Michel Ezofowicz

Michael Ezofowicz (also Jesofowicz, Ezofovich) was a Jewish merchant, royal factor and banker for King Sigismund I of Poland (r. 1506 – 1548). For his services to the monarch he was ennobled and is the only example on record of Polish Jews who achieved noble status without conversion.

Michael Ezofowicz was a Jewish merchant and a member of the prominent Ezofowicz family. As a royal factor and banker for King Sigismund I of Poland (r. 1506 – 1548), Michal administered the royal monopoly on salt production and controlled toll collection in the Brest Litovsk region. In 1514 he became the head of Lithuanian Jews and was responsible for collecting their taxes, but he seems to have given up this post shortly after his appointment. Michal amassed both wealth and influence through his service to the monarch, and on 10 April 1525, he was ennobled at a ceremony in Kraków. He is the only example on record of Polish Jews who achieved noble status without conversion.