȱtheȱinsistenceȱofȱtheȱVienneseȱcitizenry,ȱhadȱto
lowerȱtheȱinterestȱratesȱinȱreturn)93—andȱthereȱisȱnoȱmentionȱofȱpersecutionsȱinȱthe
biggerȱcommunitiesȱofȱKremsȱandȱWienerȱNeustadt—theȱincidentsȱatȱLaaȱand
Korneuburg,ȱandȱtheȱpogromsȱfollowingȱPulkauȱrevealedȱtheȱlimitsȱofȱtheȱducal
protectionȱthatȱcouldȱnotȱbeȱbroughtȱtoȱeffectȱquicklyȱenoughȱinȱtheȱruralȱareasȱto
warrantȱaȱsurvivalȱofȱtheȱlocalȱJewry.ȱ
AfterȱtheȱPulkauȱpersecutionsȱofȱ1338,ȱJewishȱ(reȬ)settlementȱfocussedȱforȱaȱlong
timeȱ ratherȱ onȱ theȱ urbanȱ centersȱ withȱ theirȱ alreadyȱ establishedȱ Jewish
communitiesȱthatȱcould,ȱatȱleastȱinȱtheȱperceptionȱofȱtheȱsurvivingȱJews,ȱprovide
moreȱefficientȱprotectionȱthanȱaȱruralȱsurrounding.94ȱTheȱurbanȱcentersȱofȱJewish
lifeȱinȱAustriaȱexperiencedȱanȱincreaseȱinȱtheirȱimportanceȱinȱtheȱsecondȱhalfȱofȱthe
fourteenthȱcentury,ȱwhichȱwasȱmainlyȱdueȱtoȱtheȱstrongȱducalȱprotectionȱthatȱkept
themȱ safeȱ fromȱ PlagueȬrelatedȱ pogromsȱ thatȱ wreakedȱ havocȱ onȱ manyȱ Jewish
communitiesȱofȱtheȱHolyȱRomanȱEmpireȱinȱtheȱmidȬfourteenthȱcentury.95ȱJewish
92
93
94
95
Erdberg,ȱJamnitz,ȱFratting,ȱLibisch,ȱTrebitsch,ȱFeldsberg,ȱTschaslau,ȱPrichowitz,ȱandȱtheȱBohemian
townȱofȱNeuhaus;ȱseeȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ348–49,ȱn.ȱ455,ȱandȱ333–35,ȱn.
434–36;ȱSeeȱfurtherȱManfredȱAnselgruberȱandȱHerbertȱPuschnik,ȱDiesȱtrugȱsichȱzuȱannoȱ1338.ȱPulkau
zurȱZeitȱderȱGlaubenswirrenȱ(Pulkau:ȱVerlagȱderȱStadtgemeinde,ȱ[1992]),ȱandȱBirgitȱWiedl,ȱ“Die
angeblicheȱ Hostienschändungȱ inȱ Pulkauȱ 1338ȱ undȱ ihreȱ Rezeptionȱ inȱ derȱ christlichenȱ und
jüdischenȱGeschichtsschreibung,”ȱmedaon.ȱMagazinȱfürȱjüdischesȱLebenȱinȱForschungȱundȱBildungȱ6
(2010),ȱinternetȱjournal;ȱseeȱhttp://medaon.de/pdf/A_WiedlȬ6Ȭ2010.pdfȱ(lastȱaccessedȱonȱJan.ȱ16,
2012).ȱRubin,ȱGentileȱTales,ȱ65–68ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ82),ȱwhoȱgivesȱ(withoutȱaȱsourceȱreference)ȱtheȱnumber
ofȱ ‘150ȱ Jewsȱ ofȱ Pulkau’ȱ whoȱ wereȱ killedȱ duringȱ theȱ persecutions,ȱ whichȱ isȱ byȱ farȱ tooȱ highȱ a
numberȱ forȱ thatȱ smallȱ Lowerȱ Austrianȱ town.ȱ Herȱ assessmentȱ thatȱ itȱ wasȱ Dukeȱ Otto’s
‘abandonment’ȱ ofȱ theȱ Austrianȱ duchyȱ inȱ favourȱ ofȱ theȱ ‘recentlyȱ annexed’ȱ Styriaȱ (whichȱ was
neitherȱ‘annexed’ȱnorȱrecentlyȱacquiredȱbyȱtheȱHabsburgsȱnorȱgovernedȱbyȱOttoȱalone)ȱthatȱmade
theȱPulkauȱpersecutionsȱpossibleȱisȱtheȱresultȱofȱaȱmisunderstanding:ȱsheȱignoresȱtheȱexistenceȱof
Otto’sȱbrother,ȱDukeȱAlbrechtȱIIȱ(whomȱsheȱmistakesȱforȱAlbrechtȱIIȱofȱSaxony,ȱtheȱbishopȱof
Passau),ȱwhoȱhadȱlearnedȱhisȱlessonȱandȱmanagedȱtoȱprotectȱtheȱAustrianȱJewsȱinȱ1349/1350.
RosemarieȱKosche,ȱ“ErsteȱSiedlungsbelegeȱnachȱ1350,”ȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱimȱMittelalterȱvonȱder
NordseeȱbisȱzuȱdenȱSüdalpen,ȱ1:ȱKommentarband,ȱed.ȱAlfredȱHaverkampȱ(Hanover:ȱVerlagȱHahnsche
Buchhandlung,ȱ 2002),ȱ 243–47;ȱ Barzen,ȱ “Leuteȱ ausȱ denȱ Dörfern”ȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 2),ȱ 27;ȱ Wenninger,
“SiedlungsgeschichteȱderȱinnerösterreichischenȱJuden”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ5),ȱ191–92.
TheȱJewishȱcommunityȱofȱKremsȱwasȱtheȱonlyȱoneȱthatȱwasȱaffectedȱbyȱaȱPlagueȬrelatedȱpogrom
inȱtheȱduchyȱofȱAustria;ȱtheȱeffectiveȱprotectionȱdukeȱAlbrechtȱIIȱmanagedȱtoȱwieldȱoverȱhisȱJews
earnedȱhimȱsomeȱscathingȱremarksȱfromȱtheȱecclesiasticalȱchroniclers;ȱseeȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,
Regestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ94–101,ȱns.ȱ645–50;ȱseeȱalsoȱKosche,ȱ“Siedlungsbelege”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ94),ȱ245
(onȱAustriaȱandȱBohemia).
660
BirgitȱWiedl
lifeȱinȱtheȱcountryside,ȱhowever,ȱparticularlyȱinȱtheȱnorthȱofȱtheȱduchyȱofȱAustria,
hadȱsufferedȱaȱsubstantialȱblow,ȱandȱifȱatȱall,ȱitȱtookȱdecadesȱbeforeȱJewsȱreturned
toȱtheȱformerȱruralȱplacesȱofȱsettlementȱafterȱtheȱdevastatingȱpersecutionsȱofȱ1338.96
WithȱtheȱexceptionȱofȱtheȱtownȱofȱKlosterneuburg,ȱwhereȱJewishȱinhabitants
stayedȱbeyondȱ1338,97ȱweȱknowȱneitherȱofȱaȱcontinuousȱpresenceȱofȱJewsȱinȱanyȱof
theȱmarketȱtownsȱnorȱofȱaȱreȬsettlementȱofȱfamiliesȱthatȱhadȱlivedȱinȱtheȱafflicted
areasȱbefore.ȱTheȱlatterȱis,ȱhowever,ȱalsoȱaȱsourceȬrelatedȱproblem;ȱforȱallȱweȱknow,
theȱJewȱIsak,ȱwhoȱlivedȱinȱLaaȱanȱderȱThayaȱinȱ1357/1358,98ȱmightȱasȱwellȱhave
beenȱaȱformerȱinhabitantȱofȱtheȱsmallȱtown,ȱorȱwasȱrelatedȱtoȱformerȱinhabitants
theȱnamesȱofȱwhichȱareȱunknown.ȱInȱtheȱ1380s,ȱatȱleastȱtwoȱJewsȱlived,ȱorȱhad
lived,ȱ inȱ theȱ 1338ȱ bloodȱ siteȱ ofȱ Feldsbergȱ (Valtice,ȱ Czechȱ Republic);ȱ theȱ Jews
Frenclein99ȱ andȱ Joseph,ȱ whoseȱ widowȱ Saraȱ (Josepin)ȱ andȱ herȱ heirsȱ roseȱ toȱ be
amongȱtheȱmainȱmoneylendersȱtoȱtheȱinhabitantsȱofȱtheȱScheffstrasseȱinȱtheȱyears
1389ȱ toȱ 1420ȱ (suggestingȱ thatȱ she,ȱ orȱ atȱ leastȱ partȱ ofȱ herȱ family,ȱ hadȱ moved
there).100ȱYetȱasȱforȱLaa,ȱthereȱisȱnoȱevidenceȱasȱtoȱwhetherȱanyȱofȱtheȱFeldsberg
Jewsȱofȱtheȱlateȱfourteenthȱandȱearlyȱfifteenthȱcenturiesȱwereȱinȱanyȱwayȱrelated
toȱtheȱJewsȱthatȱhadȱonceȱlivedȱthere;ȱtheȱsameȱisȱtrueȱforȱtheȱJewȱHerschleinȱof
Hadersdorfȱ amȱ Kamp.101ȱ Inȱ Raabsȱ andȱ Eggenburg,ȱ Jewsȱ resettledȱ inȱ theȱ late
