The Conversion of Jews in the Area of the Diocese of Koper between the 15th and 18th Centuries

Abstract

Jews settled in three coastal towns of the medieval diocese of Koper (Capodistria) – Koper, Izola and Piran – at the end of the 14th century. They came there stimulated by the needs of cities that, after the collapse of Tuscan banks, did not have the financial sources to support the developing economy. In addition to some bankers who are fairly well known from archival sources, we also have to consider a layer of the poorer population of servants and merchants. These were relatively small communities composed of few families, which were tolerated in a distinctly Catholic environment, but in close contact with the majority population sometimes received a benevolent or even aggressive pressure to convert. For studied region, there is no systematic study about this topic yet. However, there are some archival or written sources related to it in one way or another. Although these are mostly short notes or remarks within other discussions, which certainly do not represent the whole background of these stories, they still give us some idea of the dynamics of that kind of relations between religious communities and at the same time the formal position of the Venetian and local authorities about conversions and freedom of faith between 15th and 18th century.

Keywords

• jews
• diocese of koper
• piran
• conversions
• inquisition
• pier paolo vergerio