Vincenzo Per La Gratia Di Dio Duca di Mantova &di Monferrato [proclamation regarding the Mantua Ghetto]

(ITALIAN JUDAICA)

December 24th

(Mantua)

1611

Woodcut crest of the Duchy of Mantua on recto of first leaf

The ghetto at Mantua was first conceived by Duke Vincenzo I in 1603, He began to put the plan into effect in 1610 and the community’s entry into the ghetto was to be completed by June 1611. A long series of proclamations and orders regarding the rules and regulations of establishing and maintaining the Ghetto were published by the Duke. In this proclamation, dated December 24th, 1611, the Duke defines the daily regime in the ghetto. In particular, it contains details of the times of closing and opening of the ghetto gates; the terms of the penalties imposed on Jews found violating these hours of confinement and instructions to maintain cleanliness in theGhetto. The Duke also approved various dispensations permitting favored Jews to live outside the ghetto. The Mantuan community was the last of the large Italian communities to be confined to a ghetto. See: S. Simonsohn, History of the Jews in the Duchy of Mantua (1977), pp. 39-44 and 118-125