96
97
98
99
100
101
Forȱ theȱ followingȱ (market)ȱ towns,ȱ Jewishȱ presenceȱ canȱ beȱ tracedȱ inȱ theȱ secondȱ halfȱ ofȱ the
fourteenthȱcentury:ȱBruckȱanȱderȱLeitha,ȱEggenburg,ȱHainburg,ȱHerzogenburg,ȱKorneuburg,ȱLaa
anȱderȱThaya,ȱLangenlois,ȱMarchegg,ȱNeulengbach,ȱTulln,ȱWeikersdorf,ȱWeiten,ȱWeitra,ȱYbbs,ȱand
Zisterdorf.ȱQuiteȱuncertainȱ(sinceȱtheȱnamesȱmostȱlikelyȱreferredȱtoȱtheȱorigin,ȱnotȱtheȱplaceȱof
residence,ȱofȱtheȱJews)ȱareȱHadersdorfȱamȱKamp,ȱHimberg,ȱKrutȱ(whichȱisȱeitherȱGroßȬȱoder
Dürnkrut),ȱ Mistelbach,ȱ Reichenbach,ȱ Stockstall,ȱ Waidhofenȱ anȱ derȱ Ybbs,ȱ Waltersdorf,
Wullersdorf,ȱandȱZell;ȱseeȱGermaniaȱJudaicaȱIII/3ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ1979
SeeȱtheȱappearanceȱofȱtheȱJewessȱPlumeȱandȱherȱsonȬinȬlawȱinȱ1339ȱ(BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegesten
2ȱ[seeȱnoteȱ40],ȱ9,ȱn.ȱ457).ȱTheȱdocument,ȱthatȱdealsȱwithȱaȱsuretyȱconcerningȱaȱdebtȱwithȱPlume,
isȱhoweverȱoneȱofȱtheȱfewȱbusinessȱdocumentsȱthatȱreferȱtoȱtheȱPulkauȱpersecution:ȱifȱtheȱpayback
ofȱtheȱdebtȱwouldȱbeȱmootȱ‘dueȱtoȱtheȱeventsȱconcerningȱtheȱJews,’ȱtheȱguarantorsȱtooȱshouldȱbe
freeȱofȱanyȱobligations.ȱPlumeȱisȱmentionedȱagainȱinȱ1343,ȱwhichȱmeansȱthatȱJewishȱlifeȱwasȱnot
completelyȱextinctȱinȱKlosterneuburgȱ(id.,ȱ34,ȱn.ȱ508).
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ196,ȱn.ȱ859,ȱ204,ȱn.ȱ877.
GeyerȱandȱSailer,ȱUrkundenȱausȱWienerȱGrundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ15–16,ȱn.ȱ46ȱ(1383).
Saraȱappearsȱfirstȱinȱ1385ȱasȱ“Czaerln,ȱwidowȱofȱJoseph,”ȱGeyerȱandȱSailer,ȱUrkundenȱausȱWiener
Grundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ47,ȱn.ȱ120,ȱandȱcontinuesȱtoȱdoȱsoȱunderȱthisȱnameȱuntilȱ1395,ȱpartly
togetherȱwithȱanotherȱwidow,ȱPheblein.ȱInȱ1396,ȱJosephȱappearsȱaloneȱ(263,ȱn.ȱ862),ȱandȱthree
yearsȱlaterȱtogetherȱwithȱhisȱgrandmother,ȱhereȱcalledȱJosepinnȱ(307,ȱn.ȱ1005).ȱInȱtheȱJudenbuchȱder
Scheffstrasse,ȱsheȱshowsȱupȱ(asȱJosepin)ȱveryȱfrequently.ȱFromȱ1389ȱtoȱ1405,ȱbusinessȱisȱconducted
tooȱbyȱherȱsonsȬinȬlawȱSüßman,ȱSchäftlein,ȱandȱMendlein,ȱandȱupȱuntilȱ1417,ȱbyȱSchäftlein’sȱson
SmerleinȱandȱhisȱcousinȱDavidȱ(seeȱtheȱlistsȱofȱentriesȱinȱGoldmann,ȱJudenbuchȱderȱScheffstrasseȱ[see
noteȱ54],ȱ134,ȱ[David,ȱ1404],ȱ135ȱ[JosepinȱandȱMendlein,ȱ1390–1399ȱandȱ1391–1393ȱrespectively],
136ȱ [Schäftlein,ȱ 1389–1405],ȱ andȱ 137ȱ [Süßmanȱ andȱ Smerlein,ȱ 1398–1403ȱ andȱ 1415–1417
respectively],ȱ andȱ Geyerȱ andȱ Sailer,ȱ Urkundenȱ ausȱ Wienerȱ Grundbüchernȱ [seeȱ noteȱ 35],ȱ 606
[Schäftlein],ȱ610ȱ[Süßman]),ȱalthoughȱitȱisȱnotȱquiteȱclearȱwhetherȱallȱofȱthemȱlivedȱatȱFeldsberg.
TheȱJewȱSwerzl,ȱsonȱofȱHerschleinȱofȱHadersdorf,ȱisȱdocumentedȱasȱaȱhouseȱownerȱinȱKrems
661
fourteenthȱcentury,102ȱwhileȱinȱotherȱareas,ȱsuchȱasȱPulkauȱitselfȱasȱwellȱasȱtheȱsmall
townsȱofȱRetz,ȱZwettl,ȱandȱHorn,ȱandȱtheȱvillageȱofȱGarsȱamȱKamp,ȱwhereȱJewish
presenceȱisȱdocumentedȱforȱtheȱtimeȱbeforeȱ1338,ȱnoȱsignsȱofȱ(reȬ)settlementȱhas
beenȱ tracedȱ (yet).ȱ Forȱ otherȱ marketȱ towns,ȱ namelyȱ Rastenfeld,ȱ Mistelbach,
Drosendorf,ȱandȱEmmersdorf,ȱtheȱnotesȱonȱtheȱextinctionȱofȱJewishȱlifeȱinȱ1338
remainedȱtheȱonlyȱreminderȱofȱitsȱentireȱexistence.
Yetȱevenȱforȱmanyȱregionsȱthatȱareȱnotȱcountedȱamongȱtheȱbloodȱsitesȱofȱtheȱ1338
persecution,ȱaȱtimeȱgapȱwhereȱnoȱJewishȱexistenceȱisȱtraceableȱcanȱbeȱnoted.ȱJews
mightȱstillȱhaveȱbeenȱpresentȱinȱtheȱ1350sȱinȱtheȱvillageȱofȱTraiskirchen,103ȱwhere
theȱfamilyȱofȱtheȱJewessȱHadasȱhadȱbeenȱlivingȱinȱtheȱearlyȱfourteenthȱcentury,
sinceȱ forȱ theȱ yearȱ 1351ȱ (andȱ againȱ inȱ 1363),ȱ aȱ (Christian)ȱ Jewishȱ judgeȱ is
documented.104ȱItȱshouldȱtakeȱuntilȱ1382ȱthatȱJewsȱreappearȱinȱtheȱsources,ȱwhen
theȱ Jewessȱ Twora,ȱ Merchleinȱ ofȱ Traiskirchen’sȱ sisterȬinȱ law,ȱ gaveȱ outȱ loansȱ to
Vienneseȱ citizens.105ȱ Theȱ connectionȱ toȱ Viennaȱ remainedȱ closeȱ overȱ theȱ next
decades:ȱwhileȱhisȱfatherȱEfferleinȱresidedȱinȱTraiskirchen,ȱthereȱisȱnoȱevidenceȱthat
theȱJewȱSeklein,ȱaȱquiteȱbusyȱmoneylenderȱforȱtheȱVienneseȱcitizenry,ȱeverȱlived
inȱTraiskirchenȱhimself.106ȱOtherȱ“JewsȱofȱTraiskirchen”,ȱsuchȱasȱChadgim107ȱand
Hendlein,108ȱ areȱ likewiseȱ bestȱ documentedȱ throughȱ theirȱ businessȱ contactsȱ to
citizensȱ ofȱ Vienna,ȱ whichȱ mightȱ indicateȱ atȱ aȱ secondary,ȱ orȱ evenȱ principal,
residenceȱinȱVienna;ȱwhileȱChadgim’sȱfatherȱMuschȱsharedȱEfferlein’sȱfateȱofȱonly
beingȱdocumentedȱthroughȱhisȱson’sȱbusinesses.ȱChadgim’sȱsonȱRachimȱcontinued
hisȱfather’sȱbusiness,ȱandȱcountedȱtheȱScottishȱAbbeyȱatȱViennaȱamongȱhisȱclientele
thatȱowedȱhimȱandȱtheȱJewȱJacobȱofȱWeitraȱ(140ȱkilometersȱnorthȬwestȱofȱVienna
atȱtheȱBohemianȱborder)ȱtheȱconsiderableȱsumȱofȱ370ȱpoundȱpennies.109ȱ
Whereasȱ theȱ orientationȱ towardȱ Viennaȱ mightȱ alsoȱ beȱ aȱ sourceȬrelated
‘distortion’ȱdueȱtoȱtheȱhigherȱnumberȱofȱdocuments,ȱparticularlyȱrentȱrollsȱand
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
aroundȱ1400,ȱGermaniaȱJudaicaȱII/1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ38),ȱ313;ȱallegedly,ȱaȱsynagogueȱexistedȱinȱtheȱfifteenth
century,ȱbutȱnoȱtracesȱhaveȱbeenȱfoundȱyet;ȱseeȱGenée,ȱSynagogenȱinȱÖsterreichȱ(seeȱnoteȱ17),ȱ28.
