Schutzjude

The Jews shelf was a medieval royal prerogative ( shelf ). This represented the Holy Roman Empire, the Jews as " protected Jews " against payment of fees under the protection of the Emperor.

The King's Peace, could be found among the diverse people, was from time immemorial a source of income for the royal coffers. Jews played a prominent role. As early as the Carolingian period the Jews were asked to pay an interest rate protection under royal protection and were given this duty exemptions and occasional royal privileges. The Carolingians differed various status groups of Jews, however, were not considered serfs. In Worms privilege of 1090 and renewed the Salian improved the Jews protection and subordinate them to the royal chamber. Frederick II in 1236 all Jews stood far -reaching as the royal " serfs " and granted them protection from persecution against the payment of protection money. This legal construction he was linked to the concept of regalia. Under Rudolf von Habsburg Jews shelf was interpreted as a royal serfdom, from which was derived the right if necessary to expropriate without compensation Jews. Since the interregnum the king granted the Jews shelf on the thriving German territorial princes. Although Charles IV protected the Jews in his own power base area, but did nothing to protect them on imperial level. In the Golden Bull, he wore then in 1356 the Jews shelf on the electors. From the original personal attachment to the Emperor now became a salable commodity that could be awarded and encumbered.