Lippold

Lippold was a 16th century financier in Berlin, the capital of Margraviate of Brandenburg. He served as a Court Jew to Joachim II Hector, Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1535–1571).

In 1556 Lippold was appointed “supervisor” of Brandenburg Jewry and collector of all monies paid by it to the court for ten years. In this instance the elector called him “our beloved, faithful Lippold.” In 1565 he was elevated to the position of mintmaster, a post which involved clipping, devaluating, and re-minting coins to the benefit of the elector. Lippold also dealt with moneylending, to Jews and Christians alike, and charged an interest rate of 54 percent.

Joachim II died on January 2, 1571, and Lippold had the misfortune to be the last one to serve the Elector his last cup of wine. He was accused of poisoning Joachim, arrested, and tortured extensively until he confessed to the poisoning. Soon after Lippold’s arrest, a mob began plundering Jewish homes and desecrating the synagogue. Further, Joachim’s successor ordered all the Jews of Brandenburg to leave immediately. Lippold was burned in a public ceremony and cut into quarters on January 28, 1573.