Żydowscy lekarze w państwie zakonu krzyżackiego w Prusach w późnym średniowieczu

The Order did not tolerate the presence of Jews in its territory (except for small groups of Jews in Neumark (New March) towns). In exceptional cases the Knights accepted temporary presence of doctors of Jewish origin in Prussia. The medic Meyen, from Poznań, was the first to appear inside the Order’s state. His first presence in Prussia in 1446 should not be associated with his profession, he was merely crossing Prussia en route to Pomerania. However, his subsequent visits were likely connected with the performance of medical practices. Jakub was another Jewish doctor who visited the Teutonic Knights’ state. He stayed in Prussia in 1454 as a diplomat, representing Polish starosta Mikołaj Szarlejcki in secret negotiations with Grand Master Ludwig von Erlichshausen. We should also mention Tham von Hochberg. There is no certainty with regard to his Jewish roots. Little do we know about the time he spent in Prussian lands. It has only been confirmed that he stayed in Toruń, travelled to Gdańsk and also sought the position of court doctor to the Grand Master in Königsberg.