Designation of Jews to receive Schutzbrieffen (Letters of Protection) and order of Expulsion, Ducal Hessian Government on behalf of Frederick I, King of Sweden and Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, Kassel: June 6, 1733

8 leaves (14 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.; 360 x 210 mm). Edges chipped; corners rounded; browning at edges; dampstain at lower margin; tape repair along spine. Embossed paper seal; manuscript inscription signed Grebenstein. Disbound.

Schutzbriefen (letters of protection) were sometimes issued to entire communities or as in this case to selected individual Jews. They typically included clauses on commercial privileges, religious rights, freedom of movement, and taxation, and had to be renewed regularly. The Jews who were able to acquire these letters of protection were known as Schutzjuden. In the 17th and 18th centuries, with impoverished Jews from Eastern Europe seeking to acquire the right to trade and reside in the West, the number of protected Jews was restricted, with any increase typically opposed by Christian (and on occasion Jewish) merchants. Most of the immigrants were only granted letters of safe-conduct (Geleitbriefe) and denied full protected status.  The few who were able to obtain the highly coveted status of Schutzjuden were known as Ba'alei Kiyyum. The protected Jews constituted the patrician and privileged class from which the Court Jews generally came, as distinct from the mass of Jews who were unvergleitete ("without letters of safe-conduct") and whose legal position and rights were insecure.

This list of Jews designated to receive Schutzbriefen was prepared by the the Ducal Hessian Government in Kassel at the request of Frederick I. All Jews whose names were not listed were ordered to leave Hesse-Kassel by July 31, 1733. The order is dated June 6, meaning that those not fortunate enough to have been listed would have to leave their homes within two months.  Frederick I (1676-1751), was King Consort of Sweden as husband of Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden and monarch from 1720 and (as Friedrich I von Hessen-Kassel), Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1730 until his death. It was in the latter capacity that he acted in this case. The 324 Jews enumerated in this document are listed by their places of residence in over one hundred towns and villages in Hesse-Kassel.