Jacob Bassevi

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Jacob Bassevi von Treuenberg (1570 Verona, Italy – May 2, 1634, Mladá Boleslav) was a Bohemian 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 blue lion with eight red stars on a field of blue (according to Graetz, 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 capitalists, 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.

[edit] References

Heinrich Grätz: Geschichte der Juden. Von den ältesten Zeiten bis zur Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts. Leipzig: Friese 1853-1876 (11 Vol.). Reprint Directmedia Publications, Berlin 2004, ISBN 3-89853-444-8 (1 CD-ROM). x. 40 et seq., 47 et seq.;
Gerson Wolf: Die Juden unter Ferdinand II. Nach Aktenstücken in den Archiven der K. K. Ministerien des Innern u. Äussern. In: Jahrbuch für die Geschichte der Juden und des Judenthums, Institut zur Förderung der Israelitischen Literatur, Leipzig 1. Jg. (1860) p. 238-239.
Johannes-Baptist Rietstap: Armorial général, précédé d'un dictionnaire des termes du blason. Gouda 1887, , 2d ed. i. 128 (where Bassevi's title is given as "von Treuenfeld").