Licoricia of Winchester

Licoricia of Winchester was one of the most notable English Jewish women considered as one of the most intriguing people of her time.

She was married to Abraham, son of Isaac, of Kent and Winchester with whom he had three sons. She acted as partner in her husband’s business, signing contract and quittances for him in Hebrew. After his death, she continued to live in Winchester, which had a thriving Jewish community in the 13th century. Licoricia became engaged in moneylending activities from the early 1230s, acting in partnership with other compatriots or by herself becoming one of the richest Jewish moneylenders in Winchester by the end of that decade.

In 1242 she married David of Oxford, one of the wealthiest of all English Jews of that time after he divorced his former wife, Muriel. She settled in Oxford and gave birth to their son, Asser, also called Sweetman. They ran business together until 1244, when David died after only two years of marriage. After his death, all the chests across the country containing the official records of the debts owed to him were sealed and taken to the Jewish Exchequer for assessment. Licoricia and her infant son where in a meantime imprisoned in the Tower of London waiting until the process is complete. This was to ensure that she would not flee with her husband’s wealth before the taxes were paid to the King.

The price of her repurchase of all the debts owed to David was set at the immense sum of 5,000 marks, more than £3,000 of the day. That was an incredible sum, since £100 would build and fit a fully equipped ship.

After her release, she returned to Winchester and having at her disposal enough wealth she continued to run David’s business and launched some of her affairs. She had a wide business network of connections from the highest level of society including royal family, the aristocracy and the Church to the more ordinary clients such as other Jews, local landowners and small farmers. For the next three decades she remained active in the field of finances. Her business affairs extended over southern and southwestern England and, until her later years, she moved regularly around the country to manage her assets.

In 1277, when she was around 53, Licoricia and her Christian maid were found stabbed to death in her home in Winchester.