HeskleinȱofȱRaabsȱandȱhisȱsonȱPfefferleinȱareȱdocumentedȱforȱ1383ȱandȱ1402;ȱseeȱGeyerȱandȱSailer,
UrkundenȱausȱWienerȱGrundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ14–15,ȱn.ȱ45ȱ(YzckaȱofȱZistersdorf,ȱHeskleinȱof
Raabs),ȱ342–43,ȱn.ȱ1133ȱ(Heskleinȱ[Heschken],ȱPfefferlein,ȱandȱJoseph),ȱandȱGoldmann,ȱJudenbuch
derȱScheffstrasseȱ(seeȱnoteȱ54),ȱ59,ȱn.ȱ223;ȱDavidȱofȱEggenburgȱwasȱaȱquiteȱimportantȱmoneylender
andȱducalȱtaxȱcollectorȱinȱtheȱ1370s;ȱseeȱLohrmann,ȱJudenrechtȱundȱJudenpolitikȱ(seeȱnoteȱ44)ȱ286.
GermaniaȱJudaicaȱIII/2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ1461–62.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ114,ȱn.ȱ682,ȱ289,ȱn.ȱ1049.ȱ
GeyerȱandȱSailer,ȱUrkundenȱausȱWienerȱGrundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ5,ȱn.ȱ17,ȱ8,ȱn.ȱ28ȱ(bothȱ1382).
Geyerȱ andȱ Sailer,ȱ Urkundenȱ ausȱ Wienerȱ Grundbüchernȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 35),ȱ 604ȱ (listȱ ofȱ hisȱ entries,
1388–1399).
Geyerȱ andȱ Sailer,ȱ Urkundenȱ ausȱ Wienerȱ Grundbüchernȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 35),ȱ 594ȱ (listȱ ofȱ hisȱ entries,
1384–1396);ȱGoldmann,ȱJudenbuchȱderȱScheffstrasseȱ(seeȱnoteȱ54),ȱ51,ȱn.ȱ198ȱ(1389)
GeyerȱandȱSailer,ȱUrkundenȱausȱWienerȱGrundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ430,ȱn.ȱ1432ȱ(1408)
GeyerȱandȱSailer,ȱUrkundenȱausȱWienerȱGrundbüchernȱ(seeȱnoteȱ35),ȱ475–76,ȱn.ȱ1589ȱ(1412).
662
BirgitȱWiedl
landȱregisters,ȱthatȱhaveȱbeenȱtransmittedȱforȱVienna,ȱanȱexistenceȱofȱseveralȱlowȬ
toȱ midȬscaleȱdynastiesȱofȱJewishȱmoneylenders,ȱwhoȱeitherȱoriginatedȱfromȱor
residedȱinȱmarketȱtownsȱinȱtheȱLowerȱAustrianȱcountryside—JosepinȱofȱFeldsberg,
theȱTraiskirchenȱfamily,ȱHirschȱofȱLengbach—andȱmaintainedȱcloseȱtiesȱtoȱthe
Vienneseȱ community,ȱ canȱ beȱ clearlyȱ notedȱ forȱ theȱ lateȱ fourteenthȱ andȱ early
fifteenthȱ centuries.ȱ Whileȱ some,ȱ orȱ evenȱ many,ȱ ofȱ theseȱ seeminglyȱ ruralȱ Jews,
particularlyȱthoseȱfromȱtheȱnorthernȱareas,ȱmightȱinȱfactȱhaveȱonlyȱoriginatedȱfrom
theseȱmarketȱtowns,ȱthereȱisȱadditionalȱevidenceȱofȱprosperingȱJewishȱlifeȱinȱthe
southernȱregions.ȱ
Anȱ indicationȱ ofȱ Jewishȱ presenceȱ isȱ theȱ appearanceȱ ofȱ theȱ Judenrichterȱ (iudex
iudeorum,ȱ“Jewishȱjudge”),ȱanȱofficeȱthatȱhadȱbeenȱintroducedȱinȱtheȱ1244ȱprivilege
andȱ thatȱ remainedȱ quiteȱ uniqueȱ toȱ theȱ easternȱ partsȱ ofȱ today’sȱ Austriaȱ and
Slovenia.ȱTheȱJewishȱjudge—notȱtoȱbeȱmistakenȱwithȱtheȱjudge(s)ȱofȱtheȱBetȱDin,
theȱrabbinicalȱcourt—wasȱaȱChristian,ȱusuallyȱaȱmemberȱofȱtheȱurbanȱ(orȱmarket
town’s)ȱelite,ȱandȱresponsibleȱforȱsettlingȱdisputesȱbetweenȱJewsȱandȱChristians;
inȱadditionȱtoȱthat,ȱheȱoftenȱcorroboratedȱJewishȱbusinessȱdocumentsȱwithȱhisȱseal,
and,ȱinȱtheȱlateȱfourteenthȱandȱearlyȱfifteenthȱcenturies,ȱwasȱinvolvedȱinȱtheȱmore
comprehensiveȱjurisdictionalȱandȱeconomicȱcontrolȱofȱtheȱtownsȱoverȱtheirȱJew.110
Sinceȱ theȱ Jewishȱ judgeȱ keptȱ hisȱ titleȱ evenȱ whenȱ noȱ Jewsȱ wereȱ involvedȱ inȱ the
businessȱ transactionȱ thatȱ wasȱ documentedȱ inȱ theȱ respectiveȱ charter,ȱ the
appearanceȱofȱaȱJewishȱjudgeȱisȱsometimesȱamongȱtheȱearliestȱindicationsȱofȱJewish
presence,ȱ suchȱ asȱ itȱ wasȱ theȱ caseȱ withȱ theȱ Jewishȱ judgesȱ ofȱ Mödlingȱ and
Herzogenburg,ȱwhoȱsealedȱchartersȱinȱ1364ȱandȱ1369ȱrespectively.111ȱTheȱriseȱin
importanceȱ ofȱ Jewishȱ communitiesȱ suchȱ asȱ Traiskirchen,ȱ Mödling,ȱ and
Perchtoldsdorfȱalsoȱbearȱtestimonyȱtoȱaȱnewȱpatternȱofȱsettlementȱafterȱ1338ȱthat
hadȱshiftedȱgeographicallyȱfromȱtheȱnorthwestȱ(whereȱPulkauȱisȱlocated)ȱtoȱthe
south,ȱwhileȱonlyȱaȱfewȱplacesȱofȱlongȬtermȱJewishȱsettlementȱcontinuedȱtoȱexisted
inȱtheȱnorth.ȱAtȱtheȱsameȱtime,ȱViennaȱ(asȱwellȱasȱtheȱotherȱbigȱcities)ȱremainedȱa
mainȱ focusȱ ofȱ Jewishȱ migration,ȱ attractingȱ notȱ onlyȱ Jewsȱ fromȱ theȱ nearby
countrysideȱandȱtheȱadjacentȱcountriesȱbutȱfromȱasȱfarȱawayȱasȱnorthernȱItalyȱand
theȱRhineland.112
TheȱconstitutiveȱfacilitiesȱofȱaȱJewishȱcommunity,ȱnamelyȱsynagogues,ȱJewish
bathsȱ(includingȱtheȱritualȱbaths,ȱmikhvot),ȱandȱcemeteries,113ȱareȱdifficultȱtoȱtrace
110
111
112
113
Wiedl,ȱ“JewsȱandȱtheȱCity”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ13),ȱeadem,ȱ“JudenȱinȱösterreichischenȱStadtrechtenȱdes
Mittelalters”ȱÖsterreichischesȱArchivȱfürȱRechtȱundȱReligionȱ57.2ȱ(2010),ȱ257–72;ȱhereȱ259–60.
ForȱHerzogenburg,ȱseeȱtheȱcontributionȱofȱEvelineȱBruggerȱinȱthisȱvolume,ȱforȱMödling;ȱseeȱbelow.
GermaniaȱJudaicaȱIII/3ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ1979.
Additionalȱ facilitiesȱ wereȱ danceȱ and/orȱ assemblyȱ halls,ȱ slaughteringȱ houses,ȱ bakeries,ȱ and
hospitals,ȱthatȱwereȱusuallyȱonlyȱfoundȱinȱbigȱandȱprosperousȱcommunities;ȱseeȱforȱAustriaȱKeil,
“GemeindeȱundȱKultur”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ40–41,ȱandȱgenerallyȱGermaniaȱJudaicaȱIII/3ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),
2081–89.
