Jacob Bassevi
Encyclopedia
Jacob Bassevi von Treuenberg (1570 Verona, Italy – May 2, 1634, Mladá Boleslav
) was a Bohemia
n Court Jew
and financier. He entered business early in life, ultimately became very wealthy, and stood in high favor with the emperors Rudolph II
, Matthias
, and Ferdinand II
, to whom he, with other Jewish capitalists, frequently rendered financial assistance, particularly to Ferdinand, who needed large sums of money for the prosecution of the Thirty Years' War
(1618-1648).
Bassevi, in recognition of his services, was raised to the nobility by Ferdinand, receiving the title von Treuenberg, and a coat of arms
consisting of a two yellow Bohemian (two tailed) lions and 3 eight-pointed red stars in a bend argent (white diagonal band) on a field of black (Graetz appears to be mistaken about the "blue lion and eight stars", see references). Ferdinand also bestowed upon him the right "to engage in any business whatever, in any part of the empire, whether cities, towns, or market-places, in Prague
and Vienna
, and other places where Jews
are allowed to reside or are not; to acquire property and to reside anywhere he pleases. His property in any form to be free from taxes, imposts, and duties; he is allowed to reside in the imperial quarters; and he is responsible to no tribunal, except that of the marshal of the court". Privileges were also granted to him by Rudolph and Matthias, all of them being hereditary. The supposition that he was minister of finance to Ferdinand is unfounded.
As a representative of the Jewish community, reference to Bassevi is first found in 1616. He always exerted his influence on behalf of the Jews of the empire and of Italy
; and it was due to his efforts, combined with those of other Jewish capitalist
s, that the Hebrew quarter in Prague was protected by a military guard against the attacks of the soldiery after the decisive Battle of White Mountain
, Bohemia, in 1620.
Bassevi was a warm friend of Rabbi Lipmann Heller
, and befriended him during the latter's arrest (July 5, 1629) and dismissal from office (August 14, 1629); contributing from his own funds one-fifth of the fine of 12,000 imposed upon Heller. Bassevi was very charitable, and gave large sums for the support of the poor of Palestine.
On account of some trouble, the nature of which is not known, Bassevi in 1631 removed from Prague to Jičín
, where he lived for a year.
Mladá Boleslav
Mladá Boleslav is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, on the left bank of the Jizera river about 50 km northeast of Prague.Founded in the second half of the 10th century by King Boleslav II as a royal castle...
) was a Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
n Court Jew
Court Jew
Court Jew is a term, typically applied to the Early Modern period, for historical Jewish bankers who handled the finances of, or lent money to, European royalty and nobility....
and financier. He entered business early in life, ultimately became very wealthy, and stood in high favor with the emperors Rudolph II
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
, Matthias
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
, and Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
, to whom he, with other Jewish capitalists, frequently rendered financial assistance, particularly to Ferdinand, who needed large sums of money for the prosecution of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
(1618-1648).
Bassevi, in recognition of his services, was raised to the nobility by Ferdinand, receiving the title von Treuenberg, and a coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
consisting of a two yellow Bohemian (two tailed) lions and 3 eight-pointed red stars in a bend argent (white diagonal band) on a field of black (Graetz appears to be mistaken about the "blue lion and eight stars", see references). Ferdinand also bestowed upon him the right "to engage in any business whatever, in any part of the empire, whether cities, towns, or market-places, in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and other places where Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
are allowed to reside or are not; to acquire property and to reside anywhere he pleases. His property in any form to be free from taxes, imposts, and duties; he is allowed to reside in the imperial quarters; and he is responsible to no tribunal, except that of the marshal of the court". Privileges were also granted to him by Rudolph and Matthias, all of them being hereditary. The supposition that he was minister of finance to Ferdinand is unfounded.
As a representative of the Jewish community, reference to Bassevi is first found in 1616. He always exerted his influence on behalf of the Jews of the empire and of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; and it was due to his efforts, combined with those of other Jewish capitalist
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
s, that the Hebrew quarter in Prague was protected by a military guard against the attacks of the soldiery after the decisive Battle of White Mountain
Battle of White Mountain
The Battle of White Mountain, 8 November 1620 was an early battle in the Thirty Years' War in which an army of 30,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 27,000 men of the combined armies of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor under Charles Bonaventure de Longueval,...
, Bohemia, in 1620.
Bassevi was a warm friend of Rabbi Lipmann Heller
Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller
Yom-Tov Lipmann ben Nathan ha-Levi Heller, , was a Bohemian rabbi and Talmudist, best-known for writing a commentary on the Mishnah called the Tosafot Yom-Tov...
, and befriended him during the latter's arrest (July 5, 1629) and dismissal from office (August 14, 1629); contributing from his own funds one-fifth of the fine of 12,000 imposed upon Heller. Bassevi was very charitable, and gave large sums for the support of the poor of Palestine.
On account of some trouble, the nature of which is not known, Bassevi in 1631 removed from Prague to Jičín
Jicín
Jičín is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It lies approximately 85 km northeast of Prague in the scenic region of the Bohemian Paradise under the Prachov Rocks ....
, where he lived for a year.