Schutzbrief - letter of protection
ObjektnummerM2008/047
TitelSchutzbrief - letter of protection
BeskrivningSchutzbrief - a rare example of an 18th century letter of protection - issued to Sussman Wolf Brull by Marquard Wilhelm Count von Schonborn, the Provost of Bamberg, 22 September 1746. At that time, the German city of Bamberg was under the rule of Friedrich Karl von Schonborn (1729-1746), Prince-Bishop of Bamberg, and was an important city in the Holy Roman Empire.
It allowed him and his family to conduct business without undue hindrance. No passing soldiers or other persons were permitted to assault him, and officials were instructed to assist him “at any time, when buying and selling his merchandise”.
In the mid-18th century – on the eve of Jewish emancipation - Jews were social outcasts without rights. They were restricted in movement and population growth, and tolerated in so far as they could pay exorbitant additional taxes and levies. Brull was one of only 50 Jews permitted to reside in Bamberg. During that period a small elite of Jewish traders, manufacturers and financiers could pay Schutzgeld (protection fees) to become Schutzjuden and obtain a protected or privileged status, but the majority of Jews could be expelled at any time.
The document was passed down in the Brull family. The family escaped Nazi Germany in 1936 for the safety of South Africa, and then 50 years later, brought it to Australia.
It allowed him and his family to conduct business without undue hindrance. No passing soldiers or other persons were permitted to assault him, and officials were instructed to assist him “at any time, when buying and selling his merchandise”.
In the mid-18th century – on the eve of Jewish emancipation - Jews were social outcasts without rights. They were restricted in movement and population growth, and tolerated in so far as they could pay exorbitant additional taxes and levies. Brull was one of only 50 Jews permitted to reside in Bamberg. During that period a small elite of Jewish traders, manufacturers and financiers could pay Schutzgeld (protection fees) to become Schutzjuden and obtain a protected or privileged status, but the majority of Jews could be expelled at any time.
The document was passed down in the Brull family. The family escaped Nazi Germany in 1936 for the safety of South Africa, and then 50 years later, brought it to Australia.
ProduktionsplatsBamberg, Germany
Datum 1746
ObjektnamnSchutz pass
Dimensioner
- document w/o seal height: 275.00 mm
width: 390.00 mm
document w/seal height: 480.00 mm
seal diameter: 70.00 mm
Språk
KreditSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Daphne Doctor