663
(notȱonly)ȱinȱtheȱcountryside,ȱsinceȱafterȱanȱexpulsionȱand/orȱmurderingȱofȱthe
Jewishȱpopulation,ȱtheȱbuildingsȱthatȱhadȱhousedȱtheseȱinstitutionsȱwereȱeither
tornȱ downȱ orȱ putȱ toȱ anotherȱ use.ȱ Theȱ mostȱ evidenceȱ canȱ beȱ gatheredȱ for
synagogues,ȱbothȱinȱarchaeologicalȱexcavationsȱandȱdocuments,ȱalbeitȱmostȱofȱthe
latterȱdateȱfromȱcenturiesȱwhenȱearlyȱmodernȱdenominationsȱforȱtheȱhouse/plot
ofȱland,ȱthatȱhadȱlongȱceasedȱtoȱserveȱitsȱritualȱpurpose,ȱhintȱatȱitsȱformerȱfunction,
sometimesȱerroneouslyȱso.ȱOutsideȱtheȱurbanȱcenters,ȱmedievalȱsynagoguesȱare
documentedȱforȱtheȱLowerȱAustrianȱtownsȱofȱBruckȱanȱderȱLeitha,ȱNeulengbach,
Mödling,ȱ Eggenburg,ȱ Perchtoldsdorf,ȱ Neunkirchen,ȱ andȱ theȱ Styrianȱ townȱ of
Hartberg,ȱ whereasȱ forȱ Hadersdorfȱ amȱ Kampȱ andȱ Weiten,ȱ theȱ evidenceȱ is
questionableȱ (seeȱ above).114ȱ Despiteȱ theseȱ difficulties,ȱ synagoguesȱ canȱ beȱ of
immeasurableȱvalueȱwhenȱitȱcomesȱtoȱassessingȱtheȱexistence,ȱsize,ȱandȱprosperity
ofȱaȱJewishȱcommunity.ȱ
Theȱ beginningsȱ ofȱ theȱ Jewishȱ communityȱ atȱ Mödlingȱ areȱ onlyȱ scarcely
documentedȱinȱwrittenȱsources.ȱJewishȱpresenceȱbeforeȱ1350ȱisȱpossible;ȱaȱsonȱof
MoscheȱofȱPerchtoldsdorf,ȱIsak,ȱmightȱhaveȱresidedȱthere,ȱandȱVienneseȱJewsȱsuch
asȱZachariasȱheldȱproperty—mostȱlikelyȱvineyards—inȱMödling.115ȱInȱtheȱsecond
halfȱofȱtheȱfourteenthȱcentury,ȱtheȱfirstȱhintȱatȱJewishȱinhabitantsȱisȱtheȱexistence
ofȱaȱJewishȱjudgeȱwhoȱisȱdocumentedȱforȱtheȱyearsȱ1364ȱandȱ1365,ȱwhenȱMichael
Kolb,ȱ Jewishȱ judgeȱ ofȱ Mödling,ȱ corroboratedȱ twoȱ billsȱ ofȱ saleȱ withȱ hisȱ seal.116
Althoughȱ noȱ Jewsȱ wereȱ involvedȱ inȱ theseȱ transactions,ȱ membersȱ fromȱ theȱ big
JewishȱcommunitiesȱofȱViennaȱandȱWienerȱNeustadtȱwereȱperhapsȱalreadyȱliving
inȱMödlingȱaroundȱthatȱtime—inȱ1370,ȱLeubmann,ȱtheȱsonȱofȱVreudmanȱofȱWiener
Neustadt,ȱhadȱtakenȱupȱresidenceȱinȱMödling,117ȱandȱwithȱJoseph,ȱaȱmemberȱofȱthe
Steussȱ family,ȱ aȱ Jewȱ withȱ veryȱ strongȱ tiesȱ toȱ theȱ mostȱ prestigiousȱ Viennese
financiers,ȱhadȱmovedȱtoȱMödlingȱinȱ1377ȱatȱtheȱlatest.118ȱ
Writtenȱ evidenceȱ ofȱ theirȱ businessȱ activitiesȱ remainsȱ comparativelyȱ limited
though;ȱandȱforȱmostȱofȱtheȱJewishȱinhabitantsȱofȱMödling,ȱaȱsecondaryȱ(orȱeven
principal)ȱresidenceȱinȱViennaȱcanȱbeȱassumed.119ȱYetȱwhatȱgivesȱampleȱevidence
ofȱ theȱ importanceȱ (and,ȱ presumably,ȱ theȱ wealth)ȱ ofȱ theȱ Jewishȱ communityȱ at
114
115
116
117
118
119
SeeȱKeil,ȱ“GemeindeȱundȱKultur”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ17–24,ȱforȱaȱdescriptionȱofȱtheȱmedievalȱsynagogues
ofȱAustriaȱ(includingȱMarburg/MariborȱandȱÖdenburg/Sopronȱinȱtoday’sȱSloveniaȱandȱHungary
respectively).
Wiedl,ȱ“Kriegskassen”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ42),ȱ245–47.ȱSeeȱalsoȱGermaniaȱJudaicaȱII/2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ38),ȱ544–45,
whereȱhoweverȱMelkȱisȱmistakenȱforȱMödlingȱ(concerningȱtheȱJewessȱRädel).
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ319–20,ȱn.ȱ1110,ȱ326–27,ȱn.ȱ1124.ȱ
HausȬ,ȱHofȬȱundȱStaatsarchivȱWien,ȱAURȱ1370ȱXIȱ14.
Quellenȱ zurȱ Geschichteȱ derȱ Stadtȱ Wien,ȱ III:ȱ Grundbücherȱ derȱ Stadtȱ Wien,ȱ partȱ 3:ȱ Satzbuchȱ A1
(1373–1388)ȱ(Vienna:ȱVerlagȱdesȱVereinesȱfürȱGeschichteȱderȱStadtȱWien,ȱ1921),ȱ86,ȱn.ȱ3394ȱ(1377,
consobrinoȱSteussonisȱdeȱWienna);ȱGoldmann,ȱJudenbuchȱderȱScheffstrasseȱ(seeȱnoteȱ54),ȱ28–29,ȱn.ȱ111
(1394).ȱ
GermaniaȱJudaicaȱIII/2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ878–89.
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BirgitȱWiedl
Mödlingȱisȱtheȱsynagogueȱthat,ȱaccordingȱtoȱdrawingsȱandȱ(later)ȱreconstruction
plans,ȱ mustȱ haveȱ beenȱ quiteȱ extensive;ȱ inȱ additionȱ toȱ theȱ synagogue,ȱ one,ȱ or
perhapsȱevenȱtwoȱJewishȱbathsȱexisted.120ȱTheȱmostȱstunningȱpartȱhoweverȱisȱthe
entranceȱdoorȱtoȱtheȱsynagogue,ȱdatedȱbetweenȱ1350ȱandȱ(before)ȱ1420ȱandȱmade
fromȱironȱplatesȱthatȱwereȱrivetedȱtogether.ȱTheȱdoorȱisȱelaboratelyȱdecoratedȱwith
motifsȱthatȱcanȱalsoȱbeȱfoundȱinȱHebrewȱmanuscripts.121
Whileȱaȱmikhvaȱcouldȱ(more)ȱeasilyȱbeȱimprovisedȱbyȱmakingȱuseȱofȱaȱriver,ȱor
aȱpond,122ȱcommunalȱfacilitiesȱsuchȱasȱaȱkosherȱbutcherȱ(Schächter)ȱand/orȱtailor,
orȱaȱcemeteryȱwereȱdifficult,ȱifȱnotȱimpossible,ȱtoȱobtain.ȱItȱisȱquiteȱlikelyȱthatȱJews
livingȱinȱtheȱcountrysideȱknewȱhowȱtoȱprovideȱthemselvesȱwithȱkosherȱmeatȱby
butcheringȱtheȱanimalsȱthemselves.ȱSeveralȱregulationsȱthatȱforbadeȱtheȱJewsȱto
sellȱ thoseȱ partsȱ ofȱ theȱ slaughteredȱ animalsȱ theyȱ consideredȱ unfitȱ forȱ their
consumptionȱtoȱChristianȱcustomersȱhintȱatȱtheȱquiteȱcommonȱpracticeȱofȱJewish
inȬhouseȱslaughtering123;ȱlikewise,ȱtheȱuseȱofȱtheȱmunicipalȱslaughteringȱhouseȱis
documented.124ȱ Evenȱ ifȱ theȱ majorityȱ ofȱ theseȱ regulationsȱ wereȱ drawnȱ upȱ by
representativesȱofȱcities,ȱtheyȱalsoȱappliedȱtoȱJewsȱcomingȱinȱfromȱtheȱcountryside
onȱtheȱmarketȱdaysȱtoȱsellȱtheirȱproductsȱthere.
