ABSTRACT

The international relationships of the Court Jews and their connections with foreign banking firms and bourses equipped them well for the position of financial agent. On the other hand, the Jewish commercial entrepreneur,1 whom the mercantilist rulers employed for their trade and manufacturing experiments, was exclusively concerned with the national economy of a single State. The Jewish financial agent had acquired through the difficult conditions of his existence and through his strict religious discipline, certain characteristics which made him successful in his financial operations. The close bond between the State as economic power and the Court Jew as its commercial agent was strengthened by their common opposition to the guilds and corporations. The best known Jewish firm in Breslau was that of Daniel Kuh. He was the owner of a century-old commercial and banking house and also received a general privilege from the king.