Maria Theresa .281740.E2.80.931780.29 History of the Jews in Hungary

in 1735, census of jews of country taken view of reducing numbers. there @ time 11,621 jews living in hungary, of 2,474 male heads of families, , fifty-seven female heads. of these heads of families 35.31 per cent declared hungarians; rest had immigrated. of immigrants 38.35 per cent came moravia, 11.05 per cent poland, , 3.07 per cent bohemia. largest jewish community, numbering 770 persons, of pressburg (bratislava). of jews engaged in commerce or industries, being merchants, traders, or shopkeepers; few pursued agriculture.

during reign of queen maria theresa (1740–1780), daughter of charles iii, jews expelled buda (1746), , toleration-tax imposed upon hungarian jews. on september 1, 1749, delegates of hungarian jews, except szatmár county, assembled @ pressburg , met royal commission, informed them expelled country if did not pay tax. frightened jews @ once agreed so; , commission demanded yearly tax of 50,000 gulden. sum being excessive, delegates protested; , although queen had fixed 30,000 gulden minimum tax, able compromise on payment of 20,000 gulden year period of 8 years. delegates apportion amount among districts; districts, respective sums among communities; , communities, theirs among individual members.

the queen confirmed agreement of commission, except eight-year clause, changing period 3 years, subsequently made five. agreement, ratified queen, brought on november 26 before courts, powerless relieve jews payment of malkegeld (queen s money), called it.

the jews, burdened new taxes, thought time ripe taking steps remove oppressive disabilities. while still @ presburg delegates had brought grievances before mixed commission called delegata in puncto tolerantialis taxae et gravaminum judeorum commissio mixta. these complaints pictured distress of jews of time. not allowed live in croatia , slavonia, in baranya , heves counties, or in several free royal towns , localities; nor might visit markets there. @ stuhlweissenburg (székesfehérvár) had pay poll-tax of 1 gulden, 30 kreuzer if entered city during day, if hour. in many places might not stay overnight. therefore begged permission settle, or @ least visit fairs, in croatia , slavonia , in places had been driven in consequence of jealousy of greeks , merchants.

the jews had pay heavier bridge-and ferry-tolls christians; @ nagyszombat (trnava) had pay 3 times ordinary sum, namely, driver, vehicle, , animal drawing same; , in 3 villages belonging same district had pay toll, although there no toll-gate. jews living on estates of nobles had give wives , children pledges arrears of taxes. in upper hungary asked revocation of toleration-tax imposed chamber of zips county (szepes, spiš), on ground otherwise jews living there have pay 2 such taxes; , asked relieved similar tax paid diet. finally, requested jewish artisans might allowed follow trades in homes undisturbed.

the commission laid these complaints before queen, indicating manner in relieved; , suggestions subsequently willed queen , made law.

the queen relieved jews tax of toleration in upper hungary only. in regard other complaints ordered jews should specify them in detail, , government should remedy them insofar came under jurisdiction.

the toleration-tax had hardly been instituted when michael hirsch petitioned government appointed primate of hungarian jews in order able settle difficulties might arise among them, , collect tax. government did not recommend hirsch, decided in case jews should refuse pay, might advisable appoint primate adjust matter.

before end of period of 5 years delegates of jews again met commission @ pressburg (bratislava) , offered increase amount of tax 25,000 gulden year if queen promise should remain @ sum next ten years. queen had other plans, however; not did dismiss renewed gravamina of jews, rather imposed stiffer regulations upon them. tax of 20,000 gulden increased 30,000 gulden in 1760; 50,000 in 1772; 80,000 in 1778; , 160,000 in 1813.