Theȱcemeteryȱthatȱwasȱboundȱtoȱseveralȱhalachicȱandȱritualȱregulations,ȱposed
aȱ realȱ problemȱ forȱ manyȱ Jewsȱ inȱ theȱ countryside,ȱ sinceȱ establishingȱ and
maintainingȱitȱnotȱonlyȱrequiredȱaȱcertainȱamountȱofȱpersonnelȱthatȱwasȱonlyȱtoȱbe
hadȱatȱaȱbiggerȱcommunity,ȱbutȱalsoȱincludedȱtheȱgrantingȱofȱaȱplotȱofȱlandȱbyȱthe
respectiveȱruler.125ȱAccordingȱtoȱJewishȱtradition,ȱtheseȱcemeteriesȱwereȱpurchased
‘forȱ eternity,’ȱ whichȱ alsoȱ meantȱ thatȱ onlyȱ theȱ biggerȱ communities,ȱ thoseȱ who
hopedȱ forȱ aȱ moreȱ continuousȱ existence,ȱ establishedȱ cemeteriesȱ atȱ all;ȱ inȱ the
territoryȱofȱmodernȬdayȱAustria,ȱmedievalȱJewishȱcemeteriesȱareȱdocumentedȱonly
forȱVienna,ȱKrems,ȱandȱWienerȱNeustadtȱ(theȱthreeȱmainȱcommunities)ȱasȱwellȱas
Salzburg,ȱVillach,ȱFriesach,ȱGraz,ȱJudenburg,ȱMarburg/Maribor,ȱandȱPettau/Ptuj
(bothȱinȱSlovenia).126ȱTherefore,ȱitȱwasȱmoreȱtheȱruleȱthanȱtheȱexceptionȱforȱrural
Jewsȱtoȱhaveȱno,ȱorȱatȱleastȱlimitedȱaccessȱtoȱaȱJewishȱcemeteryȱinȱtheirȱvicinity.
RuralȱJewsȱcopedȱinȱseveralȱways:ȱPrivateȱburialȱsitesȱwereȱestablishedȱinȱtowns
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
RolandȱBurgerȱet.ȱal.,ȱAusgelöscht.ȱVomȱLebenȱderȱJudenȱinȱMödlingȱ(MödlingȱandȱVienna:ȱedition
umbruch,ȱ1988),ȱ10–23.
Keil,ȱ“GemeindeȱundȱKultur”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ20–21,ȱwithȱillustration.
Wiedl,ȱ“JewsȱandȱtheȱCity”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ13),ȱ296–99;ȱead.,ȱ“JudenȱinȱösterreichischenȱStadtrechten”
(seeȱnoteȱ110),ȱ264–67.
MarthaȱKeil,ȱ“OrteȱderȱjüdischenȱÖffentlichkeit:ȱJudenviertel,ȱSynagoge,ȱFriedhof,”ȱEinȱThemaȱ–
zweiȱPerspektiven.ȱJudenȱundȱChristenȱinȱMittelalterȱundȱFrühneuzeit,ȱed.ȱEvelineȱBruggerȱandȱBirgit
Wiedlȱ(Innsbruck,ȱVienna,ȱandȱBolzano:ȱStudienVerlag,ȱ2007),ȱ170–86;ȱhereȱ179–81.
665
thatȱ housedȱ onlyȱ aȱ fewȱ Jewishȱ inhabitant,ȱ asȱ itȱ isȱ documentedȱ forȱ theȱ (today)
TyrolianȱtownȱofȱLienz.127ȱ
AlthoughȱtheȱChristianȱsurroundingsȱforȱtheȱJewsȱlivingȱinȱLienzȱwereȱurban,
thereȱwasȱneverȱenoughȱJewishȱpresenceȱtoȱinitiateȱtheȱestablishingȱofȱaȱJewish
community.128ȱInȱ1325,ȱaȱJudenhausȱ(Jewishȱhouse)ȱisȱmentionedȱthatȱwasȱsituated
insideȱtheȱinnerȱtownȱwall,ȱandȱaȱhundredȱyearsȱlater,ȱwhenȱJewishȱexistenceȱcame
toȱanȱendȱinȱLienzȱinȱtheȱwakeȱofȱaȱbloodȱlibelȱpersecutionȱinȱ1442/1443,ȱitȱwas
notedȱthatȱ“aȱnumberȱofȱJews”ȱ(etlicheȱJuden)ȱhadȱtakenȱupȱtheirȱresidenceȱinȱtwo
houses,ȱ raisingȱ theȱ populationȱ toȱ noȱ moreȱ thanȱ aȱ fewȱ families.129ȱ However
extensiveȱtheȱJewishȱpopulationȱatȱLienzȱmightȱhaveȱbeen,ȱtheȱnearestȱcemetery
wasȱtooȱfarȱaway:ȱaboutȱ110ȱkilometers,ȱinȱtheȱCarinthianȱtownȱofȱVillachȱthatȱwas
underȱtheȱruleȱofȱtheȱBishopȱofȱBamberg.ȱ
Villachȱhadȱallȱtheȱfeaturesȱaȱcommunityȱneeded,ȱinȱfactȱitȱhousedȱoneȱofȱthe
mostȱimportantȱJewishȱcommunitiesȱinȱtheȱsouthernȱregions,ȱwithȱitsȱcemetery
datingȱbackȱtoȱtheȱtwelfthȱcentury,ȱandȱaȱsynagogueȱthatȱwasȱfirstȱmentionedȱin
1342130;ȱyetȱevenȱifȱtheȱJewsȱofȱLienzȱhadȱbeenȱwillingȱtoȱcarryȱtheirȱdeceasedȱto
thatȱcemetery,ȱtheyȱwouldȱhaveȱfacedȱanȱimpossibleȱtaskȱdueȱtoȱtheȱsurrounding
mountains,ȱatȱleastȱinȱwinter.ȱAnotherȱsolutionȱwasȱfoundȱthatȱisȱtraceableȱthrough
aȱdocumentȱfromȱ1498,ȱlongȱafterȱtheȱextinctionȱofȱanyȱJewishȱpresence:ȱaȱfieldȱon
theȱsouthernȱbankȱofȱtheȱriverȱDrauȱ(whichȱmeansȱonȱtheȱoppositeȱbank)ȱwasȱsold,
calledȱderȱJudenfreythoff,ȱ“theȱJewishȱcemetery,”ȱindicatingȱthat,ȱatȱsomeȱtime,ȱthe
JewsȱofȱLienzȱhadȱestablishedȱtheirȱownȱburialȱgroundsȱdespiteȱtheȱabsenceȱofȱa
‘full’ȱJewishȱcommunity.131ȱ
ForȱmostȱofȱtheȱruralȱJews,ȱhowever,ȱgrantingȱtheirȱdeceasedȱaȱproperȱburial
meantȱhavingȱthemȱtransferredȱtoȱtheȱclosestȱcemeteryȱofȱanȱurbanȱcommunity,
whichȱ oftenȱ includedȱ theȱ coveringȱ ofȱ considerableȱ distances.ȱ Inȱ theȱ early
fourteenthȱ century,ȱ theȱ townȱ councilȱ ofȱ theȱ (then)ȱ Styrianȱ townȱ ofȱ Wiener
127
128
129
130
131
Markusȱ Wenninger,ȱ “Judenȱ imȱ Herrschaftsbereichȱ derȱ Grafenȱ vonȱ Görzȱ undȱ GörzȬTirol,”
SymposiumȱzurȱGeschichteȱvonȱMillstattȱundȱKärnten,ȱed.ȱFranzȱNikolaschȱ(Millstatt:ȱn.p.,ȱ2000);
Wadl,ȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱKärntenȱ(seeȱnoteȱ14),ȱ229–33.
Aroundȱ1300,ȱtheȱJewȱIsakȱofȱLienzȱwasȱanȱinfluentialȱmoneylenderȱandȱtenantȱofȱtollsȱandȱmints
whoseȱbusinessȱcontactsȱreachedȱasȱfarȱasȱtheȱAdriaticȱSeaȱ(Wenninger,ȱ“JudenȱalsȱMünzmeister”
[seeȱnoteȱ7],ȱ125,ȱBrugger,ȱ“JudenȱinȱÖsterreichȱimȱMittelalter”ȱ[seeȱnoteȱ10],ȱ191).ȱDespiteȱthe
presenceȱofȱsuchȱaȱhighȬrankingȱbusinessman,ȱtheȱoverallȱextentȱofȱJewishȱexistenceȱinȱLienz
shouldȱnotȱbeȱoverȬestimatedȱ(Wenninger,ȱ“JudenȱinȱGörz”ȱ[seeȱnoteȱ127],ȱ120,ȱinȱcontrastȱtoȱWadl,
GeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱKärntenȱ[seeȱnoteȱ14],ȱ233,ȱwhoȱdeductsȱtheȱexistenceȱofȱaȱsynagogueȱfrom
theȱmentionȱofȱtheȱburialȱsite).
Wenninger,ȱ“JudenȱinȱGörz”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ127),ȱ120ȱandȱ130–33.ȱ
Wadl,ȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱKärntenȱ(seeȱnoteȱ14),ȱ164–65,ȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnote
40),ȱ30–31,ȱn.ȱ499.
Wadl,ȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱKärntenȱ(seeȱnoteȱ14),ȱ233,ȱWenninger,ȱ“JudenȱinȱGörz”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ129),
120ȱwithȱfn.ȱ79.
