The Alleged Conversion of the Olomouc Rabbi Moses in 1425. Contribution to the Host Desecration Legends in Mediaeval Literature
The Alleged Conversion of the Olomouc Rabbi Moses in 1425. Contribution to the Host Desecration Legends in Mediaeval Literature

Summary/Abstract: In the early evening of All Saints’ Day 1427, a Notary public was admitted to the Munich residence of the nobly-born burgher William at the request of a certain Christopher of Olomouc (Christoferus Olmuntz). His task was to confirm the authenticity of a deed that Christopher had in his possession. In the presence of two witnesses, Nicolas of Langberg and Henry, clergyman of Freising diocese,3 the Notary public John Kantzelberger – who had previously worked in the Bamberg diocese4 and who had been entrusted by the Emperor with the performance of his office – created a notarial vidimus whereby he testified to the authenticity of the two-year-old deed. He carefully looked through this deed, transcribed its content word for word, added the date and time of the legal transaction and furnished it with a ‘notarial sign’ confirming the authenticity of the deed.We do not know how this text from 1425 came into Christopher’s hands; nor can we guess why this Olomouc burgher was staying in Munich on 1 November 1427 and why he decided to have the deed authenticated.

• Details
• Contents