Joseph ben Issachar Suesskind Oppenheimer

Joseph ben Issachar Suesskind Oppenheimer was a Court Jew and confidential financial adviser to the duke of Wuerttemberg. He was born in Heidelberg and in his youth was sent to Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Prague, and Vienna, where he became familiar with business methods within the circle of his wealthy relatives.

After his schooling Oppenheimer was engaged in commerce in Mannheim and Frankfurt until he became the court factor of the Prince of Wuerttemberg, Charles Alexander, in 1732. A year later he was also appointed court factor to the ruler of Hesse-Darmstadt, the elector of Cologne, as well as tax collector of the elector of the Palatinate. The same year Charles Alexander became duke of Wuerttemberg and Oppenheimer was responsible for the financial affairs of the duchy. The duke decided to introduce an absolute and mercantile form of government within the territory under his control, and Oppenheimer was made responsible for the direction of financial affairs.

Unfortunately, Oppenheimer’s live was entangled with Alexander’s more than just in the matters of business and finance. On March 19, 1737, the duke died suddenly, and on the same day, Oppenheimer was arrested and charged principally with having endangered the rights of the country and embezzled the incomes of the state. Alexander was unpopular as the despotic Catholic ruler of a Protestant country, and Oppenheimer was his right-hand man. Though the charges were never substantiated, Oppenheimer was condemned to death and his property confiscated.