666
BirgitȱWiedl
Neustadt,ȱsituatedȱatȱtheȱpassageȱfromȱAustriaȱtoȱStyria,ȱissuedȱaȱseriesȱofȱtoll
regulationsȱ inȱ theȱ courseȱ ofȱ whichȱ threeȱ citizensȱ wereȱ requiredȱ toȱ declareȱ the
customsȱofȱtheȱlastȱ30ȱyears,ȱaccordingȱtoȱwhichȱtheȱnewȱregulationsȱwereȱsettled.
Amongȱthese,ȱtheȱquestionȱofȱhowȱtoȱdealȱwithȱJewsȱwhoȱwereȱtransferringȱtheir
deceasedȱwasȱregulated:ȱifȱsuchȱaȱpartyȱwereȱtoȱpassȱtheȱtollȱstation,ȱnoȱofficialȱtax
wasȱrequired,ȱbutȱtheȱJewsȱshouldȱcomeȱtoȱanȱarrangementȱwithȱtheȱtollȱofficer
themselves.ȱJewsȱfromȱtheȱduchiesȱofȱAustriaȱorȱStyria—thoseȱwhoȱwereȱmost
likelyȱtoȱpassȱtheȱtollȱstation—wereȱexemptȱfromȱanyȱtollȱpayment,ȱwhichȱgives
evidenceȱforȱaȱratherȱfrequentȱ‘use’ȱofȱthisȱmethodȱofȱtransferringȱtheȱdeceased.132
DespiteȱtheȱfactȱthatȱJewishȱlifeȱinȱtheȱcountrysideȱcouldȱprosper,ȱaȱtendencyȱto
migrateȱtowardȱtheȱurbanȱcentersȱevenȱamongȱquiteȱsuccessfulȱruralȱbusinessmen
isȱ evident.133ȱ Theȱ familyȱ ofȱ theȱ mostȱ importantȱ moneylenderȱ toȱ theȱ Habsburg
dukesȱinȱtheȱsecondȱhalfȱofȱtheȱfourteenthȱcentury,ȱtheȱVienneseȱJewȱDavidȱSteuss,
originatedȱfromȱtheȱtownȱofȱKlosterneuburg,ȱwhereȱinȱtheȱshadowȱofȱtheȱPrioryȱof
theȱCanonsȱRegularȱ(whoȱmadeȱgoodȱbusinessȱpartners),ȱJewsȱhadȱsettledȱalready
inȱ theȱ lateȱ thirteenthȱ century.ȱ Whileȱ theȱ Steussȱ familyȱ owedȱ theirȱ wealthȱ and
importanceȱtoȱtheȱJewessȱPlume,ȱDavid’sȱgrandmother,ȱwhoȱhadȱspentȱherȱlifeȱin
Klosterneuburg,ȱalreadyȱPlume’sȱsonȱHendleinȱhadȱmovedȱtoȱVienna.134ȱMostȱof
theȱmoreȱsuccessfulȱmoneylendingȱfamiliesȱusuallyȱeitherȱhadȱfamilyȱmembers
thatȱlivedȱinȱtheȱbiggerȱcities,ȱorȱwereȱpartȬtimeȱlivingȱinȱtheȱcityȱthemselves,ȱwith
theȱruralȱabodeȱbeingȱmoreȱandȱmoreȱ‘degraded’ȱtoȱaȱsecondaryȱresidence.ȱ
Migrationȱfromȱurbanȱcentersȱtoȱtheȱcountrysideȱwasȱrare,ȱand,ȱifȱitȱhappened,
itȱwasȱoftenȱonlyȱtemporarily.ȱSomeȱmovesȱtoȱtheȱcountrysideȱmightȱhaveȱhad
professionalȱreasons:ȱAbrechȱofȱFriesach,ȱaȱhighȬprofileȱCarinthianȱmoneylender
ofȱ theȱ 1360s,ȱ whoȱ hadȱ negotiatedȱ theȱ donationȱ ofȱ theȱ cemeteryȱ ofȱ Friesachȱ in
1352,135ȱapparentlyȱ movedȱtoȱtheȱmarketȱtownȱofȱStraßburgȱforȱatȱleastȱaȱyear.
132
133
134
135
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ189,ȱn.ȱ194.ȱ
Lohrmann,ȱJudenrechtȱandȱJudenpolitikȱ(seeȱnoteȱ44),ȱ211ȱ(withȱaȱlistȱofȱtownsȱandȱvillagesȱfrom
whereȱJewsȱhadȱmigratedȱtoȱViennaȱinȱtheȱsecondȱhalfȱofȱtheȱfourteenthȱcentury).ȱȱSee,ȱgenerally,
Gilomen,ȱ“JüdischeȱMigration”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ12),ȱforȱanȱoverviewȱoverȱtheȱresearchȱconcerningȱJewish
migration,ȱ124–25.
Wiedl,ȱ“Kriegskassen”ȱ (seeȱnoteȱ42),ȱ248–49;ȱEvelineȱBrugger,ȱ“LoansȱofȱtheȱFather:ȱBusiness
SuccessionȱinȱFamiliesȱofȱJewishȱMoneylendersȱinȱLateȱMedievalȱAustria,”ȱGenerationsȱinȱTowns.
SuccessionȱandȱSuccessȱinȱPreȬIndustrialȱUrbanȱSocieties,ȱed.ȱFinnȬEinarȱEliassenȱandȱKatalinȱSzende
(Newcastleȱ uponȱ Tyne:ȱ Cambridgeȱ Scholarsȱ Publishing,ȱ 2009),ȱ 112–129;ȱ hereȱ 117–18.ȱ This
migrationȱpatternȱcanȱevenȱbeȱdetectedȱbetweenȱcitiesȱwithȱsmallerȱandȱmoreȱimportantȱJewish
communities,ȱsuchȱasȱtheȱSalzburgȬbasedȱfamilyȱofȱAron,ȱwhoseȱmembersȱoneȬbyȬoneȱmoveȱto
cityȱtownȱofȱRegensburg,ȱwhichȱmightȱnotȱhaveȱbeenȱaȱlargerȱtownȱbutȱhousedȱtheȱmuchȱmore
importantȱandȱflourishingȱJewishȱcommunity.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ134,ȱn.ȱ725.ȱInȱ1354,ȱtheȱbishopȱofȱBambergȱgave
permissionȱ toȱ erectȱ theȱ synagogueȱ atȱ Villachȱ toȱ aȱ Jewȱ Aschrokȱ ofȱ Friesach,ȱ who,ȱ despiteȱ the
misspelledȱname,ȱmightȱbeȱidentifiedȱwithȱAbrech;ȱseeȱid.,ȱ153,ȱn.ȱ767,ȱandȱWadl,ȱGeschichteȱder
JudenȱinȱKärntenȱ(seeȱnoteȱ14),ȱ166,ȱ223;ȱWiedl,ȱ“JewsȱandȱtheȱCity”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ13),ȱ282
667
AlthoughȱJewsȱlivedȱinȱStraßburgȱsinceȱtheȱlateȱthirteenthȱcentury,136ȱAbrech’sȱstay
thereȱ wasȱ mostȱ likelyȱ dueȱ toȱ theȱ factȱ thatȱ Straßburgȱ wasȱ theȱ residenceȱ ofȱ the
bishopsȱofȱGurk,ȱwhoȱwereȱamongȱhisȱbusinessȱpartners;ȱinȱ1354,ȱheȱhadȱobviously
alreadyȱreturnedȱtoȱFriesach.ȱAbrahamȱofȱObervellachȱhadȱbeenȱmasterȱofȱtheȱmint
ofȱtheȱCountsȱofȱGörzȱandȱhadȱdoneȱsomeȱadditionalȱbusinessȱthereȱthatȱcontinued
pastȱhisȱholdingȱtheȱoffice.137ȱOtherȱmoves,ȱhowever,ȱareȱlessȱeasilyȱexplained.
Hetschel,ȱ sonȱ ofȱ Rabbiȱ Israelȱ ofȱ Krems,ȱ exchangedȱ Kremsȱ forȱ Herzogenburg
aroundȱ1370,138ȱandȱ50ȱyearsȱearlier,ȱtwoȱsonsȱofȱimportantȱVienneseȱfinanciers,
Mordechai,ȱsonȱofȱSchwärzlein,ȱandȱKalman,ȱsonȱofȱLebman,ȱmovedȱtoȱZistersdorf
andȱHainburgȱrespectively.ȱ
Whileȱ Mordechaiȱ hadȱ beenȱ engagedȱ inȱ highȬendȱ moneylendingȱ withȱ his
brothersȱPessach,ȱMosche,ȱandȱIsakȱinȱViennaȱuntilȱ1317,139ȱKalmanȱhadȱnever
attainedȱtheȱsameȱimportanceȱasȱhisȱfatherȱandȱhisȱbrotherȱGutman;ȱwithȱtheȱmove
toȱ theȱ countryside,ȱ however,ȱ bothȱ ceasedȱ toȱ appearedȱ inȱ anyȱ businessȱ deals.
