Execution of Joseph Süß Oppenheimer
- When
- 1737–1738
- Where
- Württemberg
- Episodes
- 3
Joseph Süß Oppenheimer, court Jew to Duke Charles Alexander of Württemberg, was arrested after the Duke's death in 1737. Following a publicized trial, he was sentenced to death and executed on February 4, 1738, refusing to convert to Christianity.
Episodes
- Publicized Trial and Sentence
A heavily publicized trial resulted in Oppenheimer being sentenced to death, although the sentence did not name any specific crime.
- Arrest after Duke's Death
Oppenheimer was arrested and accused of multiple crimes following the sudden death of his protector, Duke Charles Alexander, in March 1737.
- Execution at the Gallows
Oppenheimer was led to the gallows on February 4, 1738, and executed after refusing a final chance to convert to Christianity.
Background and detail
Background. Joseph Süß Oppenheimer served as a banker and court Jew for Charles Alexander, Duke of Württemberg, managing various enterprises. Throughout his career, he accumulated powerful enemies who conspired against him, setting the stage for his eventual downfall following the Duke's sudden death.
Arrest and Trial. After Charles Alexander died on March 12, 1737, Oppenheimer was arrested and accused of fraud, embezzlement, treason, and bribery. A heavily publicized trial ensued, resulting in a death sentence that did not specify any particular crime for which he was convicted.
People involved
- Joseph Süß Oppenheimer · Court Jew and banker
- Charles Alexander · Duke of Württemberg
Sources
- Joseph Süß Oppenheimer Wikipedia, revision of 2026-05-06
- Württemberg Wikipedia, revision of 2025-12-16
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.