This Day in History: 1614-08-22

1614: Outraged by the predatory usury and corruption of government engaged in by local Jews, the people of Frankfurt, Germany, led by guilds of craftsmen and artisans, expel the Jews from the city and depose the corrupt leaders who favored them. Almost immediately the Habsburg “Holy Roman” Emperor Matthias restores the crooked officials, brings the Jews back to Frankfurt under Imperial protection, and indicts the leaders of the patriotic uprising. Vincenz Fettmilch, a local guild leader, and six other patriots are executed.