Prosperityȱcouldȱneverthelessȱbeȱgainedȱinȱtheȱ countrysideȱasȱwell—whenȱthe
Austrianȱ dukesȱ Albrechtȱ IIIȱ andȱ Leopoldȱ IIIȱ (1351–1386)ȱ appointedȱ fiveȱ tax
collectorsȱ(generallyȱknownȱasȱabsamer)ȱbetweenȱ1365ȱandȱ1379,ȱoneȱofȱthemȱwas
Davidȱ ofȱ Eggenburg,ȱ aȱ smallȱ townȱ inȱ theȱ northȱ ofȱ Lowerȱ Austria.140ȱ Inȱ the
followingȱ years,ȱ severalȱ membersȱ ofȱ theȱ Jewishȱ communityȱ atȱ Perchtoldsdorf
joinedȱtheȱoffice.141
Jewishȱfamiliesȱwhoȱwereȱaȱfewȱstepsȱlowerȱonȱtheȱbusinessȱscaleȱseemedȱtoȱbe
moreȱproneȱtoȱremainȱinȱtheȱcountryside—LebȱofȱGars,ȱwhoȱmovedȱtoȱtheȱslightly
biggerȱbutȱstillȱnotȱ‘urban’ȱtownȱofȱRetz,ȱhasȱbeenȱmentionedȱalready.ȱAbraham,
sonȱofȱLazarusȱofȱEggenburg,ȱmightȱbeȱidentifiedȱwithȱhisȱnamesakeȱwhoȱwas
livingȱinȱZwettlȱforȱsomeȱyears.142ȱTheȱtownsȱofȱEggenburgȱandȱZwettlȱareȱabout
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
Wadl,ȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱKärntenȱ(seeȱnoteȱ14),ȱ226–29.
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ274,ȱn.ȱ1018;ȱWadl,ȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱKärntenȱ(see
noteȱ 14),ȱ 234;ȱ seeȱ forȱ otherȱ Jewishȱ mintȱ mastersȱ inȱ Carinthiaȱ (inȱ theȱ townsȱ ofȱ St.ȱ Veitȱ and
Völkermarkt)ȱid.,ȱ140.ȱ
SeeȱtheȱcontributionȱofȱEvelineȱBruggerȱinȱthisȱvolume.
Brugger,ȱAdelȱundȱJudenȱ(seeȱnoteȱ15),55–59,ȱparticularlyȱonȱtheȱconncetionȱtoȱtheȱBuchbergȱfamily.
ErnstȱFreiherrȱvonȱSchwindȱandȱAlphonsȱDopsch,ȱAusgewählteȱUrkundenȱzurȱVerfassungsȬGeschichte
derȱdeutschȬösterreichischenȱErblandeȱimȱMittelalterȱ(Innsbruck:ȱVerlagȱderȱWagnerschenȱUniversitätȬ
Buchhandlung,ȱ1895),ȱ266–68,ȱn.ȱ136;ȱLackner,ȱRegestaȱHabsburgicaȱ5/1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ44),ȱ40,ȱn.ȱ47.ȱThe
originalȱdocumentȱhasȱbeenȱlost,ȱandȱtheȱ(undated)ȱcopiesȱonlyȱnameȱtwoȱofȱtheȱaltogetherȱfive
Jewishȱabsamer:ȱSwogelȱofȱLinzȱandȱDavidȱofȱEggenburg;ȱseeȱLohrmann,ȱJudenrechtȱundȱJudenpolitik
(seeȱnoteȱ44)ȱ286.
GermaniaȱJudaicaȱIII/2ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ1095.
SeeȱBirgitȱWiedl,ȱ“DieȱZwettlerȱSiegeltaschen,ȱeinȱhistorischesȱPuzzle,”ȱZwischenȱdenȱZeilen:ȱ20
Jahreȱ Institutȱ fürȱ jüdischeȱ Geschichteȱ Österreichsȱ (2008),ȱ 32–38,ȱ (seeȱ forȱ theȱ internetȱ version:
http://injoest.ac.at/upload/JME2008_17_38.pdfȱlastȱaccessedȱonȱJan.ȱ16,ȱ2012).ȱSeeȱforȱtheȱfragments
BruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ190–91,ȱn.ȱ196,ȱ196,ȱn.ȱ206,ȱ198–99,ȱn.ȱ210,ȱ213–14,ȱn.
234,ȱ237–ȱ39,ȱns.ȱ275–76,ȱ265–66,ȱn.ȱ316,ȱforȱscansȱseeȱwww.monasterium.netȱ(collaborativeȱarchive,
668
BirgitȱWiedl
50ȱkilometersȱapartȱandȱbothȱlocatedȱinȱtheȱhillyȱandȱforestȬdominatedȱnorthwest
ofȱLowerȱAustria,ȱwhichȱwouldȱhaveȱmeantȱratherȱsimilarȱlivingȱconditionsȱfor
Abraham,ȱatȱleastȱwithȱregardȱtoȱclimateȱandȱsurroundings.ȱWhileȱLazarusȱandȱhis
sonȱareȱtheȱonlyȱJewsȱdocumentedȱforȱEggenburgȱatȱthisȱtime,143ȱJewishȱpresence
atȱZwettlȱmightȱhaveȱbeenȱmoreȱextensiveȱthanȱitȱappearsȱatȱfirstȱglance.ȱAlthough
apartȱfromȱAbraham,ȱoneȱotherȱJewȱappearsȱinȱbusinessȱdocuments,144ȱaȱrabbinical
responseȱofȱtheȱfamousȱMeirȱofȱRothenburgȱfromȱtheȱlateȱthirteenthȱcenturyȱthat
dealsȱ withȱ theȱ reȬmarriageȱ ofȱ aȱ widowȱ afterȱ aȱ Jewȱ ofȱ Zwettlȱ whoȱ hadȱ been
murdered,ȱ allowsȱ aȱ differentȱ interpretation.ȱ Whenȱ Rabbiȱ Meirȱ cameȱ toȱ the
conclusionȱthatȱtheȱremarriageȱshouldȱbeȱallowed,ȱheȱdidȱsoȱunderȱtheȱcondition
thatȱRabbiȱEliezerȱ“asȱwellȱasȱtheȱotherȱrabbisȱthatȱareȱpresentȱthere”ȱagree.ȱWhile
theȱidentityȱofȱRabbiȱEliezerȱandȱtheȱothersȱremainȱunclear—theȱmanuscriptȱalso
mentionsȱKrems—itȱhasȱbeenȱsuggestedȱthatȱthereȱwasȱaȱrabbiȱpresentȱinȱZwettl,
atȱleastȱforȱsomeȱtime.145ȱ
AȱsimilarȱmigrationȱpatternȱofȱtheȱmembersȱofȱaȱJewishȱfamilyȱthatȱlivedȱinȱthe
countrysideȱcanȱbeȱtracedȱforȱtheȱbrothersȱJosephȱandȱSlomleinȱofȱZistersdorf:ȱin
1383,ȱtheȱJewsȱYczkaȱofȱZistersdorfȱandȱHeskleinȱofȱRaabsȱgrantedȱaȱloanȱtoȱthe
Scottishȱ Abbeyȱ inȱ Vienna.ȱ Inȱ 1402,ȱ Heskleinȱ stillȱ livedȱ inȱ Raabs,ȱ presumably
togetherȱ withȱ hisȱ sonȱ Pfefferlein,ȱ whileȱ hisȱ grandsonȱ Josephȱ hadȱ movedȱ to
Zistersdorf,ȱwhereȱheȱdidȱbusinessȱnotȱonlyȱtogetherȱwithȱhisȱbrotherȱSlomleinȱbut
also,ȱfromȱ1408ȱonwards,ȱwithȱFreudlein,ȱHesklein’sȱwidowȱ(andȱthusȱpresumably
hisȱgrandmother).146
AlreadyȱwithȱtheȱruleȱofȱdukeȱRudolphȱIVȱ(r.ȱ1358–1365),ȱtheȱducalȱprotection
ofȱtheȱAustrianȱJewsȱhadȱbegunȱtoȱwane.ȱTheȱlegalȱstatusȱofȱtheȱAustrianȱJewry
remainedȱunchangedȱfromȱ1244ȱuntilȱtheȱendȱofȱJewishȱlifeȱinȱAustria,ȱbutȱthe
ducalȱconceptȱofȱgrantingȱ(andȱactivelyȱexerting)ȱprotectionȱnotȱonlyȱinȱexchange
forȱtaxation,ȱbutȱalsoȱasȱanȱintegralȱpartȱofȱtheȱruler’sȱsovereignty147ȱthatȱhadȱbeen
143
144
145
146
147
ArchivbeständeȱZwettl,ȱStiftsarchiv).
Inȱtheȱsecondȱhalfȱofȱtheȱfourteenthȱcentury,ȱJewishȱsettlementȱinȱEggenburgȱseemedȱtoȱbeȱmore
extensiveȱsinceȱaȱsynagogueȱisȱdocumentedȱforȱthisȱtime;ȱseeȱKeil,ȱ“GemeindeȱundȱKultur”ȱ(see
noteȱ9),ȱ23;ȱGermaniaȱJudaicaȱIII/1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ284–85.
