Publication details

Am schwarczen suntag mardert man dieselben juden, all die zaigten vill guets an under der erden... Die Wiener Gesera: eine Neubetrachtung

Title in English Am schwarczen suntag mardert man dieselben juden, all die zaigten vill guets an under der erden... The Vienna Geserah: a New Interpretation
Authors

ELBEL Petr ZIEGLER Wolfram

Year of publication 2016
Type Article in Proceedings
Conference Avigdor, Benesch, Gitl. Juden in Böhmen, Mähren und Schlesien im Mittelalter. Samuel Steinherz zum Gedenken (1857 Güssing - 1942 Theresienstadt)
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
Field History
Keywords Vienna Geserah; Jewish pogroms; Duke Albert V of Austria
Description The study analyzes the process of the so called Vienna Geserah (1420–1421), an Austrian Jewish pogrom during the reign of Duke Albrecht V (1411–1438, as king from 1438 to 1439). At the beginning of the study basic outlines of the duke’s Jewish policy in the Middle Ages are briefly presented. Introduction is followed by the first section, which outlines the course of action of Geserah in the light of sources of the period. In the second section interpretations of the pogrom in modern, especially Austrian historiography is monitored. The third section is devoted to Geserah financial background; first the costs of Albrecht V the first and second anti-Hussite crusade is analyzed in detail as well as his marriage to Elizabeth of Luxembourg in the context of development of the land’s financial policy throughout Albrecht government. From this background an attempt rises to interpret the impact of Geserah on Albrecht’s finances and ultimately quite logical the conclusion that the main motivation of the Duke to unleash a pogrom lay precisely in the fiscal area. Lately the cause of Geserah has been sought rather in the sphere of religious history and that is why the authors point out the weaknesses of this religious argumentation. In conclusion the authors attempt again to present an overview of the causes and course of the pogrom as they understand them.

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