Jew saves German Emperor

July 13 982 – 18 Tammuz 4742

Kalonymos da Lucca, the first Jew mentioned in the annals of Germanic history, saved the life of Holy Roman Emperor Otto II. Da Lucca’s reward was a house in the city of Mainz and citizenship under the protection of the archbishop. This status entitled Kalonymos to settle in Mainz though other Jews were barred from permanent residence there.