Quote:
Originally Posted by Mynydd
The most extreme case was in the limits of the north with Tuscany, the city of Livorno. In order to attract citizens, they offered a charter by which people who arrived to settle there would be protected if they were persecuted in other countries. This attracted criminals from Central Europe and Italy as well as Moriscos and Marranos from Spain.
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Here is a more exact account:
History
In the 16th century, Cosimo I (1537-1574) wanted to increase the importance of Livorno, so he invited foreigners, including Marranos, to come to the new port. In 1587, the Grand Duke invited merchants of all nations to come to Livorno and Pisa. Further invitations were made by Ferdinand I (1587-1609), in 1593, who offered asylum to all Levantines, Spanish, Portugese, Germans and Italians.
Jews and other nationalities were given many rights and privileges. Ferdinand I’s charter offered the Jews religious freedom, amnesty from previous crimes, full Tuscan citizenship and special courts with civil and criminal jurisdictions. Safe passage of goods and persons was guaranteed to all Jews who moved to Livorno. Jews could own houses, inherit property, carry arms at any hour, open shops in all parts of the city, have Christian servants and nursemaids, study at the university, work as doctors and did not have to wear the Jewish badge. Finally, unlike many other cities in Tuscany, Jews did not have to live in a ghetto.
These conditions proved attractive to Marranos and Levantines and the Jewish population grew from 114, in 1601 to 3,000 by 1689. Jews came to be the most important nation living in Livorno. Spanish and Portugese became the official language of Jewish merchants in Livorno and remained so until the late 18th century.
Jewish Traders
Jews were involved in a variety of industries, besides moneylending. One of the specialized industries was the coral industry; Jews exported products to Russia and India and used coral to make ritual objects. The soap, paper, sugar-refining and wine distillation industries were also run by Jews. In 1632, the Jews imported the first coffee into Italy and opened coffeehouses in Livorno. Besides manufacturing, Jews were also involved in the slave trade, providing ransom money for Christians imprisoned in North Africa and handling the return of ransomed Moors.
One well-known Jewish merchant, Maggino di Gabriele left Pisa to set up a textile and glass manufacturing industry in Livorno. Jewish merchants had contacts throughout the Mediterranean and many Jewish families sent relatives to Tripoli, Tunis and Smyrna. These trade networks existed throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1765, more than one-third of Livorno’s 150 commercial houses were owned by Jews. The Jews’ fame and fortune were well-known throughout Europe and inspired an offer by Louis XIV, King of France, to resettle the whole community in Marseilles.
The sovereignty of Tuscany changed to the house of Lorraine in 1737, however, conditions for the Jews remained the same. Leopold I (1745-1790) offered more privileges to the Jews, including the right to representation on the Municipal Council. By the end of the 18th century, nearly 5,000 Jews lived in Livorno in an open quarter.
After Napoleon invaded Livorno in 1796, the situation deteriorated for the Jews. Many Jews supported the French occupation and paid for French military costs. Special privileges given to Jews over the past couple centuries were taken away. Livorno declined in importance when Tuscany was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1859 and met with stiff competition from other port cities. By the end of the 19th century the Jewish population had decreased to 2,500.
The Virtual Jewish History Tour - Livorno (Leghorn)