Jeschem,ȱ1337,ȱBruggerȱandȱWiedl,ȱRegestenȱ1ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ4),ȱ232,ȱn.ȱ418.ȱSeeȱEvelineȱBrugger,ȱ“‘...ȱdaz
wierȱschullenȱgeltenȱAbrahamȱdemȱjudenȱvonȱZwetel...’ȱMittelalterlicheȱSpurenȱjüdischenȱLebens
imȱWaldviertel,”ȱJüdischesȱLebenȱinȱZwettl.ȱKoexistenzȱundȱVerfolgung,ȱvomȱMittelalterȱbisȱinsȱ20.
Jahrhundert,ȱed.ȱFriedelȱMoll.ȱZwettlerȱZeitzeichen,ȱ13ȱ(Zwettl:ȱEigenverlagȱderȱStadt,ȱ2009),ȱ8–15.
SimchaȱEmanuel,ȱ“UnpublishedȱResponsaȱofȱR.ȱMeirȱofȱRothenburg”ȱJewsȱofȱEuropeȱinȱtheȱMiddle
Agesȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ282–93;ȱhereȱ288–90.
Geyerȱ andȱ Sailer,ȱ Urkundenȱ ausȱ Wienerȱ Grundbüchernȱ (seeȱ noteȱ 35),ȱ 14–15,ȱ n.ȱ 45ȱ (Yzckaȱ of
Zistersdorf,ȱHeskleinȱofȱRaabs),ȱ342–43,ȱn.ȱ1133ȱ(Heskleinȱ[Heschken],ȱPfefferlein,ȱandȱJoseph),
429,ȱn.ȱ1430ȱ(Joseph,ȱSlomlein,ȱandȱFreudlein).ȱ
Toch,ȱJudenȱimȱmittelalterlichenȱReichȱ(seeȱnoteȱ3),ȱ49–51ȱandȱ102–03ȱonȱtheȱideaȱofȱtheȱprotection
ofȱtheȱJewryȱasȱpartȱofȱtheȱ‘classicalȱvirtuesȱofȱaȱruler’ȱ(myȱtranslation).
669
atȱtheȱbaseȱofȱtheȱ1244ȱprivilege,ȱhadȱchangedȱintoȱmereȱfinancialȱexploitation.
Whileȱ itȱ wereȱ theȱ bigȱ communitiesȱ suchȱ asȱ Kremsȱ asȱ wellȱ asȱ individualȱ and
particularlyȱwealthyȱJews,148ȱwhoȱsufferedȱmostȱfromȱtheȱducalȱpolicyȱtowardȱtheir
Jews,149ȱtheȱoverallȱsituationȱofȱtheȱAustrianȱJewryȱworsenedȱperceptiblyȱtoward
theȱendȱofȱtheȱcentury.ȱTheȱreasonsȱthatȱledȱtoȱtheȱwideȬrangingȱpersecutionsȱand
expulsionsȱofȱJewsȱinȱtheȱfifteenthȱcenturiesȱwereȱmanifold150;ȱeconomicȱrivalryȱof
Christiansȱwhoȱbeganȱtoȱpushȱ(officially)ȱintoȱtheȱmoneylendingȱsector,ȱantiȬJewish
conceptsȱ andȱ sentimentsȱ thatȱ wereȱ repeated,ȱ permeated,ȱ andȱ enhancedȱ by
theology,ȱliterature,ȱandȱiconographyȱalike,ȱtogetherȱwithȱtheȱrapidlyȱspreading
ideasȱofȱJewishȱwellȬpoisoning,ȱritualȱmurder,ȱandȱhostȱdesecrationȱbeingȱonlyȱthe
mostȱimportantȱones.ȱInȱAustria,ȱitȱwasȱtheȱeventsȱofȱtheȱViennaȱGesera,151ȱthe
murderingȱ andȱ expulsionȱ ofȱ theȱ Jewsȱ atȱ theȱ instigationȱ ofȱ Dukeȱ Albrechtȱ V
(1397–1439,ȱtheȱlaterȱKingȱAlbrechtȱII)ȱinȱ1420/1421ȱthatȱbroughtȱaȱviolentȱendȱto
Jewishȱ life.ȱ Inȱ theȱ textȱ ofȱ theȱ Gesera,ȱ theȱ Yiddishȱ narrationȱ thatȱ tellsȱ ofȱ the
incarcerationȱofȱtheȱVienneseȱJews,ȱtheirȱtortureȱandȱmurder,ȱaȱfewȱsitesȱofȱrural
settlementȱareȱmentionedȱasȱplacesȱofȱpersecution—Langenlois,ȱHerzogenburg,
Laa,ȱZistersdorf,ȱHainburg,ȱMarchegg,ȱMörtersdorf,ȱVitis,ȱandȱWinkel,ȱbearingȱa
lastȱwitnessȱtoȱaȱJewishȱlifeȱthatȱhadȱextendedȱbeyondȱtheȱboundariesȱofȱtheȱurban
centers.ȱ Whenȱ Jewsȱ startedȱ toȱ returnedȱ toȱ theȱ Austrianȱ territoriesȱ inȱ greater
numberȱ inȱ theȱ courseȱ ofȱ theȱ sixteenthȱ century,ȱ itȱ wouldȱ beȱ underȱ different
conditions,ȱwithȱnoȱperceptibleȱcontinuityȱofȱtheirȱmedievalȱancestors.152
148
149
150
151
152
DavidȱSteuss,ȱtheȱbyȱfarȱwealthiestȱJewishȱbusinessman,ȱwasȱimprisonedȱinȱ1383ȱandȱonlyȱsetȱfree
againstȱ aȱ ransomȱ ofȱ 50.000ȱ poundȱ pennies;ȱ seeȱ “Wienerȱ Annalenȱ 1348–1404,”ȱ Monumenta
GermaniaeȱHistorica,ȱDeutscheȱChroniken,ȱ6,ȱed.ȱJosefȱSeemüllerȱ(HanoverȱandȱLeipzig:ȱHahnsche
Buchhandlung,ȱ1909),ȱ231–242;ȱhereȱS.ȱ232.
Forȱaȱcloserȱlookȱatȱtheȱducalȱpolicy,ȱseeȱtheȱcontributionȱofȱEvelineȱBruggerȱinȱthisȱvolume.
GermaniaȱJudaicaȱIII/3ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ40),ȱ2298–2327,ȱforȱanȱanalysisȱofȱtheȱeconomicȱaspects,ȱseeȱDavid
Nirenberg,ȱ “Warumȱ derȱ Königȱ dieȱ Judenȱ beschützenȱ musste,ȱ undȱ warumȱ erȱ sieȱ verfolgen
musste,”ȱ Dieȱ Machtȱ desȱ Königs:ȱ Herrschaftȱ inȱ Europaȱ vomȱ Frühmittelalterȱ bisȱ inȱ dieȱ Neuzeit,ȱ ed.
BernhardȱJussenȱ(Munich:ȱBeck,ȱ2005),ȱ225–40ȱandȱ390–92,ȱforȱAustria,ȱseeȱBrugger,ȱ“Judenȱin
ÖsterreichȱimȱMittelalter”ȱ(seeȱnoteȱ10),ȱ208–27.
Goldmann,ȱJudenbuchȱderȱScheffstrasseȱ(seeȱnoteȱ54),ȱ112–33ȱ(introductionȱandȱedition);ȱSamuel
Krauss,ȱ Dieȱ Wienerȱ Geserahȱ vomȱ Jahreȱ 1421ȱ (Viennaȱ andȱ Leipzig:ȱ Wilhelmȱ Braumüller,ȱ 1920),
particularlyȱ80–92ȱonȱtheȱJewishȱsettlementsȱhitȱbyȱtheȱpersecution.
Barbaraȱ Staudinger,ȱ “Gantzeȱ Dörfferȱ vollȱ Juden”.ȱ Judenȱ inȱ Niederösterreichȱ 1496–1670ȱ (Vienna:
Mandelbaumȱ Verlag,ȱ 2005),ȱ andȱ ead.,ȱ “Dieȱ Zeitȱ derȱ Landjudenȱ undȱ derȱ Wienerȱ Judenstadt
1496–1670/71”ȱGeschichteȱderȱJudenȱinȱÖsterreichȱ(seeȱnoteȱ9),ȱ229–338.
670
BirgitȱWiedl
Fig.ȱ1:ȱMainȱplacesȱofȱsmallȬtownȱandȱruralȱJewishȱsettlementȱinȱAustriaȱinȱthe
MiddleȱAgesȱ(smallerȱdots,ȱtheȱbiggerȱdotsȱindicateȱtheȱmainȱurbanȱcenters).
671
Fig.ȱ2:ȱTwoȱobligationsȱofȱArnoldȱvonȱFritzelsdorfȱandȱKonradȱvonȱKirchberg
forȱtheȱJewȱHendleinȱofȱGmünd,ȱaroundȱ1326,ȱbothȱcutȱupȱandȱusedȱasȱseal
pouchesȱ(ZisterzienserstiftȱZwettl,ȱArchivȱundȱBibliothek)

Lazarus and Abraham, our Jews of Eggenburg

Transcription

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