Isaac Borodavka

Isaac Borodavka was a merchant and tax farmer living in 16th century Brest-Litovsk. He received a grant by King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund II Augustus (r. 1548 – 1569) that entitled him and his associates to collect the duties on goods and merchandise passing through Minsk, Vilna, Novgorod, Brest, and Grodno for seven years. In 1561, Borodavka was granted the salt monopoly and was permitted to build distilleries with a monopoly of production in Bielsk, Narva, and Kleszczele. In 1569 he was granted control over the Vilna mint.

Borodavka’s success excited the envy of Christian competitors, who instigated blood libels against certain tax collectors employed by Borodavka. The charges were groundless but one of the accused, Bernat Abramovich, paid with his life. After the incident, king directed that henceforth all such accusations be made before the crown, and that those who made false accusations would be punished.