(AUSTRIA)

Cracow

(1796)

Huldigung der Judenschaft von Westgalizien. Den 17ten August 1796…Fürsten und Herrn Karl von Auersperg…von dem Land=Rabiner und der Kasimirer Judengemeinde. [“Allegiance of the Jewry of West Galicia, 17 August 1796 to…Prince Karl von Auersperg…from the Chief Rabbi and Jewish Community of Kazimierz.”]

PRINTED ON SILK. Kazimierz was the historic Jewish quarter of Cracow, established in 1494 by King John Albert. In 1795, Galicia fell under Austrian rule, having been annexed to the Holy Roman or Austro-Hungarian Empire. Cracow was the principal city of Western Galicia. See JE, Vol. IV, pp. 325, 327 In this historic document, Cracow's Jews pledge their allegiance to the new Austrian ruler, while expressing their hope that tolerance will be extended to them. This particular, singular copy executed on silk, would likely have been presented as an expensive token of respect from the Jews of Cracow to the new Ruler.