Adasse (money lender)

Adasse (fl. 1348) was a Jewish money lender from Görlitz, modern-day Germany, who was granted citizenship of the town c. 1348.^[1]

Adasse
Occupation	Creditor
Years active	c.1348
Era	14th century

It was rare for either a woman or someone who was Jewish to be granted citizens rights in the fourteenth century; the fact that Adasse was both means she is a significant figure.^[1] She gained notoriety in the town as a creditor, lending money to members of the Christian community in particular.^[2] At the time of her citizenship, she was the owner of a promissory note for 71 marks. Although a citizen, Adasse would still have been excluded from council elections.^[3]

References

1. "Adasse (fl. 1348)." In Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages, edited by Anne Commire and Deborah Klezmer, 11. Vol. 1. Detroit, MI: Yorkin Publications, 2007. Gale eBooks (accessed July 20, 2021).
2. Uitz, Erika (1990). Women in the Medieval Town. Barrie & Jenkins. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-7126-3437-3.
3. Uitz, Erika (1990). The Legend of Good Women: Medieval Women in Towns & Cities. Moyer Bell Limited. ISBN 978-1-55921-013-3.